“For the period 1990-1998, the contribution of women to the Philippine economy in the conventional GDP is estimated at about 35-40 percent; when unpaid work is taken into account, the share rises to about 50 percent.”  This is one of the results of the studies made by Dr. Romulo A. Virola, NSCB Secretary General, in his paper entitled, Women’s Contribution to the Economy – the Philippine Experience, which was presented in the 1999 International Statistical Institute Conference.  This was an update from his earlier paper co-authored with Ms. Sylvia de Perio, Measuring the Contribution of Women to the Philippine Economy, presented during the 7th National Convention on Statistics (NCS) in 1998, which produced the first estimates of the value of women’s unpaid work covering the period 1990-1997.

This year, the NSCB has received renewed calls to value women’s housework.  In response to this need, the NSCB will update these estimates as well as the parameters used in the estimation and present the results of the study in the 10th NCS to be held on October 1 and 2, 2007 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City this year.  With accurate and adequate information about what women do and how much they produce and contribute to the economy, the government would be more effective in crafting economic, social and environmental policies that are responsive to the needs of women.