(Sen. Cynthia Villar together with 1st District of Zambales Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun (middle of the crowd) attending the Subikañas get-together. Photo by Malou Dungog)
SUBIC, Zambales — More than 500 womenfolk, local and provincial government heads, cooperative leaders and women organizations attended the get-together event of Subikañas, a women’s organization of Subic, held at Barangay Aningway here Thursday afternoon.
Senator Cynthia Villar graced this occasion together with Zambales 1st District Rep. Jeff rey Khonghun, provincial board members of Zambales, Subic Mayor Jefferson Khonghun, former Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino and former Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane.
“As a public servant, I always prioritize upholding women’s rights and enhancing women’s well-being by passing landmark legislations that have been a source of protection for Filipino women such as the Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Trafficking of Persons’ Act and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children.
“We need to empower Filipino women economically. We need to have more empowered women because they are the heart and soul of a home and are major contributors to nation-building,” Villar said.
In Las Piñas City, Villar spearheaded the establishment of livelihood projects for women and has invited women’s groups and the local government units to visit Las Piñas, conduct bench markings for livelihood opportunities, and if possible, they could replicate them in their municipalities.
“I believe that when you educate a woman, you educate a generation. Furthermore, when you teach a woman livelihood skills or provided her a job or source of income, you feed an entire family,” she said.
More than 50 percent of the country’s population are women; more than 50% of the overseas Filipino workers are women contributing most of the $50-billion OFW remittances which is a very large contribution in our economy, Villar emphasized.
Villar has established more than 1,900 livelihood projects all over the country and assured the gathering that she will also put up livelihood projects in Subic and the province.
