Women to reap benefits through Magna Carta

PIA Press Release
2010/12/10

Women to reap benefits through Magna Carta
by Venus G. Villanueva

Kalibo, Aklan (10 December) -- In what could be deemed as a gift for Filipino women, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Magna Carta of Women has just been released November 22 of this year as the country observes the 18-Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women (VAW).

Evelyn Ejar, Director II of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Field Office here said the Magna Carta of Women or RA 9710 was approved on September 15, 2009 but its IRR only came out this November.

Under the law, women in the government service who undergo surgery due to gynecological disorders will enjoy special privileges.

"A woman who undergoes a major operation will enjoy a maximum of 2 months leave of absence, while a woman who undergoes a minor operation will enjoy a minimum of 2 weeks leave of absence," Ejar said.

Those who have undergone operations after September 15, 2009 can have their leave credits restored, and those who returned earlier before the exhaustion of their leave of absence they applied for could be paid by their office, according to the CSC.

Gynecological disorders, according to Ejar, include breast cancer, cervical cancer, andhe reproductive system.

In Aklan, some major activities lined up and held by the province through the Aklan Gender Commission (AGADC) and the Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) include Campaign for Men's Health (Prostate Screening); Training on Massage Therapy throught the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and AGADC; Blood Letting/Blood Typing through PNRC and AGADC; MOVE Congress; Signature Campaign (To Stop Human Trafficking); Tri-Media Guesting; STI/HIV-AIDS/RA 9262 Forum and other pertinent laws; and Justice and Protection for Children by PACT and AGADC.

"Magna Carta ni PINAY: Gawing Tunay "Karahasan Sa Kababaihan, WAKASAN" is the theme of this year's celebration from November 25 to December 12, 2010.