gabriela solon: women's rights, welfare took a beating under 2 years of P'noy

"Two years into the Aquino administration, we have not seen any significant improvement on the lives of Filipino women. Widespread hunger, poverty, unemployment and the virtual absence of social services for the past two years as a result of President Aquino's economic policies have all contributed to the deterioration of Filipino women and children's lives." Thus said Gabriela Women's Party Representative Luz Ilagan as progressive partylist organizations joined today's protests to mark President Aquino's second year in office.

According to Ilagan, majority of Filipino families survive on less than $2 or P85 per day. "This meager amount that a family needs to survive on is spent largely on children's daily sustenance, with the least amount of food and nutrition going to mothers. Thus it is not surprising that maternal mortality rate has increased under Aquino, with mothers' malnutrition and the inaccessibility of healthcare. Everyday, women and children are dying of easily preventable illnesses. These deaths present a clear picture of how women took a beating under Aquino."

The National Statistics Office' 2011 Family Health Survey reports the maternal mortality rate in the Phlippines went up to 221 deaths per 100,000 live births from only 162 deaths in 2006.

Ilagan likewise laments that women have become direct targets of human rights violations under Aquino. "The first journalist killed under President Aquino is a woman. Moreover, Former Gen. Jovito Palparan and those responsible for the deaths and disappearances of Eden Marcellana, Luisa Posa, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno remain free, giving perpetrators the signal to proceed with their violations with impunity."

"Not one of Aquino's promises have been delivered. Legislation that can potentially improve women's lives, have been sidelined and human rights violators have not been made accountable for their crimes. Napakarami nya'ng utang sa mamamayan. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, walang natupad sa mga pinangako n'ya."#