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Friday, March 29, 2024

SGMA leading the Pack of Empowered Women

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The fight for women’s rights around the world has been fought for ages. This has spawned numerous empowered women in history who have inspired a plethora of other women leaders throughout the years. 

SGMA leading the Pack of Empowered Women

In the Philippines, the struggle has been evident, but it has bore valuable fruit especially when we take a look at our politics. 

None better an example of this is the journey of the current Speaker of House, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the first woman speaker. 

Representing the second district of Pampanga, SGMA was elected to the Speakership on July 23, 2018, and is the first woman and 21st person to serve as Speaker, this after serving as the country’s second female President, among many other notable achievements. 

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From the People’s House to The Working House, the 17th Congress’ shift in leadership has also brought about a change in dynamics in the bicameral body’s lower house.

That change has been evident since Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the helm, bringing with her the bravado and great zeal which has influenced the 292-strong member House of Representatives into crafting and approving numerous bills in only a short span of time.

SGMA leading the Pack of Empowered Women

In just six months since she assumed leadership of the House, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has steered the chamber to pass all of the priority legislative measures of President Rodrigo Duterte as he enumerated in his State of the Nation Address in July.

Arroyo credited her colleagues for working hard to pass all of the President’s 15 priority measures.

In a speech before Congress adjourned for the Christmas break, Arroyo said she was not concerned about her legacy but about carrying out the legislative agenda of the President.

“And as of yesterday, the House can report with confidence that we have already passed the President’s entire legislative agenda as he announced in his 2018 State of the Nation Address. So you all deserve congratulations and thanks,” Arroyo said.

The President’s priority bills included the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Endo or the Security of Tenure Act, Utilization of the Coco Levy Act, National Land Use Act, Creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience, Rice Tariffication, Trabaho Bill or TRAIN 2, Mining Taxes, Alcohol Taxes, Tobacco Taxes, Reform in Property Valuation, Reform in Capitol Income and Financial Taxes, Tax Amnesty Program, Universal Health Care and Revision of the Constitution.

Under Arroyo, the House has processed about 1,361 bills, approved 492 measures of which 95 have been passed into law.

SGMA leading the Pack of Empowered Women

“Thirty-nine bills are ready for the President’s signature; 27 with ratified bicameral reports; 25 on bicameral conference committee; 22 approved on second reading plus 38 resolutions approved. We have processed an average of 33 measures a day,” she said.

Indeed, the last few years have brought one surprise after the other in the world of politics — and one of the more recent saw Arroyo being elected as Speaker mid-2018. 

A total of 184 House members formed the new majority and voted in favor of the Pampanga 2nd District representative. After 20 male Speakers, it took a former President to put a woman on top of the legislature.

In the history of the House of Representatives, men have dominated the field. But with Arroyo’s accumulated experience and political clout, she stood out was the clear cut choice.

The road to the Speakership, so to speak, began when Arroyo was elected to represent the second district of her home province Pampanga – made up of her hometown of Lubao as well as Floridablanca, Guagua, Porac, Sta. Rita and Sasmuan – in 2010 for the 15th Congress. She succeeded her son, Juan Miguel “Mikee” Arroyo, as representative.

And even if her term is nearing its tail-end, there’s no indication that the working house is stopping. 

SGMA leading the Pack of Empowered Women

In fact, the House of Representatives is not only an amalgam of zealous individuals working toward a more productive 17th Congress. The working house, with a mother-figure in tow, is now a caring house. 

This shows in various measures supporting the practice of corporate social responsibility in the country.

It also shows in the push from Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the urgent rehabilitation of Marawi City and for a renewed focus on the plight of the urban poor, which she has championed throughout her career.

The House tackles a lot of other measures that directly and indirectly affect the urban poor — and under the baton of Speaker Arroyo, the country’s lawmakers are encouraged to apply compassion and wisdom to the laws that will benefit not just the poor, but all Filipinos as well.

This comes as no surprise as politics with a purpose has always been in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s blood. 

She was 14 years old when her father, Diosdado Macapagal, became the country’s ninth President. “GMA” herself would become the 14th President of the Philippines—- before gaining another milestone as the country’s first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

But even at 71 years old, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has proven she has many more years of public service in her. Having been voted into all the top elective posts of the country, being Speaker may not be the final stop of her long and glittering political journey.

And amid all things that she had accomplished, there’s hope for the next batch of empowered women to follow on Mrs. Arroyo’s trailblazing path. “‹

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