President Rodrigo Duterte on International Women's Day Monday said women have an "indispensable role" in national progress and are "equal partners" with men.
Duterte urged Filipinos in a written statement to "elevate women to their rightful place in society by empowering every Filipina." He also spoke of a "backward mindset that fueled a culture of gender oppression and inequality" in the country.
"While there is much to be done to completely free women from this bondage of inequality, we can nonetheless claim that concrete, sustainable, and inclusive actions have been taken by our government to create an environment where women's rights are respected and their contributions to society are recognized," Duterte said.
In January, Duterte said the presidency was not for women as he declared that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, would not run for president in 2022.
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