By
Gideon C. Corgue
LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – The 1st Cavalry Squadron (Tagpanguna) Battalion, Mechanized
Infantry Division joined the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the nation
in observing the women’s month.
Lt. Col. Charlemagne Batayola Jr. said
in an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA9) the unit conducted a seminar
on Gender Awareness and Development (GAD) and Violence against Women and
Children in collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to increase
awareness among 1st Cavalry personnel on the rights of women, giving
them knowledge to integrate women issues into their work.
Batayola said the same seminar was
also conducted in the line units in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan and Sulu
provinces.
“In the camp, we are extra careful
with our words for we may commit verbal abuse with women. We are treating them with
utmost respect,” Batayola declared.
Currently, there are three women
soldiers in the unit - a lady officer and two enlisted women, he added.
Before, Batayola said, Filipino
women were denied of their rights hindering their full participation in
society. “But with the Republic Act 9710 or Magna Carta of Women, it encouraged
them to actively participate in almost all activities for national
development,” he pointed out.
The said law promotes the full participation and equitable
representation of women in all spheres of society particularly in the
decision-making and policy-making processes in government and private entities
in order to fully realize their role as agents and beneficiaries of
development.