Recognizing the power of women as effective partners for change and development, Senator Cynthia Villar is urging the women in Ilocos province to earn income and not just ask money from their husbands.
In her speech during the Women’s Club Day in Piddig, Ilocos Norte where she was invited as guest of honor and speaker, Villar said time has really changed and women are getting involved in all aspects of the country’s affairs.
“Time has really changed and women are getting involved in all aspects of the country’s affairs.”
“Dapat tayong mga babae ay kumikita at hindi lang humihingi sa mga asawa. Dahil kapag ang babae ang kumita, siguradong diretso ito sa pamilya,” said the seasoned legislator, a known advocate of women’s rights and welfare.
The veteran lawmaker said women empowerment now is not just confined to protecting them from violence and other forms of abuse but in great extent, to providing them with an opportunity to earn.
“Women empowerment now is not just confined to protecting them from violence and other forms of abuse but in great extent, to providing them an opportunity to earn.”
The lady senator believes that when women are empowered, it means the family will also be empowered.
Through the Villar SIPAG foundation, she encouraged women from the province to propose livelihood projects so that they can provide free training and technology as assistance.
To date, the foundation continues to support interested groups and individuals, particularly in poor communities to have livelihood so they could become financially independent and economically empowered.
As chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee, Villar pointed out one of her priority programs is to extend assistance to the country’s agriculture sector since two-thirds of the country’s population are directly or indirectly involved in this sector.
Women also benefit from agricultural development because based on statistics, 25 percent of the world’s population is composed of women-farmers. Oftentimes, some of them are also the heads of their families or households.
