VILLAR ON WHAT WOMEN NEED: PROTECTION VS VIOLENCE; HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AND LIVELIHOOD

In keeping with his advocacies for women, Senate President Manny Villar says that what Filipino women of today really need include more comprehensive healthcare benefits, consistent protection against violence, and a sustainable source of livelihood.

Just like every human being, women need to have their most basic needs met. If we provide them with livelihood, healthcare benefits and protectionwe have directly or indirectly met their basic needs such as food, shelter, good health, job and safety. With all these, they are set for life, cites Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party.

Villar is particularly alarmed over the growing incidence of violence against women and their children. This is the topic of the advocacy campaign that Villar did in coordination with womens groups Gabriela and Teodora of the Couples For Christ.

A report released by UN Population Fund (UNFPA) recently cites that at least one in every five women will become a victim of rape and one out of three will be subjected to violence and sexual abuse in her life span. The report also cited that violence kills many women between the ages of 15 and 44 as much as common terminal diseases such as cancer.

In the Philippines, based on police records, an average of 20 cases of violence against women are reported every day. It is estimated that more crimes are not reported.

Villar, under Senate Bill 613 or the Womens Medical and Hospitalization Benefits Act, also seeks for the provision of free medical and hospitalization benefits to indigent Filipino women suffering from womens diseases such as cancer of the reproductive organ or of the breast; pregnancy-related diseases; and illnesses or injuries caused by violence inflicted on them.

Villar also filed Senate Bill 620 to provide literacy program for all expectant mothers in all public and private hospitals, clinics, health centers and other similar establishments rendering maternity services.

Women, mothers in particular, play a very important role in molding the minds of the children or the future leaders of our society. Thus, it is but proper to equip them with appropriate skills and knowledge to be effective as our childrens first teacher, cites Villar.

Encompassing both the healthcare benefits and literacy program for women, Villars Senate Bill 622 proposes the establishment of the Office of Research on Womens Health, which shall conduct comprehensive or extensive research and studies on womens health and shall provide the appropriate quality care to women.