3 Negros Occidental lady mayors join women’s forum

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Mayors Marilyn Era of Calatrava, Marina Mayette Javellana-Yao of Bago City and Atty. Rowena “Weng” Lopez-Lizares of Talisay City shared their visions for their local government units, their development priorities and their views on the role of grassroots women and gender and development (GAD) advocates.

The three mayors participated in the Provincial Council for Women mid-year forum held Tuesday in Silay City.

Mayor Era said her vision is for more barangays in Calatrava to achieve Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) status.

Currently, only four out of the town’s 40 barangays are declared ZOD.

She also emphasized her priority to provide employment opportunities for her constituents.

Mayor Javellana-Yao, a neophyte local executive, said she wants her fellow Bagonhons to feel the presence of the government through more programs supporting youth education, health and child nutrition.

She said that in her first two months in office, Bago City has inaugurated several satellite government offices and revived its local sports programs.

Talisay City’s first woman mayor, Atty. Lopez-Lizares, shared her vision of building a hospital for the city and increasing access to education for the youth, taking advantage of the various academic institutions in the area.

The two new mayors encouraged grassroots women and GAD advocates to work closely with their offices, describing them as essential partners in designing and improving gender-responsive programs and projects.

Mayor Era, who began her political career in 2003 as a punong barangay and later became councilor, vice mayor and mayor, advised the new mayors to manage their time wisely and stay focused on their work.

The neophyte mayors admitted they are also striving to balance public service with family life, adding that they are thankful for the support of their spouses.

The discussion was moderated by Marie June Castro, executive assistant to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Provincial GAD Action Officer.

Presented in a television talk-show style, the forum was dubbed “Kapehan sang Kababainhan.”