Women lawmakers lead House plenary session today

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STEP aside, gentlemen. Women are taking over – for a day, at least.

In celebration of Women’s Month, female lawmakers will lead today’s plenary session of the House of Representatives as it is set to pass pro-women and children bills and resolutions.

In accordance with Section 15 (h), Rule IV of the House rules, the House leadership has designated the following members to preside over the session successively: Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4Bulacan), Stella Luz Quimbo (Marikina City), Maria Rachel Arenas (Pangasinan), Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez (PL, Aloba) and Laarni Lavin Roque (Bukidnon).

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The second set of women lawmakers who will act as presiding officers for the session are Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel (Malabon City), Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy (Caloocan City), Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan), and Glona Labadlabad (Zamboanga del Norte).

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, the first transgender to be elected as a member of the House, will also be part of the group, while Rep. Angela Garcia, also of Bataan, will act as the majority leader and Rep. Bernadette Herrera (PL, BH) will be the minority leader.

The International Women’s Day is on March 8.

The House will hold regular plenary sessions after convening into the Committee of the Whole to resume tackling the Resolution of Both Houses No.7, or the proposal to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Congressmen have been working since last week to expedite hearings on economic Charter change followed by the resumption of the plenary sessions, which is held from Monday to Wednesday.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said the designation of the lady lawmakers as presiding officers and leaders “reflects the importance the House leadership puts on the role of its women members and Filipino women in general in lawmaking, in nation building, and in society.”

“The House leadership champions women empowerment, gender equality, and gender balance. Women have constantly become our guidepost in making critical decisions affecting our families, our communities, and our nation. They are our strong moral pillars,” he said in a statement.

The House leader thanked Filipino women and his women colleagues, especially “to the Speaker of my House,” referring to his wife Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (PL, Tingog).

“We thank them not only for their participation in nation building but particularly in tending to our households and caring or helping care for our families and guiding them to the path of righteousness,” he said.

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