For a long time, world politics was thought to be a man’s world, but as the world moves toward globalization and digitalization, people have learned to embrace gender equality, accept a gender-fair community, and recognize the role of women in development, making them a very powerful component for growth.
According to history, Iceland’s Vigdis Finnbogadottir was the world’s first female president, elected in 1980.
It symbolized the world’s willingness to accept women as leaders in a world that had previously been ruled by men.
In Mindanao, Maria Clara Lobregat of Zamboanga City became the first woman elected to the position of mayor in 2001, marking a significant step forward in the women’s sector, demonstrating to the rest of the world that women can be effective leaders.
According to statistics from the 2021 League of Cities in the Philippines, 40 of the country’s 146 cities, or about one-third of the total, are under the leadership of women, demonstrating the Philippines’ growing role and participation in government.
2022 Elections
In the upcoming May 9, 2022 elections, the shortlist of women candidates in Mindanao shows an increasing number of women vying for political posts and one of them is a lawyer, the first woman who became the Vice Mayor of Tagum City is now ready to vie the city’s highest political position and occupy the seat.
She is Atty. Eva Lorraine Estrada Estabillo, youngest daughter of then Tagum town mayor Prospero Estabillo Sr. who carries the namesake of her mother in her first name.
Let us take a look at her credentials.
Atty. Lingling as she is fondly called by friends and even supporters, but back home she is Aging.
She was born on February 9, 1976, in Davao City, finished her elementary grade with honors and special awards at St. Marys College in Tagum City, and graduated her secondary school as second honor at the Ateneo de Davao University.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Davao Doctors College and went on to study law at the Ateneo de Davao University, where she was a consistent Dean’s Lister and passed the bar exams on March 30, 2006.
She will run for Tagum City’s highest political office, Mayor, on May 9, 2022, against then-Mayor and incumbent Vice Governor Rey T. Uy, who is planning a political comeback.
Will her status as a woman have an impact on the city’s political scene if she is given the chance?
As Public Servant
Her political debut in 2013 was a big leap to the family’s laurel and brand of public service as people recalled her father’s brand of leadership and standard in serving the people, and her mother Eva’s selfless service to the town folks, her biggest victory tool.
However, as the political climate of the city changed, she was prodded to run as Vice Mayor in 2019, a position she never thought be served on a silver platter.
She garnered 77, 790 votes against her opponent’s 28, 083. Estabillo’s political career looks like her school credentials, she passed with flying colors and honors.
Laws/Ordinances passed
In her three years stint as City Council and another three years as Vice Mayor, Estabillo authored 35 remarkable ordinances, she empowered, institutionalized supports, and strengthened the rights and welfare of the marginalized sectors and barangay functionaries in the cities.
She became the people’s champ as she pushed legislations for women, solo parents, senior citizens, differently-abled persons, indigenous people, juvenile delinquents, youth, gender and development, breast cancer patients, hospitalizations, and pet vaccination to ensure everyone’s safety and animal rights respected.
She caters to the need of her constituents from the youngest to the oldest, a mark of a good leader.
She serves beyond color and race.
Plans for Tagum City
“I have so many plans on the table if God willing, and everything is for the people, I will serve with a heart, because I know what kind of service my people want, serving the people has become my way of life and a passion,” Estabillo emphasized.
Agriculture
“Food Security, I want to focus on farmers, since I already laid map for the women and children, the different sectors have been empowered and strengthened,” she quipped.
During the pandemic, I went around and I saw the condition of the farmers and the fisherfolks, it moved me, If I will succeed, the city will provide farm to market roads and other support facilities including that of the fisherfolks, they are our backbone especially this challenging times and they deserved support more than just training, technology but even post-harvest support up to the marketing of their goods products and goods.”
Peace and Order
Estabillo’s concept of Peace and Order is a comprehensive and collective program “I want to strengthen the barangays, the communities and empower our basic fiber in terms of peace and order, the barangay police and tanod, the purok leaders because they are our first line of defense.”
Peacekeepers, according to her must evolve in the community, inculcate in their minds that they are crucial in the development of the village and of the city. As she wants to provide training, hands-on practical exams build self-confidence, and they love to serve their people.
“Equipped them with the training like, safety and security training, provide them the support they need and give them an equitable economic benefit for their families to support them while they are at work,” she added.
Health
Given the emotional challenge brought about by the pandemic, Estabillo said, “We must strengthen the mental health programs; we need to cushion the emotional impact of the pandemic to the youth, many are affected, the mental state is affected and there are cases of depression and suicide.”
