Statement

Women’s group sounds alarm over lack of transparency in OP budget deliberations

Center for Women's Resources Statement, Statements and Media Releases 0 Comment
Women’s group sounds alarm over lack of transparency in OP budget deliberations

The Center for Women’s Resources raises alarm over the swift termination of budget deliberations for the Office of the President (OP) amid significant concerns over the misallocation of Filipino taxpayers’ money to bloated confidential and travel funds.

Within ten minutes, the House leadership moved to terminate budget deliberations for the OP purportedly out of “parliamentary courtesy”. Last week, the same was accorded to Vice President Sara Duterte when the budget deliberation was concluded in less than 30 minutes. This long-standing tradition of parliamentary courtesy extended to high-ranking government officials must stop. The practice clearly only favors a few high-ranking individuals over public interest and undermines the principles of transparency, accountability, and responsible fiscal management.  

The President and the House need to be reminded that they bear a solemn responsibility to exercise prudence and transparency when allocating and utilizing Filipino taxpayers’ money and the proposed OP budget does not seem to align with responsible and careful management of financial resources.  

The proposed budget of the OP constitutes 1% of the total FY 2024 NEP. This includes P4.56 billion for Confidential and Intelligence Funds and P1.4 billion for travel expenses. Aside from the requested budget, the OP will be in charge of P733.2 billion worth of Special Purpose Funds whose program allocations are not defined. 

If passed, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will hold a whopping P739.1 billion worth of Presidential Pork for FY 2024, 42.5% larger than that of 2023. This is bigger than the combined budget of the Department of Health (P199.45 billion), Department of Agriculture (P105.91 billion), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (P209.66 billion). It is concerning how questionable budget proposals, highly susceptible to corruption and wasting of public funds, are easily approved while subsidies and economic assistance to the poor continue to receive a meager portion of the budget. 

The Center for Women’s Resources joins rights groups in scrutinizing the proposed budget of the Office of the President, and in demanding the rightful allocation of public funds for social services and addressing the worsening economic crisis.

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Solidarity to the Rohingya people!

Center for Women's Resources Statement, Statements and Media Releases 0 Comment
Solidarity to the Rohingya people!

The Center for Women’s Resources stands in solidarity with the brave Rohingya women and people as we mark the 6th anniversary of the Rohingya genocide. Today, we honor and remember the countless lives lost and the suffering inflicted upon them.

We condemn the atrocities committed against the Rohingya community, particularly women, and demand justice for the grave human rights violations. Our fight for justice is not only a demand but a necessity to ensure accountability for those responsible – the Myanmar military and government.

Beyond seeking justice, we also recognize the urgent need to address the root causes of this systemic violence and persecution. Plunder and extraction of resources played a significant role in violating the rights of the Rohingya people. The richness of natural resources and fertile land of the Rakhine region has attracted economic interests seeking to exploit these resources, including logging, mining, and agriculture companies. We condemn this plunder, extraction, and land grabbing that fuels and perpetuates violence and discrimination. 

Likewise, we urgently demand immediate support for the Rohingya people who continue to endure unbearable conditions within overcrowded refugee camps devoid of basic necessities such as clean water, healthcare, and education. We pledge to stand alongside the Rohingya people, to advocate for their rights – including their right to citizenship, to seek reparation, and ensure their right to safely return to their homeland. 

Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to support all forms of resistance of all the Myanmar people against the military rule and authoritarian regime. The resistance movement in Myanmar represents the struggle of an entire nation, including the Rohingya people, in fighting for justice and democracy. The people of Myanmar deserve to live in a society that upholds their fundamental rights, values their diversity, and promotes peace based on social justice. #

Unite against the return of the Marcoses to Malacanang! Unite for genuine freedom, development, and democracy!

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The Center for Women’s Resources joins the commemoration of the 1986 EDSA People Power that led to the fall of the Marcos Dictatorship as we unite to prevent them from returning to Malacanang in the coming National Elections.

Today, we remember those who have been killed, tortured, disappeared, raped, detained, and many others who lost their homes and livelihood during Martial Law. We vow to never forget the attacks against the people, to hold the Marcoses accountable for their ill-gotten wealth, to combat disinformation and historical revision, and to never again allow them to return and maintain power.


The militant and arduous struggle of the Filipino people to defy one of the darkest times in our history remains the legacy of EDSA People Power. Women have stood at the forefront, from the streets to the countryside, to challenge the dictatorship and to assert genuine freedom, development, and democracy.

While the following administrations have maintained power and control to the ruling elites in the guise of democracy, as they continued to be slaves of imperialist masters through neoliberal policies and measures that suppress the people’s democratic rights, EDSA People Power remains to be a reminder of people’s unity and decisiveness to clamor for change.

The same militancy fuels the women and people’s movement until today, in their continued commitment in pursuing genuine social change amid worsening attacks against human rights defenders and the people during the Duterte administration.

In their campaign for the two highest seats in office for the 2022 National Elections, Marcos Jr. spews empty rhetoric on “unity” while Sara Duterte vows to continue what his father has started. Thus, a continuation of ballooning debt, skyrocketing prices, misogyny, rabid human rights violations and failed pandemic response. There is no basis of unity with them when there is no justice to their atrocities.

We call on women and all Filipino people to commemorate People Power by rejecting tyrants, plunderers, and human rights violators, and prevent them from returning to power. We must work hand-in-hand to fight their dirty tricks of disinformation, fraud, and violations especially towards the national elections. Ultimately, we must continue to exercise our right to political participation beyond the 2022 elections.