Proposals for a law that will establish a gender quota in all sanggunians in the country, as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate, resurfaced as the country marks March as National Women’s Month.

Commissioner Percival Cendana of the National Youth Commission said the clamor for more representation in public positions continues, although in reality, men dominate in elective positions with only 20 percent women.

He said this is true of local sanggunians all over the country and almost the same ratio is found in Congress and in the Senate.

Cendana said he believes that with more women in elective positions, the country may be in better terms of governance.”

He however, points out that some segments of society still have the notion that men are superior to women.

Cendana added that it is only in the Sangguniang Kabataan councils that more women are participating. In the barangay councils, men also dominate.

It is for this reason that the NYC is against the abolition of the SK, he said.

Cendana was in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental for the “In Her Shoes” walk of men wearing high heels and stilettos as part of the activities marking the National Women’s Month.*JG

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