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Gender Inequality Issues Hamper Economic Development in RP - ADB

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (24 August 2004) - Despite significant improvements in advancing gender equality and empowering women, the Philippines still needs to address pressing social issues to reduce poverty and grow its economy further.

This was the conclusion made by a country gender assessment in the Philippines by the Southeast Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which was released today. It is one of a series of studies on the status and role of women in ADB's developing member countries. The assessment will assist ADB staff in formulating country strategies and programs, and in designing and implementing projects.

"Gender disparities slow down economic development and deepen poverty," says Peter Fedon, Director of ADB's Southeast Asia Social Sectors Division. "Recognizing gender equality is one of the overriding issues for sustainable development and poverty reduction." The study recommends mainstreaming gender issues into ADB's policies and development programs in the Philippines. Gender considerations should be in all phases of projects - from planning, design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

The study says urgent government action is needed to address the high population growth rate, poor reproductive health, unwanted fertility, illiteracy, and discrimination against women. With a population approaching 84 million, the Philippines is the 13th most populous country in the world. It is expected that in just 35 years, that figure will double.

"Its persistently high annual population growth of 2.36% impacts heavily on the government's capacity to catch up with desired investments in human capital and physical infrastructure," says Susanne Wendt, ADB Social Development Specialist (Gender and Development) who supervised the study. "It reduces available financial resources and lessens women's opportunities to participate fully in the job market."

In 2000, 4.3 million households or 26.5 million people, which is more than one third of the country's population, were living below the poverty line.

The Philippines continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates (MMR: annual number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births) in Southeast Asia. Its MMR of 172 in 1998 was about four times that of Thailand and about twice that of Viet Nam.

The country also has the second highest number of total births per year (1995-2000), four times that of Malaysia and about twice that of Thailand. This is due to the lower contraceptive prevalence rate among women, who do not control nor decide freely on matters relating to their fertility. This results in women being vulnerable to health risks due to complications in pregnancy, and reduces job opportunities.

While the general population enjoyed a 95.1% rate in literacy in 2001, some regions still experience gender disparities and low literacy rates. The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has the country's lowest functional literacy rate for women and men, at 50% and 63%, respectively. The education system has a rate of expansion that is lower than population growth, which has resulted in poor teaching conditions, inadequate equipment, and poorly qualified teachers.

Violence against women is widespread in the Philippines, according to the study. This includes sexual harassment in schools and at work, as well as human trafficking, forced prostitution, domestic violence, and marital rape. In 2003, some 8,000 cases of violence against women were reported to the Philippine National Police. But cases are often not reported. Violence against women causes severe health problems, affects earnings, job performance, and job security. It is one of the factors that causes low productivity among women and makes them vulnerable to poverty.

ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members - 45 from the region. In 2003, it approved loans and technical assistance amounting to US$6.1 billion and US$177 million, respectively.

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