The Sawang Calero Women’s Organization in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City was formally established in a general assembly that ratified its Constitution and elected its officers on July 8, 2022. It was held in one of the houses of its members.
It is the fourth of women’s organizations in the project areas of the Women’s Resource Center of Visayas, Inc. whose formation it facilitated. The Sitio Lower Luknay Women’s Organization was established on June 19, 2022, the Sitio Lawis Women’s Organization, on June 21, 2022, and Sitio Pantalan Women’s Organization, on July 3, 2022.
Their establishments were facilitated by the WRCV which organized a series of meetings with community leaders since May 2022. The meetings threshed out the objectives of the organization, structure, officers and other aspects until the draft of a constitution was formulated.
Prior to the general assembly, there were already associations of women belonging to Sawang Calero Block 2 A and Sawang Calero Block 7, which were working with the WRCV. However, they had no Constitutions although they had officers. Thus, the officers per consultation with the WRCV, recognized the need to form an association that will cover members from different Blocks in Sawang Calero.
During the general assembly in Sawang Calero, the community leaders led by the president and secretary of Block 2A, Imelda Silud and Ma. Cecelia Sy, respectively, discussed 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. The organization shall also serve as a vehicle towards the advancement of their rights and welfare, including the establishment of livelihood projects.
The leaders also stressed the opportunity 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 Sawang Calero 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.
Ma. Cecelia Sy 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, Imelda I. Silud, President; Lilibeth Aguarin, Vice-President; Maria Cecelia M. Sy, Secretary; Leoliza B. Diez, Treasurer; Josephine Templado, Auditor; Maribel C. Orias and Barbara D. Ibona, PROs. They then took their oath of office. This was followed by a discussion of the Program of Action until the end of the year.
