In its effort to assist grassroots women to organize themselves in order to advance their rights and welfare collectively, the Women’s Resource Center of Visayas, Inc. facilitated the formation of a new organization in Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu.
The Sitio Lawis Women’s Organization was formally established in a general assembly that ratified its Constitution and elected its officers on June 19, 2022.
Prior to its foundation, the WRCV staff conducted a series of meetings in May 2022 which drafted its constitution to include the objectives of the organization, structure, officers and other aspects.
During the general assembly, the community leaders led by Genalyn Ligad who was later elected as the president, stressed the need to form an organization that will serve as a voice of the women when they present their problems for resolution to barangay officials. She pointed out that the organization shall also serve as a vehicle towards the advancement of their rights and welfare, including the establishment of livelihood projects.
Being organized shall also enable them to avail of the livelihood program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as a registered workers’ association. The members then unanimously voted to form their organization, called the Sitio Lawis Women’s Organization.
Copies of the draft of the constitution were then distributed to the members and the leaders. It was made clear that the constitution contains provisions on the purposes, rights and duties of members, structure of the organization and officers and their functions. It will serve as their guide in running the organization.
Ms. Ligad then discussed each article and raised questions if there were comments to amend the draft, until the constitution was ratified by all members.
This was followed by the election of officers, namely, President, Genalyn Ligad; Vice-President, Emily Bedolido; Secretary, Dorothy Kay Toberos; Treasurer, Antonieta Villafuerte; Auditor, Julie Ann S. Perez; and PROs, Nenith Montoya, Nancy Paradero, Riza Villafuerte.
They then took their oath of office. This was followed by a discussion of the Program of Action until the end of the year.
