Vice President Sara Duterte said Friday more efforts are needed to be done to advance the promotion of the LGBTQI+ community, particularly in the business sector, amid the "systemic discrimination" its members are facing. At the reception of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Pride, Duterte noted that some lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people "have limited opportunities for livelihood or employment." She said members of the community "experience obstacles when attempting to access funds, licenses, produce sales, hire staff, or obtain insurance." These are on top of "not feeling safe going out or exploring business prospects consistent with their identity." Photo courtesy of VP Sara Duterte Facebook page

"LGBTQI+ people already face enough obstacles on their own, but to sustain their enterprises and expand their businesses, they are far more likely to encounter issues that are specific to underserved and marginalized groups," she lamented. "Hindi lang tayo sa kasiyahan (We're not only about happiness), we should not forget that more needs to be done to advance LGBTQI+ inclusion and equality in all sectors, including the business sector," she added. Because of these, Duterte said her office was not only pushing for inclusivity and equality, but was also advocating the community's "important role in advancing the growth of our local commerce" through providing them with platforms that will enable them to showcase their creativity and resourcefulness. "It is crucial that we steadfastly advocate for their further empowerment and collaboration among the business community," she said. "As socio-economic disparities across genders continue to rise, we believe in the importance of expanding the capacities of the sector, thereby instituting programs that will not only narrow the economic gaps among genders but will also help them contribute to the overall growth of their respective industries," she added.