Galvanized by her election as new Internal Vice President of the Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc. (AWLFI), Cavite 2nd district Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla has vowed to work even harder to push for legislation that would empower and uplift her fellow Filipino women.

Mercado-Revilla described her new role as both an honor and a responsibility, as she emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among women lawmakers to advance policies that protect women’s rights, promote their welfare, and ensure equal opportunities across all sectors.

Incidentally, March is international Women’s Month.

“Ang responsibilidad na ito ay aking tinatanggap nang may pagpapakumbaba at determinasyon. Inaasahan kong makatrabaho ang aking kapwa kababaihang lider, mula sa iba’t ibang panig, upang ipagpatuloy ang ating sama-samang adhikain sa paglilingkod sa bayan,” Mercado-Revilla said in a recent Facebook post.

(I accept this responsibility with humility and determination. I look forward to working alongside my fellow women leaders, from different sectors, to continue our shared commitment to serving the nation.)

She expressed gratitude to President Marcos for leading the oath-taking of newly elected AWLFI officers and for reaffirming the organization’s role as a collective voice of women legislators committed to putting advocacy above politics and unity at the forefront of meaningful reforms.

Mercado-Revilla underscored that her legislative agenda remained focused on addressing the evolving challenges faced by Filipino women, particularly in the areas of health, workplace protection, family support systems, and protection against violence—both offline and online.

The veteran legislator has advocated for stronger workplace protections through House Bill (HB) No. 257, which expands the definition of discrimination against women under the Labor Code, ensuring safer and more equitable working environments.

HB No. 8195, which she also authored, seeks to promote women’s health and wellness in the workplace. It recognized the need for gender-responsive policies that support women’s physical and mental well-being in their places of employment.

To protect families, the congresswoman from Cavite crafted HB No. 7539, which sought to establish a comprehensive child and spousal support system to ensure that women and children receive the financial support they are entitled to. The measure strengthens enforcement against non-compliance, streamlines claims, and promotes accountability to safeguard the well-being, education, and health of children while easing the burden on single parents and guardians.

In the area of maternal and newborn care, she is pursuing the passage of HB No. 2335, institutionalizing the “Unang Yakap” protocol to improve healthcare outcomes for mothers and infants nationwide.

She is also pushing for HB No. 4140, which strengthens breastfeeding support and ensures safe access to donor human milk during disasters and emergencies, highlighting the importance of safeguarding maternal and child health even in crisis situations.

Addressing the growing threats in the digital space, she filed HB No. 5642, which sought to define and penalize electronic violence against women and their children, and expand the scope of protection under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act.

She also continues to push for reforms in criminal law through HB No. 6305, which seeks to remove the “forgiveness clause” that allows offenders in certain sexual crimes to evade criminal liability, reinforcing accountability and justice for victims.