09 June 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in Yangon conducted a forum on Gender and Development on June 05 at the Philippine Chancery.

The first part of the forum centered on Republic Act 9710, the Magna Carta on Women. Career Minister Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo discussed the rights of women such as the rights for equal treatment before the law and protection from violence, and the right to decent work, among others. She added that the Magna Carta on Women is a compendium of the country’s more than 15 years of implementing the Beijing Platform of Action as well as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW.

In an effort to empower migrant workers, particularly in judiciously managing their finances, the second part of the talk highlighted real property as an alternative investment. Ayala Land Inc. Director Antonio T. Aquino discussed the current trends in the Philippine economy, including real property investment in the Philippines. He said that all indications in the economy are showing rosy pictures. In particular, remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are among the more robust drivers, followed by business processing outsourcing (BPO), tourism and manufacturing. He added that the good governance platform of President Aquino and some positive policies from past administrations are now bearing progressive outcomes.

In his opening speech, Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Alex G. Chua said women and migrant workers, though in the past considered belonging to the vulnerable sector in society, should now consider themselves as empowered to contribute to nation-building. “It is important for members of this sector to know their rights and prepare for the future,” he said. END