Recognize role of mothers as unpaid family workers

Favors bill seeking to compensate stay-at-home mothers

Senatorial aspirant Pia S. Cayetano on Thursday expressed support for the measure recognizing the important role of Filipina mothers, saying that stay-at-home moms deserve to receive compensation as society’s ‘unpaid workers.’

In an ambush interview with reporters in Naga City, the Taguig City Representative was asked about her stand on House Bill 8875, which seeks to provide P2,000 monthly subsidy for housewives and stay-at-home mothers. 

“Naniniwala ako na dapat may katumbas na halagang binibigay sa ‘trabaho’ ng mga nanay,” Cayetano responded. 

“I have always said that the woman is the unpaid worker. Mothers do not get compensated for the work that they do in their homes,” she added. 
Meanwhile, the congresswoman said there are different ways by which the government could provide support to Filipina mothers taking care of their families. 

“(The subsidy) could be monetary, it could be non-monetary. But at the end of the day, what I want is to give women more opportunities to earn income for their families even from the comfort of their homes,” she said. 

“We have to acknowledge the contribution of women to our country’s economy. This is why we need to help them, particularly the mothers, by giving them enough support.”

On the other hand, Cayetano said mothers can also be assisted by the government by giving them access to information and services on responsible family planning. 

The principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, Cayetano said mothers should be given the opportunity to make responsible decisions regarding the number and spacing of their children. 

She said a fully implemented RH Law is needed to effectively and sustainably lift people from poverty. #