GAD LLH Certification Program

GAD LLH in the Bagong Pilipinas

To date, there are 16 LGUs with GAD LLH certifications serving as allies of PCW in building and maintaining gender-responsive communities in the Bagong Pilipinas. With the support of their capable local leaders, dedicated implementers, and engaged stakeholders, PCW expects these certified GAD LLHs to sustain the implementation of their programs, services, and facilities despite the diverse nature of their target clients, geographical locations, and other factors.

View certified GAD LLHs by clicking the purple areas on the map below.

GAD LLH Classifications

The 16 LGUs certified by PCW showcase 33 notable programs, services, and facilities—spanning eight classifications aligned with the strategic goals of gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE).

Gender-Based Violence Response, Interventions, and Facilities

• Pangasinan Crisis Intervention Center (PCIC)
• Quezon City Protection Center (QCPC)
• Muntinlupa City’s Saklolo at Gabay ng Ina at Pamilya (SAGIP)
• Lualhati Women Center of Palawan (LWCP)
• Naga City Bantay Familia
• Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) Aklan Chapter
• Aklan Comprehensive Center for Women (ACCW)
• Talisay City’s Women and Child Development Center (WCDC)
• Davao City’s Office of the Special Counsel on VAW (OSC-VAW)
• Davao City’s Protection on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Discrimination (PSEAD) Program 
• Bagumbayan’s Balay Dalangpan Center

Women’s Economic Empowerment Programs

• Kalinga’s Livelihood Assistance to Qualified Women’s Organizations
• Naga City’s Barangay Growing Opportunities for Wealth (GrOW) Negosyo Program
• Iloilo Province Partnership and Convergence with Municipal LGUs on Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Program
• Baybay City Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Program 
• Davao City’s Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day (MTD) Program

GAD Mechanisms

• Panlalawigang Komisyon para sa Kababaihan ng Bulacan (PKKB)
• Bulacan’s GAD Monitoring and Evaluation Team (GMET)
• Mabalacat City Population, Gender and Development (POPGAD) Office
• Quezon Provincial Gender and Development GAD (PGAD) Office
• Davao City’s Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD)

Early Childhood Care Facilities and Programs

• Mabalacat City Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Program
• Quezon City Human Milk Bank (QCHMB)
• Naga City’s Breastfeeding Program 
• Davao City’s Child Minding Center (CMC)

Sexual, Reproductive, and Health Facilities and Programs

• Santiago City’s Samahan ng Teenage Nanay na Dakila (STAND)
• Santiago City Health Office HIV/AIDS Action Team (SCHOHAT)
• Quezon City Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics
• Muntinlupa City’s Sentrong Aruga para sa Kababaihan (SAK)

Social Protection and Reintegration Program for Persons Deprived of Liberty

• Quezon City’s No Woman Left Behind
• Davao City Bureau of Jail and Penology’s (BJMP’s) Ray of Hope Village

GAD Database

• Baybay City’s Barangay Management Information System (BMIS)

Educational Assistance Program

• Tulong Pang-Edukasyon para sa Bulakenyo (PGB Scholarship Program)

GAD LLH Certification Process

As the PCW looks forward to certifying more LGUs and building more gender-responsive communities all over the country, the Commission is encouraging other LGUs with potential programs, services, and facilities to submit their GAD LLH application by going through a three-stage certification process.

STEP 1: APPLICATION (Profiling)

1. Accomplishment of Required Forms

Interested LGUs should accomplish the GAD LLH Profile Form and attach all pertinent documents listed below.

2. Submission of Supporting Documents/Means of Verification (MOVs)

To submit the required forms and attachments, LGUs can choose from the two options below.

The PCW will accept the application submission within a specified period only. If applications are received beyond the deadline, they will not be included in the profiling and shortlisting process of GAD LLHs. Please take note that the PCW GAD LLH Team will only consider applications with completely filled-out forms and attachments.

