ILOILO City – Women’s organizations in Western Visayas will use the upcoming International Working Women’s Day to bring grassroots issues to the fore.
A multi-sector forum in Iloilo City is set to highlight the struggles of women workers, farmers, vendors, and mothers while pressing calls to address poverty, rising prices, and corruption.
The forum, titled “Women Leading Change: Stories from Every Sector”, will be held on March 8 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Clement’s Jubilee Hall in La Paz district, organized by GABRIELA Panay and Guimaras in partnership with the Panay Alliance of Concerned Citizens for Health and Environmental Protection (PACCEP).
The gathering is expected to bring together around 100 to 150 participants, mostly women and youth, who will listen to personal accounts from various sectors about the realities they face in health, agriculture, labor, urban living, and education.
According to Lucia Francisco, regional chairperson of GABRIELA Panay and Guimaras, women from different sectors — including church workers, youth leaders, vendors, mothers, and farmers — were invited to share their lived experiences and how they continue to fight for their rights despite difficult circumstances.
“Sectoral ina sia nga daw sharing of stories nila. Like sa women workers ano ang situation nila, ano ang issues kag paano sila nag-rise para mapangibabawan ang ila issues or struggles. The same with pregnant women, amo man sa sector sang aton mga mangunguma nga nagapakaon sang aton nga pumuluyo, grabe man ang ila issues. They will share their stories kag kon paano sila mag-rise,” Francisco said in an interview with Panay News.
Each invited speaker will be given 15 minutes to share their story, an approach organizers hope will empower other women facing similar challenges.
Market vendors from Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market have also been invited to speak about their experiences, particularly the difficulties they faced following the redevelopment of the public markets.
Aside from the sectoral testimonies, Francisco is also expected to deliver a talk highlighting broader concerns affecting women and youth, including the impact of taxation policies on rising prices of basic goods, utilities, and medicines.
She urged authorities to address corruption and hold accountable officials involved in illegal activities.
The forum will conclude with a short rally or march outside St. Clement’s Jubilee Hall, marking the group’s call for stronger action on social and economic issues affecting women and communities.
Organizers emphasized that the activity is part of the broader Women’s Month celebration, underscoring the right of women to actively participate in raising concerns and pushing for reforms that affect their lives and communities./PN