Given the situation, Estabillo said, we need to establish a support mechanism to prevent suicide and provide a healthy atmosphere for every resident, especially for those who cannot afford to visit a doctor.
Transport Sector
Given her roots, Estabillo wants to establish a comprehensive program for the drivers especially the trike drivers who are out day and night to fend for their families.
“I understand them and I feel their world, they need every support that the government can offer,” she added.
“The roads and public terminals must be opened to everyone, there will be no monopoly of facilities and roads,” she stressed.
Business Sector
The economic playing field must be open to all “No business monopoly. Support the big ones, promote, encourage and strengthen the small ones to balance the equation,” she said.
Business groups and investors must be provided tax holidays to encourage them to come in and invest.
For the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) she wants to develop a doable support system that will empower and strengthen the economic condition of the players.
Standing with the MSME “Develop them with all the support, from build-up capital to marketing of their products. We have to organize them to have a collective voice—that is one way of promoting Tagum City. With that, we are providing employment opportunities for our people.”
“Dili puede sa ako nang mga datu mao ray madatu, dapat patas sa tanan (It cannot stand with me that the rich get richer, there must be fairness),” she emphasized.
Her concept of development is also anchored with the environment and social impact “We must balance the development and the love for the environment.”
Taxation
She wants taxes to be affordable and reasonable by not necessarily pushing taxpayers to the hard wall when paying taxes “Dili need nga taas ang collection sa tax, daku atong tax efficiency, ganahan mobayad ang tao wala sila naipit—dili i-maximize ang balaud, kanang taxation with a heart which understands (we do not need to increase tax collection, we have high tax efficiency, taxpayers will be encouraged to pay because they are not squeezed, you don’t need to maximize the law, it must be taxation with a heart which understands)” she emphasized.
Policies for Special Sectors
Estabillo revealed that the cultural welfare of the Indigenous Peoples including the Muslims must be part of the development agenda of the government, benefits and interventions must be given and they should be empowered “Children goes to school and given educational assistance to ensure they can finish their studies from pre-school to college.”
Schoolchildren must be given food through feeding programs to keep them well-nourished while she suggested that Tadariya teachers should have the same benefits as daycare teachers.
Health and Social Services
Estabillo wants Tagum City to have its own hospital to care for its citizens’ medical needs since she has already drafted a statute defining the city government’s financial aid.
The city administration currently gives burial aid to various sectoral leaders.
The Solo-parent Ordinance, her idea, has benefited over a thousand people, with a support structure in place that includes training seminars, capacity-building education, and livelihood support services.
Her Vision
If the plan pushes through, Estabillo wants to build a City Hospital, claiming that there are medical concerns to which the city must respond. While Davao Regional Hospital is located within the city, the establishment of a city hospital will allow residents’ medical and emergency needs to be prioritized.
Governor Edwin I. Jubahib’s desire to build a provincial hospital brings her joy; “if it will happen then we can both respond to our people but also collaborate for the cause.”
Jubahid, who backs Estabillo wholeheartedly, says of her, “She is a good leader deserving of everyone’s support.”
Aside from City Hospital, she wanted to put up a City College for Tagum, which will provide free education for economically challenged families and to ensure that every child goes to school.
Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon who will end his term come June 30, 2022, is her vice-mayoralty candidate.
Estabillo, according to Rellon, is a very aggressive political leader who is passionate about bringing progress to the people of Tagum City.
“She is a person you can trust, she is devoted, and I am confident that she will achieve what is required of her and more.”
Rellon stated that due to the pandemic’s limitations, he left several plans and initiatives unfinished, but he is now lending his hands to lead Estabillo into implementing the programs and services he left unfinished.
Given that she is running against a political entity in his city, is she ready for a political battle?
“It’s not just brains,” Estabillo added with a smile, “it’ll be served with a heart since it’s the heart that listens, cares, and understands.” It empathizes with the people; I am aware of my people’s predicament and am aware of when to help and intervene.”
Before I ended my conversation, I asked Estabillo if she could fight a male in a clean and honorable manner as a woman.
“Mosukol ta!” says the narrator. “We’ll fight, I’m a lawyer.”
Now that she has outlined her vision for Tagum City’s future, it is up to the sovereign voters to decide who will be the true owner of the mayoralty seat on May 9. – Editha Z. Caduaya
