MANILA, Philippines – Hiniling ni Senador Pia Cayetano sa University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) na rebyuhin ang kanilang compensation policy matapos lumantad ang ulat ng pagkakaiba sa sahod ng mga referee sa basketball sa men’s at women’s divisions.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Cayetano na nilalabag nito ang Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710), na siya ang pangunahing awtor, at pati na rin ang prinsipyo ng batas-paggawa hinggil sa pantay na sahod.
Aniya, tumatanggap ng P3,000 kada laro ang referee sa men’s basketball kumpara sa P2,000 sa women’s division.
“In its attempt to justify the lower pay for the referees of the women’s division, the UAAP labeled the move as a tiered, merit-based system. But creating tiers is a circumvention of the law,” aniya sa news release.
“It degrades women’s sports and violates the Magna Carta of Women’s specific mandate that sports organizations must adopt affirmative action in their strategy and must use gender equality as a framework in implementing their policies and budgets,” giit pa ng senador.
Sinabi ni Cayetano na parehong gumaganap ng magkatulad na tungkulin ang mga referee sa anumang gender division.
“To claim otherwise demeans women’s sports and reinforces harmful stereotypes that the Magna Carta of Women seeks to eliminate. Equal pay is not optional. It is the law,” dagdag niya.
Binanggit ni Cayetano na nakasaad sa Magna Carta of Women, na naisabatas noong 2009, na kailangan pantay ang tingin sa kasarian sa inililimbag na patakaran, programa, at badyet.
“In the sports sector, the law mandates affirmative action to ensure equal opportunities and benefits for men and women athletes and officials, equal treatment in pay and incentives, and gender-sensitive planning and budgeting,” aniya.
“It obliges national agencies, schools and private organizations to eliminate discriminatory practices and proactively advance women’s participation in sports,” giit ng atletang senador.
Kaya hiniling niya sa UAAP at iba pang sports groups na “to review and correct their compensation systems to ensure full compliance with gender equality standards and laws promoting fairness in sports.”
