Women's rights advocates called on candidates in the May 2022 elections to champion the welfare of women and children when elected in public office.

Citing the lack of social protection measures for women who belong to the informal economy, CWR lamented that women "continue to suffer hunger, poverty, landlessness, and joblessness" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the group, one out of two employed women belong to the informal sector. In 2020, it estimates that 19.54 million Filipinas are "economically insecure."

"When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the already detrimental conditions of women and their communities were aggravated even more. Lockdown restrictions close down factories and offices leaving thousands of women unemployed," CWR said.

"Peasant and indigenous women were prevented from going to their farms and tending to their livelihood, while millions lost their livelihood in the informal sector," it continued.

CWR challenged candidates to "veer away from failed neoliberal, repressive, and corrupt" policies and instead urged them to support women's agenda.

"We challenge them to make a commitment to prioritize the rights and welfare of women and children when elected in the public office, to uphold transparency and accountability," CWR said.

"We call on everyone to reject candidates with records of misogyny, plunder and human rights abuses. It is our duty to ensure that those who perpetrate abuse and continue to misrepresent, belittle, and disrespect women, be removed and prevented from staying in power," the group added.

Support candidates with proven track record of fighting for women

Meanwhile, GABRIELA prodded Filipino voters to support candidates who have a proven track record of fighting for women, the people's rights, and carry pro-people platform.

"As we gear into the national campaign period -- which doubtlessly will be filled with trapo lies and politicking -- we call on Filipino women and our people to assert our collective power to demand a government that will stand for our rights, welfare, and freedoms, and candidates who will not only promise but act, who will be real public servants and not plunderers and murderers in office," GABRIELA Secretary-General Joms Salvador said.

Salvador likewise challenged candidates to provide Filipinas with security in jobs, health, livelihood, and dignity.

"Women have been hit the hardest by the ensuing job crisis, where about half of the workforce had been unemployed. Women were the big section of the unemployed since even before the pandemic, most of them lacked job security let alone decent working conditions and benefits," she lamented.

"Women, especially mothers, have been left to keep their families afloat while contending with inflation of basic goods, unregulated oil price hikes, and merciless surges in utility costs such as water and electricity bills," Salvador added.