Show ‘women power’ in barangay polls – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is encouraging more women to participate in the barangay elections in October.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, head of the Gender and Development committee, said the barangay polls are “one election that women can have a better chance of running and winning as candidates.”

“When you campaign, the area will only be small. And also, you are already known in your own community, in your church, in the barangay,” she explained.

Of the 44,449 candidates in the 2013 midterm elections, 81.89 percent or 36,401 were men. Women accounted for only 19.92 percent of the winning candidates that year.

The Comelec could not yet say how many women are sitting as barangay chiefs and councilors this year.

Guanzon expressed hope that when more women join the elections, female voters would support them.

In the last May 9 polls, there were 28,052,138 registered female voters and 26,311,706 male voters.

“There are more women voters than men. And in other countries, they have a so-called women’s vote,” Guanzon said.