NEGROS ORIENTAL, Oct. 8 (PIA) —  The Provincial Commission on Women (PCW) of Negros Oriental sets to hold a forum and workshop on “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity,” on October 15 at the Convention Center in observance of International Rural Women’s Day.

 

 

About a hundred women individuals and groups from various municipalities and cities in the province including in government agencies, non-government organizations and members of the commission are expected to participate in the activity.

 

In the same occasion, the PCW will also launch the search for “Babayeng Garbo sa Katilingban and Grupong Garbo sa Katilingban”.

 

According to Gender and Development (GAD) provincial focal person Josefina Columna the search is a way of recognizing outstanding individual and group effort in advancing women’s welfare.

 

It is said that empowering women is the key not only to the well-being of individuals, families and rural communities, but also to overall economic productivity, given women’s large presence in the agricultural workforce worldwide.

 

The commission has invited two guest-speakers to expound the theme include former director of Business for the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice in Salinas, California, USA Fe Stallworth and Jaybee Binghay of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, region7, Cebu City.

 

Columna has called on women-participants to be  present during the event for them to acquire new knowledge from the guests.

The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)