MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has urged women to consider running in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, saying that political dynasties should not be the only way for female leaders to join politics.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon noted that while the country’s population is dominated by women, they comprise only 19 percent of incumbent elected officials.
“We are going around the country, advocating for more women candidates in the barangay and SK elections. The percentage for the barangay is very low, only 19 percent. It’s the same for other national and local positions,” said Guanzon who heads the Comelec’s Gender and Development (GAD) Committee.
Guanzon expressed disappointment that women usually join politics through political dynasty or when their husbands’ term of office has ended and they become substitute candidates.
She added that the number of women who run during elections could further decrease if the anti-dynasty law is passed by Congress.
She said that only a few women have won elections without the backing of political dynasties.
She cited former Comelec commissioner Grace Padaca who won the gubernatorial seat over Fustino Dy Sr. of Isabela’s political dynasty in the 2004 elections.
“Take former Isabela governor Padaca’s case for example. She’s the first in her generation, in her family. But she did not last long. Imagine that,” she said.
GAD hopes that in every election, 30 percent of candidates of political parties should be women.
According to Guanzon, there are several studies showing that although less women join elections, they are more “winnable” than men.
Women were also found to be generally more industrious and less prone to corruption than men.
Women get less support from the family and political parties that are composed primarily of men.
Guanzon has encouraged women to run in the barangay and SK polls because the issues confronting the barangay usually concern the family.