DEPUTY Speaker Bernadette Herrera has vowed to continue to fight for the rights of women and girls in Congress even as she urged the public to help cultivate a society that enables girls to thrive.

“I affirm my commitment to work hard for the passage of bills protecting women, girls and youth,” Herrera said in an online forum to mark the International Day of the Girl on October 11.

“Let us continue to work hand in hand towards a society wherein young people are free to dream and have an enabling environment that will help them make these dreams come true,” the Bagong Henerasyon lawmaker said.

Hosted by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), the forum celebrated milestones and sustaining advocacy efforts to end child marriage.

Herrera was invited as one of the forum speakers due to the vital role she played in the passage of the landmark bill banning child marriage
in the Philippines.

The bill is now awaiting signature by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte after the Senate and the House ratified the reconciled version of the proposed Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage, which Herrera authored and sponsored in the lower chamber.

Herrera was also part of the bicameral conference committee that worked for a consensus on the House and Senate versions of the measure.

Because of her immense contribution to efforts to end child marriage, the PLCPD hailed Herrera as a “girl defender” and “policy champion” for the rights of women and girls.

“It is truly a privilege for me, as representative of Bagong Henerasyon Partylist, to be among #GirlDefenders especially youth advocates—a sector I represent in Congress and one I am proud to fight side by side with for the passage of bills protecting the rights of women, girls, and youth,” Herrera said.

#GirlDefenders—a nationwide multi sectoral alliance convened by PLCPD and advocating to end violence against women and girls through policy reform—has been at the forefront of legislative actions to end child marriage.

Herrera expressed hope President Duterte will urgently sign the anti-child marriage bill into law and make it one of his legacies.

“Ito ang ating legacy and gift for girls—isang batas na magbabawal sa child marriage at magbibigay ng pagkakataon na ang mga bata ay mangarap at matupad ang mga pangarap na ito,” Herrera said.

“They deserve a better life kung saan sila ay malaya at ang kanilang karapatan ay protektado ng batas,” she added.

Herrera had earlier said the time has come for the Philippines to end the “longstanding disturbing practice” of child marriage.

Child marriage, she said, is a form of violence against children.

The recently ratified bill seeks to prohibit and declare child marriage as illegal and to impose penalties against violators.

Under the measure, the solemnization of child marriage and cohabitation of an adult with a child outside wedlock are considered unlawful acts.

A fine of at least P40,000 and jail term of up to 12 years await solemnizing officers, parents, guardians, or adults who fixed, facilitated, or arranged child marriage.