LEADERS of Davao del Norte Provincial Council of Women (DNPCW) have sounded the call for women’s unity of purpose, saying they must rise above partisan politics and work closely together in order to achieve their development goals.
Guesting at the women’s edition of Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, DNPCW consultant Providencia Nuñez acknowledged that the current election fever might be causing factions among women but she advised them to always prioritize “development of women.”
“Dili malikayan ang faction-faction.. Labina sa politika.. Bahala na mo kinsa ang suportahan ninyo mga ma’am, basta ang atong katuyuan nga kalihukan sa kababayen-an alang sa atong kalambuan (We cannot avoid faction especially in politics. No matter who are you supporting ma’am, the activities of women are for development),” Nuñez said.
Nuñez attributed the strength of the women sector in Davao del Norte to the sustaining support of local government executives who had been backing up the sector since the inception of DNPCW in 1991.
Since then, women have been part of the development initiatives of LGUs which formed part of the fulfillment of the vision to fully integrate them in the society, she said.
“Women also envisioned their plans and programs to get integrated into the plans and programs of the government and that the women should have a direct involvement in the implementation of such plans and programs for their self-realization , self-actualization, for equality, for peace and development,” Nuñez said.And, we have achieved that vision. It is happening, that’s why we are members to the various special bodies of the government,” she said.
In the same forum, DNPCW concurrent-President Karina Anna “Aina” Del Rosario told the audience that she had been advocating for the women council to remain united.
Del Rosario asked the members of the council to insulate themselves from partisan politics and avoid getting affected by it.
“Kung kinsa ang gisuportahan wala mi labot ana. Basta kitang mga kababayen-an maghiusa ta. (No matter who you are supporting , it won’t matter to us. But we, women, have to get united,” she said.
As president of DNPCW, Del Rosario appealed to the members to stay united, saying “we are the same , we are equal. Laban lang mga kababayen-an.” (Fight, women!)(By Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
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