​President Marcos on Friday, March 8, urged the Filipino people to embrace their civic and moral duty to ensure that every woman is free and safe to voice her sentiment with courage and compassion.

In her message for the celebration of the National Women's Month, the President also said it is important that Filipinos will also safeguard the gains achieved towards equality, inclusivity, and empowerment.

That way, "we can fully harness our country's immeasurable potential," he said.

"Let us, therefore, take up this responsibility and accelerate the pace of creating a truly gender-responsive populace under the banner of a Bagong Pilipinas," he added.

Marcos said he is one with the Filipino people in celebrating Filipino women; and the Philippines also takes pride "for being receptive and empathetic to the experiences of women."

"This is no surprise given that, throughout history, we were blessed with an impressive list of remarkable advocates who marched, fought, and sacrificed to uphold women’s rights and foster a culture of respect that transcends gender differences," he said.

The National Women's Month, he said, serves as an acknowledgment to those champions as well as "how far our society has progressed away from gender biases, prejudices, and discrimination."

"This annual commemoration is also a salient reminder of the paths yet uncharted, especially for the protection of women in the marginalized communities," he said.

"Knowing this, it is imperative that conscious efforts are consistently being taken to ensure that every Filipina has equal opportunities and is actively engaged in nation-building," he added.