IN 2020, women in the government workforce holding career executive positions already outnumbered men 11 to nine.
The Inventory of Government Human Resource for that year showed there were 840,131 females and 681,777 males in First and Second Level career positions.
A breakdown by age bracket showed the gap was bigger among younger government workers and, interestingly, also in the Second Level positions.
Even then, the message was already scribbled in bold letters — more women are taking over positions of responsibility, influencing decisions, and steering policy directions.
Fast forward to 2024, figures from the Civil Service Commission showed the count disparity only became bigger with 12 women for every eight men holding career executive posts in government offices, including national government agencies, local government, and government corporations.
‘Working women continue to bear the disproportionate responsibilities for child-rearing while drawing lower pay compared to their male counterparts and having less chances to be considered for the top post.’
The same trend was recorded in all regions of the country with Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas showing the biggest differences.
And still, advocacy for policies and issues that promote women’s rights continues to be an uphill battle.
Working women continue to bear the disproportionate responsibilities for child-rearing while drawing lower pay compared to their male counterparts and having less chances to be considered for the top post.
Access to education on sexual and reproductive health remains elusive even as cases of violence against women hit high numbers year on year, hand in hand with incidence of teenage pregnancies.
The one area that has withstood the challenge of female ascendancy is politics. In all levels of government, male politicians have refused to relinquish dominance when it comes to elective posts.
In Congress, which is the key battleground for measures that affect the lives and career advancement opportunities of women, the seats won by female legislators have yet to breach 30 percent.
That does not simply represent a lopsided number. Measured in terms of likelihood of getting the more controversial legislation passed like divorce and abortion bills, that is an insurmountable mountain.
Yet, the swell is building up on the horizon, powerful and irresistible.
Data from the Commission on Higher Education as of yearend 2023 showed that out of the 4.79 million total enrollment, 57.2 percent or 2.74 million are women. The gap expands dramatically when it comes to post-graduate studies, with women accounting to 70 percent of students.
As higher education institutions churn out millions of graduates each year, the greater number will be women, better educated, more persistent.
Their turn at the helm of Congress and other top level elective posts is only a matter of time.
And this country of 116 million will only be the better for it.
