Gender Ombud Situationer for 2nd and 3rd Quarter: Gendered impact of the Pandemic and the
need for gendered and intersectional responses
(March 15 to 30 September)
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected nations world-wide, and in the Philippines, it has prompted
the President to impose containment measures through the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine
last 17 March 2020. Since the declaration, containment measures have been adopted in various parts of the
country aimed at mitigating and containing the spread of the virus, of flattening the curve, and preventing
the overburdening of a fragile health system. The Congress of the Philippines has further responded to the
crisis by passing the Bayanihan Heal as One Law (RA 11469). The law, declaring a national health
emergency, aimed to equip the Chief Executive and the branches of the government to deal with the health
crisis with the urgency that it demands. It also adopts measures to meant to cushion the impact of the crisis
for the most vulnerable.
Since the passage of the Bayanihan Heal as One Law and its subsequent update, the Bayanihan II, the
National Government has been proceeding with its implementation. Several joint circulars have been
issued, including those pertaining to the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program, the provision
of funds to local government units to respond to COVID-19, the rules on emergency procurement, and
guidelines from the Department of Finance on access to credit and moratorium on interests. The Department
of Interior and Local Government Units for its part has issued with the Philippine Commission on Women
advisory on the use of Gender and Development Budget for Gendered COVID Response, it has also issued
an advisory on the need to ensure functionality of Barangay VAW Desks. On the part of the Commission
on Human Rights, statements from the Commission and letters to the DILG, the Philippine National Police,
and the Inter-agency Council Against Violence Against Women emphasized the need for a gender
responsive and intersectional response. A Joint Memorandum with DILG was subsequently adopted titled
“Ensuring Gender- Responsive Interventions to Covid-19 and the New Normal Including Ensuring Prompt,
effective, and Survival Centered Response to All Forms of GBV.” 1
While the Bayanihan Heal as One Act addresses the need for urgent response to the crisis, and while it
emphasizes the provision of immediate assistance to affected families, especially the marginalized, and for
the provision of support for recovery and rehabilitation including safety nets for all those affected,
guidelines specific to the gendered nature of the COVID-19 crisis and its impact is currently not
mainstreamed into interventions and strategies.
Gender and the Pandemic
According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, interventions meant
to respond to COVID-19 has to put in its center the protection of women and girls. Elaborating further on
1
Dated 15 July 2020, DILG and CHR JMC 2020-01
1