CAGAYAN DE ORO (PIA)–To foster an inclusive and gender-sensitive organizational culture, the regional directors and heads of offices of the different national line agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state colleges and universities, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA), and other government offices have gathered, August 3, at Amaya View, here, for an executive briefing on gender and development.
Organized by the Regional Development Council (RDC)-10 Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC), the activity sought to present RGADC’s roles and functions, the women and men situationer in Northern Mindanao, gender and development concepts, as well as the gender mainstreaming strategy and policy imperatives, with resource persons from the Philippine Council of Women (PCW), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Commission on Population and Development (CPD).
CPD-10 Regional Director Neil Aldrin G. Omega, RGADC chairperson, said the executive briefing was designed to get the support of all government agencies to promote gender and development by implementing gender mainstreaming in their respective offices.
“As leaders in our respective institutions, we bear the responsibility for integrating gender and development perspectives in development planning processes and in various stages of the project cycle,” Omega said.
He also reminded the regional directors and heads of offices that their commitment, leadership, and active involvement are essential in making gender equality a core value and strategic priority of each organization.
On the other hand, Lawyer Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chavez, PCW executive director, presented the different laws supporting gender and development as well as gender mainstreaming in conformity with international and national mandates.
Chavez also presented the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), which identified 12 areas of concern: women and poverty; women and education and training; women and health; violence against women; women and armed conflict; women and the economy; women in power and decision-making; institutional mechanisms; human rights of women; women and media; women and the environment; and the girl-child.
As to the country’s ranking on gender mainstreaming, Chavez reported that the Philippines ranked first in all of Asia and 16th out of 146 countries globally for this year, 2023.
All government agencies are encouraged to promote GAD, as “it is about being faithful to the principle that development is for all. Whether male or female, each one has the right to the same opportunities to achieve a full and satisfying life.” (FPG/PIA-10)
