ILOILO – As the 2025 National Women’s Month celebration kicks off, the provincial government expressed the desire to engage the women’s sector in its various programs, particularly in the ongoing clean-up drive against dengue.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. made the announcement during the opening of the Women’s Month Trade Fair, called Tiendas Ilonggas, at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol lobby on Monday morning, March 3. This event is part of the month-long activities celebrating National Women’s Month, under the sub-theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas,” which emphasizes the objectives of Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women: to empower women, promote gender equality, and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities.
“Let us use this month to kick off other programs with our women’s sector. Every time I speak to our women, I always say we want to engage you more. We want to engage you in solid waste management, we already have a partnership with the women’s sector in Limpyo Iloilo, and we want to continue that,” Defensor said.
He also mentioned the province’s partnership in the anti-dengue campaign: “We are about to launch a program on dengue. We are expecting an epidemic this year, and we have already reached the epidemic threshold, though the situation is not yet critical.”
Defensor outlined plans to seek support from the women’s sector in the fight against dengue, as they have been long-time partners in the campaign.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has been instructed to prepare a program for a province-wide
We expect dengue cases to peak in August, but if we act now, we can prevent that,” said Defensor.
From January 1 to February 15 of this year, the province recorded 592 dengue cases, including five deaths — a 77% increase compared to the same period in 2024, which had only 335 cases and one death, according to IPHO data.
The province has already surpassed both the alert and epidemic thresholds for dengue, signalling the urgent need for intervention.
The alert threshold serves as an early warning for epidemics, while the epidemic threshold requires an immediate response.
This year marks the third consecutive year of dengue outbreaks in the region, a trend that often leads to a surge in cases.
Activities for 2025 National Women’s Month Celebration
Meanwhile, the Iloilo provincial government has lined up several activities to commemorate the 2025 National Women’s Month. One highlight is the Tiendas Ilonggas trade fair, which showcases the talents and entrepreneurial skills of Ilongga women. The fair features a diverse range of locally made products, such as hablon (handwoven textiles), woven baskets, personal accessories, and food items.
Organized by the Provincial Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (LEDIP Center Iloilo Province), Tiendas Ilonggas offers a platform for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to market their products and grow their businesses. This initiative reflects the provincial government’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Apart from Tiendas Ilonggas, the following activities are scheduled throughout the month:
* March 3-7 – Tiendas Ilonggas Kick-Off Activity
* March 8 – Women-Led Province-Wide Limpyo Iloilo Kontra Dengue
* March 10 Onwards – Purple Offices Initiative
* March 7, 14, 21, 28 – Purple Fridays with Zumba
* March 14, 21, 28 – Women’s Health & Wellness Fridays
* March 21 – Job Fair for Women
* March 27 – Her Story: Babae, Umangat Ka Na Ba? A Women’s Forum
The month-long celebration is led by the Provincial Gender and Development (GADIloilo) Unit, with support from the Iloilo Provincial Employees & Community Multipurpose Cooperative (IPECMPC), the Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE), and various provincial offices./PN
