DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/16 March) — Twenty-five women village leaders from the three districts here have formed a group that aims to promote greater participation of women in politics.
Called the Network of Women Leaders (NEW Leaders), the group was formed after a facilitators’ training organized by the Working for Empowerment and Good Governance Institute Inc. (WeGovern Institute).
WeGovern Institute advocates increasing the number of women participating in politics and governance at all levels.
One of the conveners, village councilor Jocelyn Tapic, told MindaNews the topic on “new politics” given by WeGovern president and former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza exposed her to the “real situation” of Philippine politics.
“We should have clear agenda in the election, especially on the empowerment of women,” she said, adding new politics also refers to good governance, nationalism and environmental protection.
Cleofe Casquejo, also a convener and former public school principal, said during a group workshop she learned from the discussions the concept of “MP3”, which means “mabuting pamamahala + mabuting Pilipinas = maunlad na Pilipinas” (good governance + good Filipinos = developed Philippines).
Maza said she introduced the MP3 concept as a tool for the participants to educate other community members on the need to choose candidates that share the same perspective.
She described good governance as consensus-oriented, accountable, participatory, effective and efficient, transparent, responsive, equitable and inclusive, and law-abiding.
The facilitators’ training, she added, aimed to impart understanding on women’s agenda and its implementation at the local level.
WeGovern Institute started the trainings on women’s role in politics last November in cooperation with the the Integrated Gender and Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office and the city council’s committee on women, children and family relations.
Some 100 women leaders in Davao City attended the trainings. (Lorie Ann Cascaro/MindaNews)