DepEd celebrates International Women’s Day
By ALGIER C. SEMACIO
Pinamanculan Elementary School
West Butuan District II
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 8 as the International Women’s Day (IWD), in recognition for the achievements of women and girls without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
In the Philippines, the legal bases for the celebration are the following:
a. Presidential Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988 declaring the first week of March each year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day;
b. Presidential Proclamation No. 227 s. 1988 providing for the observance of the Month of March as Women’s Role in History Month; and
c. Republic Act No. 6949 s. 1990 declaring March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day
The Department of Education (DepEd) based on Memorandum No. 7, s. 2021 issued by Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones announces the observance of the 2021 IWD with the theme, Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World. This is to celebrate the monumental efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Secretary Briones, said IWD is not only an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, but also to critically reflect on those accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. “It is a day to recognize the extraordinary acts of women and to stand together, as a united force, to advance gender equality around the world,” she added.
Meantime, DepEd, through the International Cooperation Office (ICO), will organize a webinar on today, March 8, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via Facebook Live of DepEd PH and DepEd-ICO Facebook Page, to celebrate the IWD. Target participants are teachers and students representing different schools, organizations and education systems from countries around the world. All concerned DepEd personnel are enjoined to support the 2021 IWD by organizing activities for the learners and advocacy activities for other stakeholders such as parents, teacher, and nonteaching personnel. ###
