In time for the celebration of International Women’s Day today – we celebrate women’s achievements, we call for greater equality. #MakeItHappen

It is good news that Philippines ranks number 9 out of 142 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2014. This means that the gap between genders in many aspects of our economy is getting slimmer.

And what is it to us as a country?

People and their talents are two of the core drivers of sustainable, long-term economic growth. If half of these talents are underdeveloped or underutilized, the economy will never grow as it could. Multiple studies have shown that healthy and educated women are more likely to have healthier and more educated children, creating a positive, virtuous cycle for the broader population. Research also shows the benefits of gender equality in politics: when women are more involved in decision-making, they make different decisions—not necessarily better or worse—but decisions that reflect the needs of more members of society.

~ Klaus Scheab – Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum