(Photo courtesy of PCW)
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) stressed that women’s empowerment should not be measured solely by financial independence but also by their freedom to make decisions, live with dignity and remain protected from abuse.
In a statement over the weekend marking the United Nations’ International Day of Care and Support, the commission called for greater recognition of unpaid care work and stronger institutional support for caregivers.
“Empowerment cannot be measured by economic independence alone. Financial security is an essential safeguard, but true empowerment is fundamentally defined by agency,” the PCW said.
The commission urged the government and private sector to expand public daycare facilities, provide fair wages and paid parental leave, and introduce flexible work arrangements to help women balance employment and family responsibilities.
It noted that many Filipino women who want to pursue careers or establish businesses continue to face obstacles, including expensive childcare services, inadequate wages and unequal distribution of household responsibilities.
“We cannot preach self-reliance while leaving caregivers without real institutional support,” the commission said.
The PCW also encouraged husbands and partners to share household chores and childcare duties, emphasizing that caregiving should be a shared family responsibility.
It called for a review of domestic workers’ wages and benefits to ensure adequate compensation, social protection and reasonable working hours.
“We cannot speak of valuing care work if the people who nurture our households and care for our families are paid substandard wages,” it said.
The commission emphasized that homemaking and caring for children, sick relatives and elderly family members are essential contributions that enable other household members to participate in the workforce.
“Diminishing her contribution just because she does not bring home a paycheck ignores the very labor that keeps our families alive and whole,” the PCW said.
Despite emphasizing the value of unpaid care work, the commission maintained that financial independence remains crucial to protecting women from exploitation and abuse.
It cited Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, which recognizes economic abuse as a form of violence.
According to the PCW, withholding financial support, restricting access to bank accounts and preventing partners from working are among the methods used to exercise financial control.
It warned that financial dependence can also make it difficult for women to leave abusive relationships.
The commission encouraged women to develop savings, financial literacy and livelihood skills to prepare for emergencies, including a spouse’s illness, unemployment, abandonment or death.
The PCW likewise called for an end to discrimination against stay-at-home fathers, saying men who actively participate in caregiving help teach children equality, respect and shared responsibility.
It stressed that earning less than a partner should never be grounds for denying someone a voice in family decisions or undermining their authority as a parent.
Drawing from the precolonial babaylan tradition, which recognized women’s roles in healing, leadership and community care, the commission urged Filipinos to reject gender stereotypes and promote equal responsibility within households.
The PCW said empowerment may take different forms for corporate executives, employees, entrepreneurs, homemakers, women with disabilities, overseas Filipino workers and farmers.
“What binds them together is not their salary, but dangal, pagpapasya, at paggalang (dignity, agency and respect),” the commission said.
