Villar presents NP women senatorial bets in new TV ad
Women empowerment strong in NP

Women power is strong at the Nacionalista Party (NP), which is fielding the most number of women candidates in the national elections led by its vice-presidential bet Loren Legarda, running mate of standard-bearer Manny Villar.

The women senatorial candidates in the Villar-Legarda ticket are re-electionist Sens. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Pia Cayetano, Rep. Liza Maza, OFW rights advocate Susan Ople, and family and children's welfare advocate Gwen Pimentel.

The six women candidates of NP appeared with Villar in a new television commercial, which started airing yesterday, where they represent the different roles that women assume in society - as mother, daughter, wife and nation-builder.

"I am really honored and privileged to have such amazing and high-achieving women in my team. They truly personify the new breed of women who play key roles in our society. Together, the lady candidates of NP will ensure that all the needs of Filipino women here and abroad are prioritized and addressed," declared Villar.

Each of the women candidates of the NP has clear women-oriented platforms covering health, livelihood, education, equal opportunities, and social justice.

Villar earlier said that with so many problems and challenges confronting women, there is a greater need for women leaders to assume key roles in government.

In particular, Villar expressed alarm over statistics depicting the sorry state of women's health in the country:

• 4,600 Filipinas die each year - about 12 per day - from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications that are mostly preventable (e.g., hemorrhage, hypertension, and pregnancy with abortive outcome);

• About 30 children become motherless everyday as a result of these deaths;

• Three out of four of these women who die are aged 15 to 19 years old.