Female passengers got to ride trains of the MRT-3 and LRT-2 for free on International Women’s Day

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A total of 51,202 female passengers got to ride trains of the MRT-3 and LRT-2 for free on Tuesday, 08 March 2022, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) joined in the celebration of International Women’s Day.

The DOTr joined the rest of the world in honoring the valuable roles women play in society. As part of the month-long celebration, female passengers of the MRT-3 and LRT-2 lines were given free rides during peak hours on Tuesday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The MRT-3 recorded a total of 38,445 female passengers who availed of the free ride.

Meanwhile, aside from the free rides for female passengers, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) also offered free Blood Typing Test, Blood Pressure Checking, and Random Blood Sugar Tests at the LRT-2 Recto and Araneta Center-Cubao stations on the same day.

The LRTA likewise recorded a total of 12,757 female passengers who availed the free ride at the LRT-2 line.

"Kaisa po ng buong bansa ang pamunuan ng MRT-3 sa pagdiriwang at pagsaludo sa dedikasyon, galing, at puso ng bawat kababaihang Pilipino," MRT-3 OIC-General Manager Asec. Eymard Eje said.

“These activities aim to honor and recognize the indispensable role of women in our society as well as reaffirm DOTr and LRTA’s commitment to gender equality and women empowerment,” LRTA Administrator Jeremy Regino, for his part, said.

With the theme, "Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow," this year’s National Women's Month Celebration highlights women’s achievements, promotes the breaking of biases, and encourages others to take action for equality.

DepEd Last Mile Schools Program marks milestone with first-ever completed school in Eastern Visayas

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The Department of Education (DepEd) unveiled its first-ever completed Last Mile School in Eastern Visayas during a turnover ceremony in Calbiga, Samar last February 23, 2022.

 

“This is only the first step to the many developments under the Public Schools of the Future framework. We will continue to close the gap between the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas to their urban center counterparts in providing unhampered and equal access to education,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

 

Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua stressed that funding must be allocated to Last Mile Schools like Patong National High School (PNHS), which has classrooms and roofs made of sala-sala, bamboo, sawali, nipa, and pan-aw, and have unpaved flooring.

 

“Hindi lang tayo nagtatayo ng building kundi kinukompleto rin natin ang package. Itatayo natin ang building, lalagyan natin ng laman tulad ng furniture, sistema para sa solar power at tubig. Ito ang essential elements of a last mile school,” Undersecretary Pascua said.

 

PNHS School Head Apolinario Nacario mentioned the program’s important contribution, especially to those who belong to low-income families.

 

“Hindi na mahihirapan ang mga pamilya sa paggastos ng malaki para sa pamasahe ng kanilang anak papunta ng bayan. Ito rin kasi ay nasa sentro ng limang paaralan ng elementarya,” Nacario noted.

 

Meanwhile, Bonga National High School (BNHS) Principal Wilma Montejo shared the status of the undergoing construction of one concrete school building with four classrooms to replace their six makeshift classrooms.

 

“Gawa na halos lahat. Kinakailangan na lang ay ang system na makakapag-generate ng kuryente mula sa solar power at ang pasilidad sa paghuhugas ng kamay. By March. sana ay matapos ito para makapag-open na kami ng face-to-face classes," Montejo said.

 

DepEd field officers’ latest assessments revealed that the figure has risen to 9,225, which is currently equivalent to 19.4% of all public schools.

 

“’Yan ang dapat bigyan natin ng focus kung paano natin gagawing kasing ganda ang mga last mile schools na narito ng mga eskuwelahan sa siyudad. Hopefully, the next administration will continue ang ganito klase ng priority,” Usec. Pascua said.

 

Led by Usec. Pascua, the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration visited Samar and Leyte from February 23 to 25 to assess the completeness of newly-constructed and restored buildings, including those undergoing construction.

 

Statement on the Enactment of RA 11648

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Save the Children Philippines lauds the enactment of Republic Act 11648 or the Act Raising the Age of Sexual Consent, which increases the age of statutory rape from 12 to 16. This recognizes children’s right to and need for protection from sexual abuse and exploitation.

According to the country’s National Baseline Study on Violence against Children (Council for the Welfare of Children, 2016), 1 out of 4 Filipino children experience some form of sexual violence with children aged 13-17 experiencing the most sexual violence. Majority of the victims of rape are children aged 13-15 according to the Philippine Commission on Women. By raising the age of sexual consent, we are casting a wider net to protect more children from being sexually abused and exploited, especially by adults.

With the passage of this law, the Philippines as State Party complies with the recommendations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to increase the age of sexual consent, and thereby, addressing the limitation of the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 in addressing statutory rape.

Save the Children, however, recognizes that the passage of this law is just the beginning of a stronger advocacy for the protection of children from all forms of violence. We call on the Philippine government for stronger implementation of all child protection related laws and policies, particularly at the community level. This will help to ensure that violence against children is prevented and properly addressed should this happen. This can start by ensuring that all local government officials and other stakeholders understand these laws and policies, and what their roles and responsibilities are in implementing these so they can fulfill their obligations to protect all children in their communities. These laws and policies should also be translated into actual child protection related programs, projects, and activities that are included in local development plans and budgets. These should particularly include investments in prevention activities, readily-available and accessible services, and adequate and capacitated human resources to deliver the services.

Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer, Atty. Alberto Muyot said:

“While we celebrate the enactment of RA 11648, we enjoin families and all sectors of society to remain vigilant and continue to work together to protect children from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation.”