Palace welcomes PHL ranking as 17th best place for women

Malacañang on Wednesday welcomed Newsweek publication's ranking of the Philippines as the 17th Best Place for Women. Of 165 countries, the Philippines ranked 17, and is the only Asian country to be included in the top 20. Garnering an overall score of 86.3 out of 100, our country scored highest in the areas of education (92.2), economics (89.1), and justice (88.4). "We are heartened to read that according to a recently published Newsweek article "The Best and Worst Places for Women," the Philippines topped Asia as the country that offers women the most expansive rights and the best quality of life," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement. Lacierda said the ranking was an affirmation of the Filipino culture’s respect for women which the government is also promoting. "This is an affirmation of the respect our culture has always accorded to Filipino women — one that manifests itself as well in our government's efforts to promote equal gender opportunities in all spheres of public policies and programs," he said. "Rest assured, our administration remains committed in advancing the quality of life of all Filipinos from all walks of life," he added. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News