To Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr.,
The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Center of Excellence Executive Director Susana Guadalupe Marcaida,
Colleagues in the government, members of the Diplomatic Corps, development partners, civil society leaders,
Fellow champions and advocates of the WPS Agenda,
A pleasant evening to everyone, and Happy National Women’s Month!
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Before anything else, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to OPAPRU on the successful launch of the Center of Excellence (CoE) on WPS—the first in the Philippines and only second of its kind in Southeast Asia! More importantly, we thank you for working tirelessly to make this dream come true.
This comes at a very opportune time not only because your launch coincides with National Women’s Month but also because this year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)—landmark documents for advancing gender equality and promoting the essential role of women in peace processes.
As we commemorate the adoption of these documents, let us reflect on our journey to achieving a truly gender-fair and peaceful world.
Recent studies show that we continue to confront the same challenges, with progress on gender equality and women's involvement in peacebuilding is still limited.
In fact, conflict, instability, and violence are escalating globally, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the impact. They suffer from food insecurity, displacement, and lack of access to education and even healthcare. And even in the absence of armed conflict, women face security threats related to climate change, cybersecurity, digitalization, and geopolitical tensions.
The 2023 Women, Peace, and Security Index—the only index combining inclusion, justice, and security indicators to assess women’s status—reveals significant disparities worldwide. It reports that countries ranking highest are primarily from the Developed Country group, while those considered Fragile States are at the bottom.
Unfortunately, the Philippines ranked 121st out of the 177 countries, scoring 0.61 on a scale of one (1) being the highest.
This is indeed a sad reality. But we must confront this nonetheless. This is why now, more than ever, we are intensifying our efforts to strengthen the WPS Agenda in the country.
As the Budget and Management Secretary—and proudly only the second woman to hold this position and even prouder to be the first Muslim Budget Secretary—upholding “The Women’s Budget” or the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget has always been one of my priorities. Established in 1995, this policy mainstreams gender budget tagging and advocates for gender-responsive budgeting.
We likewise ensure that government-funded programs continue to uplift the lives of all women. This includes supporting women-led small businesses, increasing women’s access to social protection programs, education, and health services, and protecting them through climate finance.
Towards peacebuilding, OPAPRU-led initiatives such as the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program have notably improved the lives of the Filipino people through capacity-building, reconstruction, and development in conflict-affected areas. This year, we allocated Php 5.26 billion to support this flagship peace and development convergence program.
And we don’t just stop there. We also create spaces where the WPS Agenda is discussed and prioritized.
Just last year, as you may know, through the OPAPRU, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the Philippines hosted the first-ever ministerial-level International Conference on WPS, bringing together thousands of stakeholders to further the WPS Agenda on the global stage.
At this conference, the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) also held a side event focusing on strengthening women’s participation in peace processes and economic development.
Now, beyond these events, this Center of Excellence on WPS will ensure that our efforts are sustainable and impactful in the long term. And I am proud that we now have a regional hub where experts and stakeholders can share best practices, forge partnerships, and increase capacity to implement WPS Agenda initiatives at local, national, regional, and even international levels.
As the Chairperson of its Advisory Council, I am actually humbled but I am also confident that the synergy of DBM, OPAPRU, and PCW will continue to push forward the position of our country as a global leader in advancing gender equality and empowering women in peace and security, and consequently, further improve our standing in the WPS Index.
I am sure those who monitor this index will acknowledge that the Philippines is now one of the few countries with this kind of platform. Truly, this historic achievement is a victory for millions of women whose voices, leadership, and contributions to peace efforts will be further recognized, strengthened, and amplified.
Remember, though, that a platform is just a meaningless space if people don’t bring it to life.
So, I call on each one of you, especially our civil society stakeholders, to actively engage, share your expertise, and help transform this space into a true Center of Excellence.
After all, excellence is not just a title—it is forged through shared experiences and the collective resolve to overcome persistent challenges and develop innovative solutions that make a meaningful and lasting impact.
So this Women's Month, as we celebrate women, let us, through this new center, strengthen our resolve to be champions of WPS!
Once again, congratulations! May the Center of Excellence on WPS serve as a true source of inspiration for achieving the Agenda for Women, Peace, and Security in our Bagong Pilipinas.
Thank you very much. Mabuhay ang mga kababaihan!
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