AMBASSADOR PONCE HIGHLIGHTS PHILIPPINE PROGRESS ON GENDER DEVELOPMENT AT 2024 WORLD WOMEN ECONOMIC & BUSINESS SUMMIT (WWEBS) AND AWARDS

Kuala Lumpur, 30 September 2024 – Ambassador Maria Angela A. Ponce participated as a panelist at the 2024 World Women & Business Summit (WWEBS) and Awards organized by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific. Following the theme “Champion Women, Ignite Progress," the event focused on advocacies that support gender equality, equal opportunities for education and career advancement, and ensuring that women have a voice in decision-making processes.

Drawing from her experience as a career diplomat with over two decades of experience, Ambassador Ponce highlighted how the Philippine government implemented several measures to have a high labor force participation rate of women and achieve parity in professional and technical roles.

Ambassador Ponce underscored the legal framework that supports and mandates the promotion and implementation of gender equality in the workplace, such as the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which recognizes the role of women in nation building; Republic Act No. 9710, also known as the Magna Carta of Women, a comprehensive law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against Filipino women, especially those belonging to the marginalized sectors of society; and Republic Act No. 11165, otherwise known as the Telecommuting Act, which allows employees in the private sector to work from home. She further underscored the importance of the Philippine Commission on Women, a policymaking, advisory, and coordinating body that leads and oversees the implementation of these policy initiatives.

Ambassador Ponce also noted that in a 2023 Grant Thornton survey, the Philippines took the top spot among 28 countries that were ranked according to the percentage of women in senior management. She also highlighted that in the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, 60% of its personnel are women while 45% are Heads of Posts.

Apart from Ambassador Ponce, Romanian Ambassador Nineta Bărbulescu and Australian High Commissioner Danielle Heinecke were also panelists at the event.

The Women in Business and Leadership Summit and Awards, was a full-day event that aimed to promote sustainable economic development through sustainability, impact, innovation, and partnership leadership. END.

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