#PHVote: Less than 20% of 2016 candidates are women

MANILA, Philippines – Is politics a men’s game?

No, but in the Philippines, most players are indeed men. 

In the upcoming 2016 national and local elections, only 8,873 candidates are women, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) told Rappler.

This pales in comparison to the 36,904 Filipino men gunning for seats. 

Candidates in the 2016 national and local elections Source: Comelec data as of March 2, 2016
Women	Men
19.29%	80.24%

The figures are not so far from the 1998 polls, in which only 16.15% of candidates were women. (READ: Who is running in 2016?)

In the past 6 election years – from 1998 to 2013 – there were more men than women who participated and won the elections, according to Comelec records.

Initially, there were 130 Filipinos who filed their candidacy for president. After cuts, however, only 5 remained – two of whom are women.

Meanwhile, of the 172 senatorial aspirants, 142 are men.

The same trend is observed at the local level. 

2016 candidates for the House of Representatives Source: Comelec
Women	Men
154	518

In the House of Representatives, there are only 238 seats available. For the 2016 elections, 672 Filipinos are vying for these positions, over 77% of which are men.

The 2010 national election gave birth to only two women senators. In 2013, 4 more women won. Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, 60 women sit next to 174 men.

Local races

As for the 81 provinces nationwide, 244 men are running for governor. Only 43 women joined the race.

The gender gap at the municipal level is equally startling. Of the 1,634 mayoral bets, nearly 81% are men. 

2016 Mayoral Candidates Source: Comelec
Women	Men
813	3,435

 

Meanwhile, in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is led by a governor and a vice-governor, all candidates are men.

For the ARMM regional assembly, however, 9 women are competing with 62 men for the 24 available seats.

As for voter turnout, women have maintained a slight lead in the past 4 elections, according to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

Women voter turnout in 2013 was 77.9%, while men’s was 77%.

What you can do

In March, just two months away from the election, the Philippines celebrates Women’s Month.

This year’s theme is “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda (Include Women in the Agenda),” as set by the PCW.

“Leaders, regardless of sex, are not born but made,” the PCW told Rappler in a statement.

“We need to capacitate women and girls and boost their confidence in taking on leadership and decision-making positions in whatever career or endeavor they choose.”

“Women in decision-making positions, whether elected or appointed, contribute to redefining priorities, placing new items in the development agenda that reflect and address women’s gender-specific concerns,” the PCW added.

The Commission is also calling on Filipino women to actively participate in the local and national governance. One simple step, the PCW suggested, is to get involved in community activities as well as online campaigns on women empowerment. – Rappler.com

In March, which is Women’s Month, write about the woman leader you want on X.