SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Region 1 Advocates for Gender Equality (RAGE-1) culminated the National Women’s Month in a gender and development (GAD) forum held at the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1’s (DA-RFO1) conference room on March 30.
 
The GAD forum is an avenue to educate the participants, especially the women employees with their rights and protection against harassment as well as their privileges and benefits at work.
 
It gathered 74 participants from 18 government agencies and state colleges and universities in the Ilocos region.
 
During the forum, Dr. Jacinta Marissa Olalan, DA chief of administrative and finance division, discussed laws protecting women such as the Magna Carta of Women. 
 
“You should know and become aware of the current and different laws protecting your rights as a woman and you should determine appropriate defenses embodied under these laws to boost your confidence level,” said Olalan.
 
Sherlyn Marie Nitura, RAGE-1 president and GAD focal person of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), thanked all RAGE-1 officers, members, and government personnel who are involved in the success of the culminating program and their previous activities, and encouraged them to continue promoting gender equality and women empowerment.
 
“We need to educate people to understand what GAD is and the laws attached to it. For us to achieve our goal of gender equality, let us help each other,” said Nitura.
 
She added, “The celebration of Women's Month comes to an end, but as long as inequality and exclusivity exist, our job as an advocate continues.”
 
Further, the RAGE-1 concluded the month-long celebration of Women’s Month with a GAD parade.
 
The Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) also conducted cervical screening services at the DMMMSU-North La Union Campus (DMMMSU-MLUC) on March 31. (JCR/AMB/KDM/SGR/PIA Region 1)