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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 March) – The partylist Gabriela will be pushing a bill declaring March 8 as non-working holiday as celebration of the International Women’s day to recognize the role of women in history and its contribution in the national development.
“In order for women to fully commemorate their day, women need a day out of their workplaces without worrying about being fired from work or about the next day’s meal for their family,” said Lyda Canson, chair emeritus of Gabriela-Davao.
The proponents of the bill are Gabriela partylist representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus.
Gabriela’s bill wants to amend Republic Act 6949, otherwise known as “An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known as National Women’s Day,” so that March 8 will be a non-working holiday.
Canson said that for now, the working women are not allowed to leave their workplaces to join the celebration.
She said many women want to join the March 8 commemoration, to join the march in the streets bannering the color purple to show pride in their being women, but work prevents them from participating.
The first international celebration was proclaimed in 1911 when women marched in the streets to fight for their rights and welfare. (MindaNews)
