In the Cordilleras, women participation in politics remains low

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

In contrast, the two 'fat dynastic' provinces of Abra and Apayao have more women candidates

BAGUIO, Philippines – Male dominance in leadership roles remains a reality in indigenous communities in the Philippines, and the Cordillera is an example.

According to estimates by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, women make up less than 20% of candidates for elective positions in four of its six provinces: Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Kalinga.  

Benguet has the fewest, with only 42 female candidates from governor to vice mayor out of 356, or 11.8 percent. No woman ran for any position in Mankayan, while there was one each in Bakun and Sablan. 

Baguio City has nine women running out of 57 candidates, or 15.8%.

Mountain Province has only 32 women candidates out of 267, or 12%. There were no women candidates in Sabangan, while there were only two in Barlig.

Ifugao has 45 women from the 279 total candidates, or 16%. One woman is running in Hingyon, and two each in Alfonso Lista and Asipulo.

There were 31 women among 175 candidates, or 17.7%, in Kalinga. One woman candidate was in Rizal town, and two each in Tanudan and Tinglayan. 

The two “fat dynastic” provinces of Abra and Apayao have more women candidates. 

Abra has the most candidates running in 2025, with 519. Of these, 113 are women or 21.77%. 

More than 25% of all Apayao candidates, or 30 out of 119, are women, and Cordillera provinces have the highest number of women. 

Overall, Cordillera has 302 women running out of the 1,772 candidates, or 17% of all candidates. 

ALSO ON RAPPLER

• Discrimination vs women, persons with disabilities to be an election offense
• [DECODED] Women leaders pay heavy price for criticizing government
• IN NUMBERS: State of Filipino women in 2024
• How the Magna Carta of Women protects Filipinas
• WATCH: Why the Philippines needs politicians with more women-centric agenda

Political analyst Karin Bangsoy said male dominance in leadership roles is a reality not only in the Cordillera but across the Philippines, driven by several factors rooted in pervasive misogyny in the public consciousness, she said.

“Insofar as the dap-ay, tongtongan, and bodong are community mechanisms for resolving disputes, preserving peace, and discussing salient community issues, these are not necessarily limiting mechanisms for women in political office,” she said.

Despite the dominance of men in elected positions, Bangsoy said many Cordilleran women continue to lead both within and outside government.

“The Cordillera has several government line agencies staffed and headed by competent women bureaucrats. The region also has a number of active women’s organizations in our civil society, from barangay women’s associations to mass movements. Women’s empowerment as a political project is not limited to political office,” she said. – Rappler.com

This story is part of a longer article republished with permission from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.