The Sitio Pantalan Women’s Organization in Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu was formally established in a general assembly that ratified its Constitution and elected its officers on July 3, 2022.
It is the third of women’s organizations in Barangay South Poblacion whose formation was facilitated by the staff of the Women’s Resource Center of Visayas, Inc. The Sitio Lower Luknay Women’s Organization was established on June 19, 2022 and the Sitio Lawis Women’s Organization was established on June 21, 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.
During the general assembly in Sitio Pantalan, the community leaders led by its purok president Elna Marata 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 Sitio Pantalan 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.
Elna Marata 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, Elna A. Marata; Vice-President, Mary Grace G. Rosano; Secretary, Niña Keziah Rosano; Treasurer, Jocelyn A. Canete, Auditor, Nelia U. Guzon; and PROs, Margie C. Esbra and Shela Mae Romano.
They then took their oath of office. This was followed by a discussion of the Program of Action until the end of the year.
