The process of improving the social, economic and political status of an individual that is based on gender and ensuring equal opportunity to participate and benefit from societal progress is the main concern of gender development (Economic and Social Council, 2021, p. 01).
Providing
equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of gender promotes gender equality
and leads to more inclusive and equitable societies where everyone can contribute
and benefit from economic, social and political life. Equal access to education, employment, and resources
leads to increased innovation and productivity and this enhances the overall quality
of life. Social tensions can be reduced
when we address gender disparities, and this promotes a more cohesive society.
This in turn reduces gender-based violence and discrimination that leads to
more supportive and safe communities. Gender development is therefore essential
in fostering peace and public safety.
In
the Philippine context, exploring gender development under the lens of peace
and public safety will give us the clear picture of its critical role in
ensuring lasting peace.
This case
study is guided by the following questions:
- What
is the most recent value of the Gender Development Index of the Philippines and
how does it compare to previous years?
- What
are the primary dimensions measured by the Gender Development Index, and how do
they contribute to assessing gender equality?
- What
specific programs and projects has the government crafted to promote gender
development, and how do their objectives align with the key dimensions of the
Gender Development Index?
- How
effective have government programs and projects been in improving the Gender
Development Index, and what are the challenges or barriers that have impacted
their success?
- What
steps have been taken to monitor, evaluate, and improve the crafting and
implementation of government programs and projects aimed at enhancing the Gender
Development Index?
Development
Planning Background
Historical
Context of Gender Development
During
the pre-colonial period in the Philippines, the concept of gender equality has
been in existence. Women during those
time were held with high degree of equality with men. Women were allowed to exercise legal rights
similar with men and own property, inherit wealth, engage in trade. Women held
high social and spiritual standing as spiritual leaders and healers. These
female spiritual leaders and healers are called the Babaylan, Baylana or Katalona.
During this time, these leaders were highly respected and held significant
authority and thus could influence decisions related to conflict resolution,
agriculture activities and health. Their governance was deeply anchored with animism,
highlighting the integral role of spiritual practices in community development (Gaborro,
2024). Significant changes underwent after the pre-colonial period. When the
Spanish arrive in the 16th century, patriarchal norms were imposed,
they impose strict gender roles and demoting women to domestic sphere and their
previously held positions of power and influence were diminished. This is more
heightened upon the introduction of Christianity which church promoted the idea
that women are subservient to men and that in turn led to marginalization of
women in the society (Aguja, 2013). However, during the American colonial
period, women were provided with more opportunities however this is not fully
restored. It is only when the Philippines gain its independence that the effort
to promote gender equality is observed. The 1987 Constitution recognize the
role of women in national development and instructed the state to ensure gender
equality. The executive order no. 273 or the Gender and Development Law (GAD) was
enacted on September 8, 1995, and the magna carta of women or also known as
Republic Act No. 9710 was enacted on August 14, 2008, this is to address discrimination
against women and to promote gender equality by protecting, fulfilling and
promoting the rights of women especially in a marginalized sectors in the
society (Philippine Commission on Women, 2023).
Peace
Initiatives and Public Safety Measure
With
the continuous effort of addressing gender disparity in the country, the
Philippine launched the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security
(NAPWPS) in 2010. This highlights the government commitment to enhance women’s
role as an active agent in peace, safeguarding the women’s right and their
protection in conflict-affected areas, mainstreaming and promotion of women,
peace, and security, and building mechanisms to assess and improve the
implementation of the plan. NAPWPS is now on its fourth generation of
implementation (2023-2033) (Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace,
Reconciliation and Unity, 2021).
A
law is also enacted to address gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces,
workplaces, educational institutions and in online platforms, this is the
Republic Act No. 11313 also known as Safe Spaces Act. Unwanted sexual remarks shall
be penalized as this is to ensure a safer environment for everyone (Aliliran,
2023).
In Bangsamoro autonomous region, the
Bangsamoro Women Commission introduced the Regional Action Plan for Women,
Peace, and Security which promote women’s participation in peacebuilding and
governance in the region. This plan aligns with the national framework to
address local challenges and emphasizing the inclusion of women in prevention
of conflict and resolution (UNDP, 2023).
Republic Act No. 10627, known as
Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, also addresses gender-based bullying in all
elementary and secondary schools. This legislation mandates the adoption of
policies to ensure a safer educational environment for students (Supreme Court
of the Philippines, 2013).
Republic Act No. 9208 known as
Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2003 criminalizes trafficking for the
purposes of exploitation that includes the disguise of adoption, arrange
marriage, sex tourism and recruitment of children into armed conflict. This law
imposes severe penalties for offenders, especially in cases that involve
children (Philippine Commission on Women, 2023).
Republic Act No. 10906 known as
Anti-Mail Order Spouse Act that prohibits the business of ordering marriages between
Filipino citizens to foreign nationals for profit. This law aimed to safeguard
individuals from potential exploitation and abuse in the demand for bride
arrangements (Philippine Commission on Women, 2015).
