Rep. Vargas marks 1st year advocating women’s rights
LESS than a year as a legislator, Patrick Michael or “PM” Vargas, a member of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), has already filed a number of House bills toward women’s better access to health and expanding their opportunity for economic and social participation.
“Empowered women empower society. They already have unique strengths and capabilities. We just need to fuel the change on how we want the world to perceive them,” the Quezon City 5th District representative said. \
The legislator, who has consistently topped the legislative performance in the Lower House of Representatives in the 19th Congress, has included proposed measures such as “Young Women’s Refuge and Assistance Center Act” (House Bill [HB] No. 6007), which aims to provide ample and reliable access to maternal health and safe childbirth to young first-time mothers.
For business-oriented women, a bill creating a National Program for Women’s Enterprise (HB 6005) was filed. This will level the playing field, making them more competitive and resilient to challenges that come along the way in their chosen venture.
“Since the time of my brother, former Congressman Alfred Vargas, we are working on policies to provide this sector the power to air their concerns and grievances that we, men, cannot fully understand. That is why we have considered filing an Act Creating Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund (HB 6003),” he said.
Vargas, citing data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian, said that Filipino women have been the worst hit by the (COVID-19) pandemic. More than 6 million Pinays were exposed to domestic violence and other vulnerabilities.
As such, he proposed an Act to “ensure gender-responsive and inclusive protocols” to address the gender-differentiated needs of women during public health emergencies, public health threats, disasters, and other health events of public concern (HB 6001).
Another Vargas bill, an Act Expanding the Prohibited Acts of Discrimination Against Women on Accounts of Sex (HB 4479), had been approved on Third Reading in the Lower House as an amendment to the existing Labor Code of the Philippines.
