Marifil Jugal of RGADC-CAR secretariat shares the efforts of the committee to further gender and development in the region
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC-CAR) continues to advocate for gender equality and inclusivity in the Cordillera region by promoting best practices and strengthening gender mainstreaming efforts across all sectors.
As a support committee under the Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR)—the region’s highest policy-making body—RGADC plays a significant role in integrating gender perspectives into development planning, policies and programs.
Marifil Jugal of the RGADC-CAR secretariat highlighted the committee’s key programs and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
These include policy advocacy to support gender equality and women’s empowerment, technical assistance on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) and support for national campaigns such as National Women’s Month and the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW).
Despite progress, Jugal acknowledged that absolute gender equality and inclusivity is not yet fully realized in the Cordillera region. However, through continuous efforts and strategic actions, RGADC-CAR remains committed to addressing gender-based violence and discrimination.
“Sana meron (matamasa) ito, hindi lang siya gender equality but inclusivity nga and women empowerment. So hindi lang na siya kalalakihan, nakikijoin sila or nakiki participate sila in decision-making. Iyan ang maganda and even ‘yung mga programs and services ng mga iba’t ibang line agencies and local governments may participation ng women,” Jugal emphasized.
(Hopefully, this can be achieved, not just gender equality but inclusivity and women’s empowerment. So it’s not just men, they join or participate in decision-making. That’s good, and even the programs and services of various line agencies and local governments have women’s participation.)
She highlighted some of RGADC-CAR’s best practices. One is the Cordillera Regional Pool of GAD Resource Persons (RPGRP), which trains individuals to become resource persons in providing standardized technical assistance for regional line agencies, local government units and higher education institutions.
Another key program is Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE), which actively engages men as advocates against violence. This initiative aims to foster gender equality by involving men in addressing gender-based violence and promoting respect for women’s rights.
“This is our vision or our dream na lahat sa workforce and even sa community ay magkaroon ng grupo para at least, hindi man siya totally na ma-eradicate ang gender violence or violence against women and children, at least mabawasan ‘yung mga incidents na ito,” Jugal added.
(This is our vision or our dream that everyone in the workforce and even in the community will have a group so that at least, even if gender violence or violence against women and children cannot be totally eradicated, at least these incidents will be reduced.)
The RGADC is responsible for gender mainstreaming and gender equality by actively integrating a gender perspective into all regional development plans, policies and programs, aiming to ensure women and men equally benefit from and contribute to development across all sectors, effectively promoting equal opportunities and participation for all genders at the regional level.
With this commitment to gender equality, RGADC-CAR continues its efforts for a more inclusive and empowered Cordillera—where every individual, community and sector, regardless of gender, has a part in decision-making and implementation of programs and projects in the future. [JDP/DEG/Aryan Joy Soliman- PIA CAR-DMMMSU Intern]
