Marcos to Asean women: Keep leading and pushing region forward

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged women to keep leading and demanding space as the Philippines and fellow Southeast Asian countries move to push the region forward.

In his speech at the 4th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Women Leaders’ Summit in Mandaluyong City, he cited the important role that women play in strengthening communities and driving the economy.

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Marcos expressed hope that the event, which convened leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, youth leaders, and other stakeholders, will inspire young women to step up their role in the society.

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“Let this summit be remembered not merely for our hospitality or eloquence, but as a moment that we committed real resources, reformed real policies, and opened the doors for the millions of young women that are watching us today,” Marcos said.

“To our women leaders in governance, civil society, business, and technology: Keep leading, keep demanding space, keep pushing our region forward,” he continued.

Marcos also said that women are not simply beneficiaries of the nation’s progress but are leaders and innovators that shape Asean’s future.

They, however, remain underrepresented in the Cabinets and parliaments of Asian member states. 

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“This is not simply a gap in representation; it is a gap in leadership in whose voices shape the decisions that affect our region. So we must act with greater purpose by building stronger leadership budgets, advancing measures that open pathways to decision-making, and establishing a regional network that connects, supports, and strengthens women leaders all across Asia,” Marcos said.

Asean member- nations must also transform their economic landscape, especially since there are over 60 million micro, small, and medium enterprises owned or managed by women. 

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For the Philippines, Marcos said it is accelerating digital financial inclusion and ensuring market integration explicitly benefiting women-led enterprises. 

“We must also acknowledge a long-overlooked truth: no economy functions without the care economy,” he said.

“Unpaid care work falls disproportionately on women, restricting their time and opportunity to lead in the formal workforce, especially in the so-called non-traditional fields. By investing in care infrastructure and redistributing care obligations, we do not just support women, we unlock billions of dollars in economic potential across our region,” Marcos also said.

Moreover, he said the Philippines stands with other nations in fighting gender-based violence that has now crossed online spaces. 

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“We cannot speak of empowerment while our women and girls face harassment and abuse online. The Philippines stands with Asean in building digital frameworks that keep this frontier a space of opportunity, not of oppression. Declarations and summits are certainly valuable, but action is our true currency,” the president said. /gsg