Tagbilaran City’s First Lady (FL) Jane Yap pays homage to the women achievers especially the female frontliners who put their lives at risk to help people in need.

Yap, who is the founder of the charitable entity called Gugma Tagbilaran, paid homage to women achievers by delivering an inspiring message during the kick-off activity of City’s celebration of Women’s Month at the City Hall Atrium, a report from the City Media Bureau says.

In her address, Yap expressed her great admiration to women achievers especially those who are in the frontlines battling the pandemic.

“I have great respect and admiration for women, especially, for those women front-liners who, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, had to take risks, leave their families and work on field during a stressful period,” she said.

She added: “Mao nga saludo kita sa mga frontliners ug tanang mga babaye nga nakigbisog taliwala sa pandemya. As we celebrate women’s month, let us take it as a challenge for us to continue the legacy of the brave women who came before us by raising strong and empowered daughters. It is not all about teaching them what to do but it is also letting children learn by what they see and experience. We still need more consistent efforts, solid cooperation and intense vigilance”.

Furthermore, Yap said that aside from the women working in the frontlines, there is a need to pay tribute to other women who are left at home as they too are sacrificing for their respective families as well.

“Dili usab nato kalimtan ang atong mga nanay, auntie, ate nga nabilin sa balay sa panahon sa pandemya. These women at home bear greater burden as they grapple with caring for family members amidst a backdrop of limited income, distance learning and food insecurity. But despite everything, women remain to be the key that held families and communities together. And we expect that women will be at the heart of the bounce back recovery programs.”

The City Government lined up several activities towards enabling and empowering women in celebration of the Women’s Month this March.

Moreover, the Juana sa Pandemya Palaro Edition jumpstarted the month-long celebration of Women’s Month in the city.

A feeding program for children facilitated by Gugma Tagbilaran along with the Tagbilaran Women’s Association of BarangayPoblacion 3 was held on March 10, 2021.

A focus group discussion among women of Habitat Village Homeowners Association is slated today, March 14, 2021 while another focus group discussion involving the Women Association in BarangayPoblacion 3 will be held on March 26, 2021. 

Meanwhile, on March 17, 2021, two events would take place, the Gender and Development (GAD) Seminar via Zoom among the City Government employees and the free ultrasound service to pregnant women. 

A Business and Livelihood Planning session with the BarangayTiptip Women‘s Association will be held on March 19, 2021. The women’s month celebration will be capped off by a culmination activity scheduled on March 24, 2021.

In a related development, the Livelihood Training Center of the Bangon Ug Abante sa Bag-ong Asenso (BABA) will be inaugurated on March 25, 2021.

The training center will be the focal point for trainings and capacity building for women. The said center will help equip Tagbilaranons with relevant skills to harness the people’s income-generating capacities.

City Mayor John Geesnell Yap, who chairs the Gender and Development (GAD) Executive Committee of the City Government, emphasized the role of women in the community.