public spaces (e.g. the “Magastos ang Mambastos sa QC” ordinance) prior to the Safe Cities Act of 2019; and the Anti-Discrimination on the basis of SOGIE ordinances which are in effect in the meantime that there is no national law on this.9 Barangays can also be influenced to pass gender equality ordinances. A distinct value of working at this level is the immediate reach of women who will directly benefit from a gender-responsive local government unit. The devolution of social welfare and health services under the 1990 Local Government Code meant that local governments have a larger degree of autonomy than before in developing programs and interventions for their constituents, including localization of national policies. Women’s organizations and advocates were able to maximize this space through LGU partnerships as regards capacity building, provision of direct services, organizational development for gender mainstreaming, and as previously mentioned, enactment of ordinances institutionalizing mechanisms and budgets to address gender-based violence. The extent of successes in this arena, however, is varied across the country, and conditional to the local officials’ appreciation of gender equality in development – or more often than not, in relation to their personal beliefs as well as their political careers. Political dynasties, patronage politics, inter-clan dynamics are also some of the realities that advocates face head on when working at the local level. th The Women’s Priority Legislative Agenda for the 18 Congress Philippine Commission on Women 1. 2. 3. 4. Strengthening the Provisions of R.A. No. 8353: Amending the Anti-Rape Law Repealing the Revised Penal Code provisions on Adultery and Concubinage Ensuring Women’s Equal Rights in Marriage and Family Relations Recognizing Sexual Abuse and Focusing on the Violence and Abusive Conduct as Grounds for Legal Separation 5. Enacting the Anti-Prostitution Law 6. Upholding the Right to Life and Security of Spouses and Daughters by Repealing Article 247 of the Revised Penal Code 7. Enacting a Women’s Political Participation and Representation Law 8. Enacting a Law Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) 9. Adopting Divorce in the Family Code 10. Enacting a Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy from https://pcw.gov.ph/article/pcw-launches-priority-agenda-18th-congress research on “Engendering the Barangay Justice System” in 2004 also documented the VAW case management system of Bagong Silang, which by then already has a women’s desk. 9 As of May 2017, there are 19 LGUs with specific ordinances protecting LGBTIs from violence and discrimination, and promoting their human rights.47 These are the LGUs of Agusan del Norte, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Baguio City, Batangas City, Batangas Province, Butuan, Candon (Ilocos Norte), Cavite City, Cebu City, Dagupan City, Davao City, Dinagat Islands, Mandaue City, Quezon City, and Vigan City (Ilocos Sur).