BANGKOK — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) of the Philippines has highlighted the critical role of gender considerations in climate change policies during the Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). PCO Undersecretary and Vice Chairperson of the agency's Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System, Cherbett Karen Maralit, emphasized the Philippines' commitment to gender-responsive climate action in Bangkok, Thailand, from February 6 to 7.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippines has incorporated gender-sensitive approaches into its Climate Change Act, focusing on children and the impoverished. This legislation guides the country in its climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, ensuring that renewable energy plans and programs account for gender-differentiated vulnerabilities. The People's Survival Fund, serving as the nation's adaptation fund, is also designed to address local projects' responsiveness to these gender-specific vulnerabilities. Maralit pointed out the significant involvement of women in the government's Disaster Risk Resilience Program, which aims to fortify the capabilities of disaster-prone families while providing temporary income opportunities in exchange for training or work. Notably, women constituted 54 percent of the program's participants in 2023, underlining their pivotal role in fostering climate-resilient communities.
Furthermore, Maralit announced the Philippines' recent agreement with the United Nations on the 2024-2028 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, aimed at ensuring a just transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient development model that benefits all societal sectors. She called on regional stakeholders to prioritize gender-responsive considerations in policy-making across various levels to mitigate the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change.
In a related development, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recognized Filipino women's integral contributions to the country's post-pandemic recovery. NEDA Economic Development Specialist II, Arsenia Crisilda Maxinne Pepino, reported that women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) accounted for 62 percent of new business registrations during the pandemic, with women's labor force participation increasing significantly. Despite these achievements, Pepino underscored the need for continued efforts to address the economic and social marginalization of women and girls, pointing out the strategies outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to combat gendered poverty.
Additionally, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) advocated for the adoption of gender-responsive budgeting by United Nations member states, emphasizing the importance of allocating resources to meet the diverse needs of all population segments. PCW Officer-In-Charge Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado highlighted the Philippines' implementation of gender-responsive budgeting as a critical step towards achieving gender equality and eradicating poverty, underscoring the transformative potential of fiscal policies that prioritize inclusivity and human rights.