We continue to celebrate stories of all women in the country this National Women's Month, in recognition of their significant contributions to nation-building.

This year’s celebration focuses on strengthening efforts to improve and track the progress of the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women, and other relevant laws and commitment to the international community. These include the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Women play integral roles in the field of agriculture. Victoria Mendiola Ela is one who made her mark in the sector as the first Filipina agriculturist. She is known for her outstanding contributions in plant pathology and as the only woman chairperson of the Department of Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture of University of the Philippines, Los Baños.

To showcase the achievements of women like Ela, the Agricultural Training Institute will spearhead a symposium on “Women in Rice Farming” on March 25-29, 2019. This will feature a knowledge-sharing and learning among women rice farmers in the country. Invited speakers and participants will talk about their best practices in rice farming as well as the different roles women can play in agriculture.