STEP 2: ASSESSMENT

The PCW will thoroughly review the documents submitted by the LGUs to ensure accuracy and completeness of information. Only LGUs with complete submissions will be included in the shortlisting process.

1. Shortlisting of LGU Applicants

To initially assess the organizational-level readiness of LGUs as potential GAD LLHs, the PCW will use a scoring guide with four rating areas. 

2. Validation of Shortlisted LGU Applicants

The PCW will conduct site visits on dates agreed upon by both parties to verify and substantiate the information provided in the GAD LLH Profile Form and corresponding MOVs. The methodologies used in this process include classroom-type discussions on the rationale and accomplishments of the program/service/facility and focus group discussions between the implementers and the beneficiaries regarding the viability and impact of the program/service/facility.

The validation session will also serve as a venue to discuss the PA between the PCW and the LGU regarding the program/service/facility that will be certified as GAD LLH. It will be a strategic opportunity as well for the shortlisted LGUs to prepare and analyze the results of the administration of the Gender-Responsive LGU (GeRL) Assessment Tool, Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) Tool, and GAD Checklists for Project Implementation and Management and Project Monitoring and Evaluation (PIMME) if the program/service/facility does not directly address gender issues.

To help validate the shortlisted LGUs, the PCW may invite members of the GAD Resource Pool in the region where the LGU is located.

3. Final Assessment and Ratings

Shortlisted LGUs should earn a combined overall score of at least 80% from two major criteria/parameters to qualify for the GAD LLH certification.

3.1 Results of the GeRL Assessment Tool (50%). The LGU must earn at least a score between 2.76 to 3.25, equivalent to “gender-sensitive or higher”. This will determine the gender-responsiveness of the notable program/service/facility in terms of organization and delivery of basic services.

3.2 Review of notable program/service/facility (50%). The LGU’s notable program/service/facility will be reviewed based on the four rubrics.

OR

3.3 Results of the administration of the HGDG Tool and GAD Checklists for PIMME (if the notable program/service/facility does not directly address gender issues). The minimum acceptable rating should be within the range considered “Gender-sensitive,” which means the program/service/facility passed the GAD test based on the HGDG Tool.

If the final score falls below 80%, the LGU can request a re-validation visit after one year or if it has already accomplished the PCW’s recommendation to earn a rating of 80% or above.

The final results of the assessment process will be presented to the PCW Management Committee and Board of Commissioners for approval. Once approved, the PCW will notify the LGU of the final result and the next step in the GAD LLH certification process.

STEP 3: CERTIFICATION (Recognition)

The PCW will inform the approved LGU through official communication and schedule a ceremonial certification, which may be held either on the MCW anniversary (August 14) or during one of the LGU’s major events/activities.

As a symbol of recognition, the PCW, through the local chief executives and program implementers, will present the GAD LLH Glass Markers that may be installed in prominent locations like halls and offices.

The PCW will also prepare a PA for review of the LGUs and their Sanggunian that will be signed during the ceremonial certification.

GAD LLH Certification Benefits

The GAD LLH serves as a replication mechanism for best practices on gender mainstreaming at the local level. To sustain the implementation of these best practices, the PCW enters into a PA with the LGU that grants them access to the following:

1. Direct support from the PCW in the conduct of capacity-building and training for GFPS and the GAD LLH program implementers to strengthen their capacity in gender mainstreaming.
2. Promotion of the LGU’s notable GAD program/service/facility through the PCW website and other mechanisms.
3. Direct assistance from the PCW in developing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials related to the LGU’s GAD LLH.
4. Referral from the PCW to relevant organizations and agencies and endorsement of efforts during PCW-organized conferences, trainings, and workshops.
5. Provision of counterpart funds and non-cash resources, such as staff time, utilities, office supplies and materials, equipment, and other amenities, during the conduct of GAD LLH-related activities.

