Proclamation No. 2346, issued on March 29, 1984, designates April 30 of each year as "Woman Suffrage Day" in the Philippines. This date commemorates the granting of suffrage to Filipino women through Act No. 4112 in 1933 and their first exercise of this right in a plebiscite on April 30, 1937. The proclamation aims to promote women's participation in elections and encourage their advocacy for clean and honest electoral processes. It mandates the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and the League of Women Voters to coordinate activities for the celebration.
March 29, 1984
PROCLAMATION NO. 2346
DECLARING APRIL 30 OF EVERY YEAR AS "WOMAN SUFFRAGE DAY"
WHEREAS, Act No. 4112, signed by former Governor General Frank Murphy on December 7, 1933, granted to the Filipino women the right of suffrage;
WHEREAS, on April 30, 1937, the Filipino women, for the first time, were given the chance to exercise this right in a plebiscite, as provided for by Section 1, Article V of the 1935 Philippine Constitution and implemented by Commonwealth Act No. 34;
WHEREAS, the Government is vigorously pursuing its policy of encouraging women's participation in all levels of activity, particularly in the holding of honest, clean and orderly elections; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to set a day during which the women of the Philippines may renew their advocacy and support for clean, honest and free elections and pursue with greater zeal their efforts towards this direction;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare April 30 of every year as "Woman Suffrage Day".
The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and the League of Women Voters of the Philippines, Inc. are hereby directed to coordinate to make the celebration of this day fruitful and meaningful.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 29th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Four.