Lifting the women who lift us: Accelerating action for Filipino women in all sectors
Women are the backbone of our society. They are workers, leaders, policymakers, mothers, and sisters who carry industries, shape communities, and drive progress. Their contributions span all sectors—from fields to factories, and from homes to the halls of Congress. Yet, while we celebrate the strides made in gender equality and women empowerment, the reality is that, even in 2025, too many women and girls are still being left behind.
Women’s unseen burden and barriers
Despite their immense contributions, millions of women remain undervalued, underpaid, or even unpaid. Women make up a significant portion of the informal workforce, often taking on unstable, low-paying jobs without legal protections or social security. As of 2021, more than 70% of Filipino workers were informally employed, with women disproportionately represented in this sector. Many work as street vendors, domestic helpers, and micro-entrepreneurs, and most lack access to fair wages, benefits, and job security.
Beyond this, the burden of unpaid care and domestic work continues to fall disproportionately on women and girls, limiting their opportunities to pursue their own education or careers. A study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies revealed that women contribute 76% of unpaid work compared to just 24% by men. If this unpaid labor were compensated, it would amount to trillions of pesos—equivalent to 20% of the country’s GDP. Without policies that recognize, value, and redistribute this burden, women will continue to face economic constraints while also experiencing negative impacts on their physical and mental health and overall well-being. Men must do their fair share of household and caregiving responsibilities.
Women also face barriers in governance and peacebuilding. Despite their crucial role in promoting peace and stability, they remain underrepresented in decision-making processes related to conflict resolution, security, and policy development. In a press release, the Philippine Commission on Women cited that in 2023, only 26% of peace agreements globally mentioned women’s agenda, highlighting their marginal representation in negotiation and decision-making processes. Additionally, cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50% in the same year, with the number of women and girls affected by grave violations in armed conflicts rising by 35%. Ensuring women’s meaningful participation in peace efforts and governance is essential for achieving long-term, inclusive development.
Teen and adolescent mothers, in particular, face some of the greatest barriers to education and economic independence. Without ample support, many are forced to drop out of school, limiting their future prospects of gainful employment. It is essential to establish and institutionalize social protection mechanisms that allow young mothers to access health services, return to school, and secure gainful employment in the future so they are not permanently set back by early childbearing.
Accelerating action for women’s economic empowerment
Women in every sector carry our society, but it is our collective duty to ensure they are not carrying it alone. We need urgent action to support them through:
- Decent work and social protection
Ensuring that all women—especially those in the informal sector—have access to safe, secure, and gainful employment with fair wages, benefits, and protections, and are supported in their transition to formal employment if they choose to do so.
- Equal pay and opportunities
Enforcing policies that close the gender wage gap, ensure equal opportunities, and remove barriers to career growth.
- Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services
Guaranteeing that women and girls have access to age-appropriate reproductive health information and services, including family planning and maternal care.
- Inclusive and safe workplaces
Promoting safe, healthy, and harassment-free work environments for all.
Expanding protections for women at work, home, and society
The widespread informality of the Philippine labor force demands legislative action. We call on Congress to approve Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy—one that truly responds to the unique needs of informal workers, particularly women, by ensuring access to social protection programs, fair wages, and safe working conditions. Women who power the economy must not be left unprotected.
Additionally, unpaid care and domestic work must be recognized, valued, and shared. We demand policies that acknowledge care work, support initiatives to eradicate harmful gender norms, and invest in programs that enable women to pursue education and career opportunities without being disproportionately burdened.
We also call for stronger gender-responsive governance that upholds women’s roles in peacebuilding and ensures their involvement in policymaking at all levels. The government must adopt policies that increase women’s participation in leadership roles, particularly in political, economic, and security-related decisions.
Furthermore, we urge the Senate to approve the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Bill or Senate Bill No. 1979 before the 19th Congress ends. The bill not only seeks to provide access to SRHR services and strengthen comprehensive sexuality education, which will help prevent adolescent pregnancy, but it will also institutionalize social protection mechanisms for adolescent parents, ensuring they have access to quality healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities. Further delaying its passage means delaying opportunities for thousands of young mothers to rebuild their futures.
When we lift women, we lift the nation
Investing in women and girls is not just a moral duty—it is also an economic and social necessity. When women are supported, entire families, communities, and economies thrive.
This International Women’s Day 2025, let us commit to accelerating action for gender equality—not just in words, but in concrete policies, programs, and actions. Together, we can ensure that every Filipino woman can live, work, and lead with dignity.
Because a better Philippines is only possible when we lift the women who build it. #