More than 1,500 women leaders from various sectors nationwide trooped to the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañan Palace on Friday, March 31, to celebrate the last day of National Women’s Month with no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Dubbed as “Digong’s Day for Women”, the event was meant to be a celebration of women’s health, wellness and development towards nation-building. President Duterte views women as an important partner in nation-building.
“(A)ng regalo po ng Pangulo ay ‘yung mga programa sa mga lahat ng kababaihan sa lahat-lahat ng ahensiya. For instance, under ng PCOO po para sa mga kababaihan na nasa bilangguan… sa mga nasa Correctional Institution for Women, and for indigenous women po,” Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said, referring to the “BongGAD Ka, ‘Day!” outreach project of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Women delegates from 82 provinces and 144 cities assembled at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park before proceeding to Malacañan. Among them were indigenous, urban poor, women with disability, and overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
During the pre-program event, attendees were entertained by band and artists’ performances, while enjoying free snacks, massage and wellness services, medical and dental check-up, and legal consultation. Likewise, all female attendees were given a flower and a bag of goodies each.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) served as the chair and overall monitoring team, while the Office of the President was in-charge of the physical set-up. On the other hand, the Department of Tourism (DOT) took care of the pre-program performances.
The PCOO, meanwhile, was in charge of the media coverage, sound system, stage backdrop, tarpaulins and media kits, and LED for the audio-visual presentation.
The PCOO, likewise, launched a photo exhibit “Pagbabago: A Photo Essay on Making Change Work for Women” to showcase the value the President gave to women.
Other participating agencies included the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Land Registration Authority (LRA), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
“So itong Women’s Day ay talagang pinursige ng Pangulo. Wala ngang kakurap-kurap ang Pangulo noong sinabi niya na sige maganda ‘yung idea dahil gusto rin niya talagang magkaroon ng panahon at maipakita niya sa ating lahat, lalo na sa kababaihan, na mahal na mahal niya kayo,” DSWD Undersecretary Virginia Orogo concluded. ###PCO-Content
