Batting for womenpower

It may be politics, or pique, that is blocking the confirmation of Secretary of Health designate Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial. I watched the televised first Commission on Apointsment onfirmation hearing on Dr. Ubial, and disagreed with the first of three oppositors to her confirmation, Kabayan Partylist Rep. Harry Roque, that she is guilty of incompetence, lying, waste of the people’s money, and corruption. Dr. Ubial denied all the charges. I believed her.

I hope the Commission, after listening to the two more oppositors, will be able to winnow the chaff from the grain, and see the truth about the character and competence of Ubial, who has spent 28 years of her life in public health service, starting as rural health practice volunteer in Kidapawan, Cotabato right after her graduation from the UE Memorial Medical Center. 

From her first job, she worked her way up to the top, handling responsibilities in maternal and child health service, communicable disease control, women’s health and development, and family and environmental health. She headed the steering committee of the Red Orchid Awards (the search for 100 percent tobacco-free environment for LGUs and government hospitals), and headed the task force for performance governance system and social dialogue.

On the charges that she made questionable decisions on the purchase and distribution of dengue and Zika vaccines and her causing the resignation of an officer of PhilHealth, she said it was specially created committees composed of health specialists who made the decisions in those matters. On the charge of incompetence, i.e., not knowing that Zika was not present in the country one day, and saying it was, a couple of days later, she said reports on the matter came on a day-to-day basis, and what was not known now became known two days later.

Her assignments in the provinces (Davao, Zamboanga and Cotabato), and being based in Manila, the central executive center of the Department of Health, keep her away from her husband and only child – a sacrifice she’s made for years for love of public service.

I would really like to have Dr. Ubial confirmed as the next Secretary of Health.

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ON ANOTHER FRONT: “If we want to see peace in the country, women would do a great job in resolving conflicts with their empathy and nurturing qualities.” Those are words of wisdom from Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). 

 “Women are indispensable in establishing peace, stability and economic and social progress,” says the governor, who is known in his area of responsibility as putting women in a pedestal as partners in progress.

Lauding them for their resilience, he says, “The world has always regarded women in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for their grace, courage and resilience. These are the women who, for centuries, have boldly stood by their male counterparts to resist the countless attempts of foreign powers to establish dominion over their homeland. And today, they persist amidst the on- and-off conflicts of our time, and in the everyday struggle that life throws at them.”

He added that these women don’t see themselves as inferior nor do they allow themselves to be restricted by traditions and social pressures. 

 “Women of our time want to rise up and take meaningful role in advancing society,” he says.

He explains that women have experience in managing their multiple roles as mothers, home-makers, employees, entrepreneurs and public servants. These tasks require the capacity to inspire, influence, express, negotiate and mediate between significant members within their circle. Women have shown their nurturing skills for benefiting the common welfare. These qualities are what organizations are looking for in today’s leadership.

He points out that several women are occupying key positions in ARMM whether in local government or the executive and legislative branches. He ticks off the names of MSU -Board of Regents Director Dr. Cecille Mamba, Lanao Del Sur Governor Soraya Alonso Adding, Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema, Cong. Ruby Sahali, Anak-Mindanao Partylist Cong Sitti Djalia Turabin, Jehan Mutin of the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro, Taraka Mayor Nashiba G.Sumagayan, Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, ARMM-DAR Secretary Amihilda Sangcopan, NCMF Commissioner Fatmawati Tulawie Salapuddin and Maguindanao Prosecutor Atty. Kookai Lao.

Bangsamoro Transition Commissioner Samirah Gutoc-Tomawis puts in a word about women’s role in governance. “It’s not just about having women in position, or being heard. It is about rethinking our ways as a community and as a people, that everything else is connected to each other, that the air we breathe has to be thanked for and can be damaged by our ways of doing”

Lawyer Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph, commissioner, Bangsamoro Transition Commission, adds: “Women make the other half of peace. Their gentle voices can muffle the barrel of a gun. Because war begins in the hearts and minds of men and women, it is women who instill ideas of peace and forgiveness in a child from birth to adulthood. Their participation in the peace process makes the quest for peace real and possible.”

From academe, Prof. Cecille Mambuhay says, “For women to be empowered, they must first believe that they are an important part of the development equation. That the role they have in nurturing the future citizens of the world is their most valuable contribution to humanity.”

Governor Hataman speaks about his wife, AMIN Partylist Congresswoman Sitti Hataman as one of ARMM’s exemplary women.

He describes her as “a perfect and excellent mother. She takes care of everything. She is a teacher and counselor for our kids, she always reminds them to be good Muslims and proud Moros.” But she is more than all that.

 Rep. Sitti Hataman is committed to helping her husband pursue his programs. As a Representative in the Lower House, she has championed the Moro culture and most importantly, the rights of women and children, and fostering good relations between Christians and Muslims. These advocacies are not new to her since she’s been their proponent for so many years in various capacities, but especially so when in 2010, she was appointed Director of the Office of Muslim Affairs.

 Her recent Islamic Banking system bill is widely supported by the Muslim sectors. The bill allows for the establishment of child-friendly safe houses for women and children who were displaced by wars or natural calamities. It aims “to address the deplorable conditions in evacuation centers where more often than not, women and children suffer because the centers are less than equipped to provide them with proper care and assistance. The safe houses will protect women, nursing mothers, young girls, and children and provide health services, counselling, legal counselling and skills training.”

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