By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG
CITY – A lady lawmaker from the third district of Camarines Sur
flew all the way here to speak on women’s empowerment in a recently held provincial
women’s forum at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Sports Center (ZNCSC)
this city.
In
her message, Congresswoman Ma. Leonor
“Leni” Gerona-Robredo emphasized the importance of women empowerment and economic
independence especially at homes nowadays.
“When
I was an active member of a non-government organization (NGO) dealing with the
protection of rights of women against abuse, I found out that even if women
were abused by their husbands or partners they would just go back because they
didn’t have their own means of living,” Rep. Robredo, a lawyer, stressed.
Her
NGO helped set up women’s desk and translate some laws relating to women’s
rights into the dialect.
“We
also trained women who can be paralegals and we often rescued those who were
abused by their husbands and live-in partners,” she added.
The
provincial women’s forum is part of this year’s women’s month celebration with
the theme, “Juana, desisyon mo ay mahalaga sa kinabukasan ng bawat isa, ikaw
na!”
Assistant
Secretary Rolando Cusio of the Office of the Political Adviser together with Zamboanga
del Norte Governor Roberto Y. Uy, Vice-Governor Senen O. Angeles, Board Member
Luzviminda Torrino, Dipolog Mayor Evelyn T. Uy, barangay officials, local
media, various women’s organizations, students and teachers from public and
private schools, and women employees from the provincial government and the
city government of Dipolog attended the said forum, which was followed by a
foot parade from the ZNSC to the boulevard for a short program and ceremonial
ribbon cutting of the “Saulog” booths.