March 13, 2023 – Bacolod LGU conducted its kick-off activity in celebration of the 2023 National Women’s Month Celebration today at the Bacolod City Government Center Lobby.

Joined by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Abelardo Benitez, Chairman on Committee on Women, Gender, Family, and Child Care Councilor Celia Flor, Coun. Em Ang, Coun. Israel Salanga, Barangay women organizations and representatives.

Through a legal international mandate adopted in 1979 and passed by the United Nation (UN) which is “The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women” (CEDAW), Flor stated in her speech, are just some of the reasons why Women’s Month is celebrated today.

This celebration marks a juncture in the advancement of women’s rights as it launches a new recurring theme from this year to 2028: WE for gender equality and inclusive society.

Mayor Albee highlighted in his welcoming remarks that in the city’s legislative branch, half of which is composed of women and this is already a good sign that bacolod is on its way to eliminate gender discrimination and strengthen gender equality and inclusive society.

The theme WE stands for Women and Everyone emphasizing the role of women themselves and everyone in the pursuit of gender equality; WE stands for Women’s Empowerment, which can only be achieved when agencies, mechanisms, institutions, private partners, and duty-bearers from the national to the local level provide women equal rights and opportunities, and women take these opportunities to further themselves, with women and everyone in synergy, WE can make gender equality a possibility.

Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Bacolod Extension Office Director Atty. Annabelle Corral-Respall, shared SEC support digital with women for financial inclusion and financial literacy.

This celebration was also supported by PCW Provincial Council for Women Atty. Andrea Sy, GAD FPS Action Officer from Province of Neg. Occ. Marie June Pavillar Castro, Atty. Sonya Verdeflor, Brigitte Tan, Carmela Bantug Zayco, Ely Delos Santos Jr., Ziti Handumanan Dancers, Pahanocoy ZUMBHWA Dancers, Department of Social Services and Development, Urban Basic Services and Development, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Sectoral Office, LGBTQ Bacolod Sectoral and Alliance of Women for Better Bacolod.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)