Republic Act No. 10398 known as
National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and
Children. Every 25th day of November is designated as the day to
raise awareness and mobilize effort to eliminate gender-based violence in the
country. In similar effort, Republic Act 6949 s. 1990 declare March 8 of every
year as National Women’s Day. This is rooted in the global commemoration of
International Women’s Day that aims to honor women’s achievements, address
issues concerning women’s empowerment and advocate gender equality (Philippine
Commission on Women, 2013).
Socio-economic condition
There are consequences of gender inequality on economic development. A study highlighted the findings that an increase of 1% in wage inequality between the two genders resulted in a 0.013% decrease in economic development in the countries members of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This relationship is significant at 1% and this found to be consistent with previous studies (Talafha et al., 2025). In the Philippines, the world bank identified that women’s participation in economic activities was limited by the following factors:
1. Skills
Women that work are mostly
concentrated in a low skill position due to economic necessity while women in a
high skills occupation tend to select into the labor force that offers high
earning potential. Around 10% of them are employed without pay in a
family-owned business and as domestic workers. This environment offers narrow
opportunities for skills development and career growth. The pandemic opened new
opportunity for women to earn through online selling, business process
outsourcing and as virtual assistant.
Women in low skill position earn much
less than men. In a household when both men and women are both belongs to low
skilled workers, and if female engages in unpaid work, the household will
suffer significantly. Low skill position for men is 50% higher than women while
for high skill position women is 20% higher than for men.
Large proportion of women are whose employment
is likely reduced due to childcare responsibilities and other family
responsibilities. Percentage of women in high skill positions decline
considerably when they have children for about 7 to 14 percent decrease
participation in the labor market.
75% of male and 80% of female agree
that it is man who is obliged to earn money and woman is to take care of the
family at home. Moreover, more than 70%
of men and 76% of women believe that when a mother is working outside the home
and emotional and psychological development skills of the preschool children
suffers. Over 95% of both men and women believe that childcare should be
avoided by the family members.
In 2019, the Philippines labor force consist of only 49% women that is 10% lower than the average participation (59%) in the East Asia and the Pacific Region while men comprise 76%. This shows a huge gender gap in economic participation. Although there is progress towards closing the gap, this progress is insignificant and has remained roughly the same since 1990.
To increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product there should be at least 0.5 percent increase in labor supply, this increase participation will lead to an expected 6% GDP increase by 2040 and 10% by 2050 (Buchhave & Belghith, 2022).
(To be continued on April 5, 2025)
References
- Aguja, H. K. (2013). THE FILIPINO WOMAN: A Gendered History. Philippine E-Journals, 26(1). https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=7122
- Aliliran, K. (2023, January 20). FAQs Republic Act No. 11313: Safe spaces act (Bawal bastos law). Philippine Commission on Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-no-11313/
- Buchhave, H., & Belghith, N. B. (2022, April 11). Overcoming barriers to women’s work in the Philippines. World Bank blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/eastasiapacific/overcoming-barriers-womens-work-philippines
- Camus, M. (2025, February 13). The Role of Elders in Pre-Colonial Philippine Communities. https://sinaunangpanahon.com/the-role-of-elders-in-pre-colonial-philippine-communities/. https://sinaunangpanahon.com/the-role-of-elders-in-pre-colonial-philippine-communities/
- Economic and Social Council. (2021). Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (20-17537). United Nations. https://docs.un.org/en/E/CN.6/2021/3
- Gaborro, A. (2024, November 3). The Babaylan and her cultural influence on Filipino society. The FilAm. https://thefilam.net/archives/42118
- Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. (2021, March 8). Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2023-2033. https://peace.gov.ph/national-action-plan-women-peace-security/. https://peace.gov.ph/national-action-plan-women-peace-security/
- Philippine Commission on Women. (2013, March 19). Republic Act 10398: An act declaring November twenty-five of every year as “National consciousness day for the elimination of violence against women and children”. https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-10398-an-act-declaring-november-twenty-five-of-every-year-as-national-consciousness-day/
- Philippine Commission on Women. (2015, July 27). Republic Act No. 10906: Anti-mail order spouse act. https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-no-10906-anti-mail-order-spouse-act/
- Philippine Commission on Women. (2023, September 28). FAQ: Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of women. https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9710-the-magna-carta-of-women/
- Philippine Commission on Women. (2023, November 6). FAQs Republic Act 9208 or the anti-trafficking in persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364 also known as the expanded anti-trafficking in persons Act of 2012. https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9208/
- Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2013, December 23). Deped order No. 55, S. 2013 - Implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the anti-bullying Act of 2013 - Supreme Court E-library. The Book Shelf - Supreme Court E-Library. https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/10/72034
- Talafha, Q., Bashayreh, A., Abdelhadi, S., & Alsamman, A. Y. (2025). Consequences of gender inequality on economic development: An empirical approach for OECD countries. Discover Sustainability, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00816-7
- UNDP. (2023, October 13). Bangsamoro women unveil renewed regional action plan for women, peace, and security. https://www.undp.org/philippines/press-releases/bangsamoro-women-unveil-renewed-regional-action-plan-women-peace-and-security