GAD LLH Roles and Responsibilities

As partners in building a gender-responsive Bagong Pilipinas, the PCW and the GAD LLHs have equally important roles and responsibilities to ensure the sustainability of the certified GAD programs/services/facilities at the grassroots level.

Specifically, the PCW expects the LGUs with GAD LLH certifications to:

1. Sustain the implementation of their certified GAD programs/services/facilities as LLH.
2. Serve as the administrator and repository of technical assistance (TA) requests.
3. Facilitate the provision of TA to LGUs and/or other institutions that have requested to learn about the development and implementation of their certified GAD programs/services/facilities.
4. Provide access to interested LGUs and/or other institutions to their certified GAD programs/services/facilities through sharing of information or knowledge management materials, peer-to-peer learning/coaching sessions, and site visits of LGUs and other institutions, among others.
5. Set standard training design, corresponding fees to all types of assistance to be provided, and identify time parameters in responding and accommodating the TA request.
6. Submit to PCW the reports of their provided services in relation to their certified GAD programs/services/facilities through the semestral GAD LLH TA Tracking and Monitoring Forms.
7. Participate or organize assessment and learning sessions with PCW relative to their certified GAD programs/services/facilities and their partnership.
8. Administer the GeRL Assessment Tool and the HGDG on their certified GAD programs/services/facilities (if it does not directly address gender issues) and obtain at least a gender-sensitive level or show an increase in score per assessment area as recertification requirements.

On the other hand, the PCW will provide the following to the LGUs under their PA:

1. Assign the TSRCD and a staff to coordinate and assist the LGUs in the implementation of the activities.
2. Provide counterpart funds and/or non-cash resources such as staff time, utilities, office supplies and materials, equipment, and other amenities for the duration of their partnership when necessary.
3. Support the capacity building of the LGUs and the implementers of their certified GAD programs/services/facilities to strengthen their capacity in providing TA to other LGUs and institutions.
4. Support the LGUs in marketing and promoting their certified GAD programs/services/facilities through referrals, development of IECs, linking them to relevant organizations and agencies, and endorsing these efforts during PCW-organized conferences, trainings, and workshops.
5. Set-up a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to assess the results and outputs of the partnership, the challenges and areas for improvement of their certified GAD programs/services/facilities, and other pertinent information through evaluation forms and lessons learned sessions.
6. Prepare an annual M&E report on the compliance of LGU to the GAD LLH guidelines and the roles and functions of both parties as stipulated in the PA. 

GAD LLH Monitoring and Evaluation

To ensure the sustained implementation of programs/services/facilities of the certified LGUs, the PCW conducts the GAD LLH M&E through document review, site visits, and interviews. Results of these processes provide realistic and significant inputs to the M&E reports that will help gauge the effectiveness of the GAD LLHs as a replication mechanism under the LGRP. 

The GAD LLH M&E also enables the PCW to generate GAD-related information, validate periodic status reports of benchmarking activities facilitated by the LGUs, and identify critical areas of improvement or ways forward for the certified GAD LLHs. 

Additionally, the PCW expects the LGUs with certified GAD LLH to sustain the implementation of their notable GAD programs/services/facilities and participate in the assessment or learning sessions organized by the Commission. Part of the monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the GAD LLHs is the submission of reports on the results of services provided to clients and stakeholders. 

GAD LLH Renewal and Recertification

GAD LLH certification has a period of three years, after which LGUs may apply for recertification. To qualify, the LGUs should re-administer the GeRL Assessment Tool and the HGDG (if not a direct GAD program/service/facility). 

Other important reminders for LGUs applying for the GAD LLH recertification include the following:

• Submit a letter of intent to PCW.
• Comply with the roles stipulated in the signed PA, including the submission of reports on TAs responded/provided, based on PCW’s M&E activities and reports.
• Attain a minimum equivalent rating that merits at least a gender-sensitive status or shows an increase in score per assessment area.

GAD LLH Assemblies

GAD LLH Videos

GAD LLHs Across the Regions