Women’s Month activities scrapped due to Covid-19

NAGA CITY --- Due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a state of Public Health Emergency throughout the country, the executive committee of the Naga City Council for Women (NCCW) scrapped the remaining activities lined-up for the National Women’s Month (NWM)celebration.

With this year’s theme: “We Make Change Work for Women,” the city government of Naga through the NCCW, kicked-off the month-long NWM celebration on Mar. 2 with a motorcade from the Naga City Hall grounds to the major streets of the city.

The motorcade, led by lawyer Miles Raquid-Arroyo, city councilor and chair of the Committee on Women, was participated in by the NCCW members, representatives from the different government and non-government agencies, barangays, city officials, and women organizations.

After the motorcade, Legacion, as NCCW chairperson, graced the ribbon-cutting and opening of the trade fair by women traders together with government service providers at the Naga City People’s Hall.

In his message, Legacion stressed the important role of women in the family and in the community. He also suggested that said occasion and other activities relative to NWM celebration should also be attended by men.

Mayor Nelson Legacion (2nd from right) leads the ribbon-cutting and opening of the National Women’s Month celebration and trade fair at the Naga City People’s Hall, Mar. 2, 2020. With the mayor are from right: councilor Atty. Miles Raquid-Arroyo, Vice Mayor Cecilia “Nene” de Asis, Naga First Lady Marion Eloisa Legacion, and NCCW officials. (JRM-PIAV/Camarines Sur)

“It should not only be the women. If the men are present, at least they will know the message -- that they too, will feel the important role of women. Men should be the support of the women in their undertakings,” Legacion said.

NWM activities that were cancelled include: Naga City Summit on Mar. 16; presentation of 2020 GAD budget by the city budget officer on Mar. 17; Women Got Talent on Mar. 18; Pampering Day for Women’s Government Employees and Brgy. Volunteers on Mar. 19; Women’s Night on Mar. 20; Brgy. GAD Planning and Budgeting on Mar 25; Ceremonial filing of Ordinance that responds to the Women’s Role in DRRM on Mar. 31; and the culminating activity – Awarding of Best VAWC Desk Barangay on Mar. 31.

According to NCCW President Mavic V. Balance, while some of the activities will no longer be conducted, other important events such as the Women’s Summit, and the Awarding of Best VAWC Desk Barangay will be conducted on November 2020, in celebration of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW).”