TAGUIG CITY — Vice Presidente Sara Duterte on Wednesday thanked Filipino women who have shown great service in uplifting the lives of their fellow Filipinos.

“Today, may we honor Filipino women who tirelessly and selflessly serve their fellow men and country,” Duterte said during the Philippine Commission on Women and UN Women International Women's Day Celebration at the Samsung Theater in SM Aura here.

“Let us stand together in our common aspirations for inclusive development and remain at the forefront of social transformation for the benefit of women, children, youth, and other vulnerable groups,” she added.

March 8 is the International Women's Day.

Duterte, who won while being the sole female vice presidential candidate during the 2022 national elections, shared her experience on being a woman in a high-ranking position.

She said having unique qualities, not gender, was how she always presented herself to the Filipino people.

“I just have something to share with you — a recent experience about being a woman leader, a woman in a high-ranking position. I have to tell you that I never saw myself by my gender, I never presented myself ever when I campaign, when I go out and talk to people and say na, ‘Piliin ninyo ako because I am a woman.’ I only see myself as a person, an individual with my unique qualities,” Duterte said.

In her 28-minute speech, Duterte emphasized the value of education, financial literacy, and economic empowerment for women, particularly those living in remote areas of Mindanao.

She cited how Peace 911, a project in Davao City where she served as mayor, transformed the far-flung community in the city’s Paquibato District which used to be a “stronghold” of the communist New People’s Army.

“I thought I had to make decisive actions in the hope of finding solutions to the root cause of the problems hounding the community for decades,” Duterte said.

“We did an innovation — we introduced Peace 911, a government-initiated but civilian-led peace initiative that required people to help us help themselves,” she added.

Since the launch of Peace 911 in Paquibato District, Davao City has been declared “insurgency-free.”

She shared that another “empowered woman and a powerhouse of strength,” peace advocate and adviser Inday Irene Santiago, helped the city government of Davao in changing the landscape of chaos in Paquibato into a landscape of peace.

The Vice President also cited Davao City’s landmark project, now aquired at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), “Mag Negosyo ‘Ta Day” (MTD). MTD is an entrepreneurship program that focuses on providing financial support for women and members of the LGBTQI+.

“It is my earnest desire that the nationwide roll-out will help stimulate entrepreneurial activities, create employment, and contribute to our post-pandemic recovery,” Duterte said.

“By helping women access economic opportunities, for example, we empower them to be financially independent, improve the standard of living of their families, and are better able to ensure the good health and education of their children,” she added. OVP MEDIA