PCW, NEDA lead the 3rd Regional Gender and Development Committee Summit
#3rdRGADCSummit: Participating chairpersons, vice chairpersons, secretariat members, and representatives from different Regional GAD Committees in the country pose for posterity in the 3rd RGADC Summit held at Manila Prince Hotel in the City of Manila from June 07-09, 2023. Also present are the officials of PCW and NEDA.
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), together with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) led the 3rd Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) Summit held at Manila Prince Hotel, City of Manila, from June 07-09, 2023.
The 3rd RGADC Summit carries the theme “Intensifying GAD Mechanisms: Working Together Towards Gender-Responsive Local Governance” and was attended by chairpersons, vice chairpersons, secretariat members, and representatives from different Regional GAD Committees in the country.
The summit of Regional GAD Committees has been vital in accelerating efforts to localize the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) at regional and local levels.
The first two summits conducted in 2014 and 2018 have contributed significant institutional measures like the issuance of the PCW-NEDA Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2016-01: Guidelines for the Creation, Strengthening, and Institutionalization of a Regional Gender and Development Committee under the Regional Development Council (RDC). This led to PCW signing partnership agreements with 15 RGADCs to ensure the effective provision of GAD technical assistance towards the development and implementation of gender-responsive policies and programs and monitoring of gender mainstreaming efforts.
The 3rd RGADC Summit was aimed at evaluating the progress of the RGADC, advancing convergence efforts, orienting RGADCs on major policy imperatives, sharing exemplary practices and notable GAD efforts in the regions, and recognizing RGADCs that have achieved commendable accomplishments.
In her opening speech during the event, PCW Executive Director Atty. Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chaves stated the importance of commitment in realizing the vision of RGADCs to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment within their localities.
“We need the commitment of our regional and local stakeholders to develop our own capacities as GAD advocates and the commitment to actively play our role in mainstreaming gender and inclusion perspectives in our systems, processes, and mechanisms. For without commitment, we cannot sustain our efforts. And if we cannot sustain our efforts, we will not be able to realize our vision” Atty. Yuzon-Chaves said.
Commitment and sustainability: Philippine Commission on Women Executive Director Atty. Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chaves emphasized the commitment and sustainability in RGADCs actions to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Yuzon-Chaves further highlighted the importance of consistent collaboration among RGADC members to drive positive and inclusive change in the region and reinforce the intensified GAD mechanisms in their agencies.
“For it is only by working together that we can forge a path towards more inclusive and gender-responsive local governance, ultimately realizing our shared vision for gender equality and women’s empowerment – for an equitable and just society where people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, can maximize their full potential” Yuzon-Chaves concluded.
As one of the lead agencies of the event, NEDA has been actively pursuing strong partnerships with regional and local government entities and civil society organizations in crafting effective mechanisms and extending technical know-how to help in creating collaborative and inclusive programs that would benefit the people.
Collective effort: NEDA’s OIC Undersecretary for Corporate Affairs and GAD Focal Point System Executive Committee Chairperson, Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan stressed the importance of partnerships among RGADCs and different sectors.
NEDA OIC Undersecretary for Corporate Affairs and GAD Focal Point System Executive Committee Chairperson, Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan delivered the keynote message of Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Ms. Rosemarie G. Edillon, recognizing the pivotal role of RGADCs in promoting gender equality and transforming the nation into an inclusive and high-trust society.
“It is crucial that we strengthen our partnership with various stakeholders, members of other RGADCs, CSO partners, academe, and the private sector to amplify our impact and sustain the changes we have made. By sharing our best practices and leveraging resources, we can create a powerful network of advocates and change-makers who are committed to advancing gender equality in our regions.” Pagunsan said.
Reorientation, RGADCs Profiling Report, and the 67th UNCSW Agreed Conclusions
Reorientation: NEDA’s Undersecretary for Corporate Affairs, Ma. Monica Pagunsan presented the vital provisions of the NEDA-PCW Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2016-01
The sessions started with the reorientation of the key features of the NEDA-PCW Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2016-01, or the Guidelines for the Creation, Strengthening, and Institutionalization of a Regional Gender and Development Committee under the RDC.
NEDA Undersecretary for Corporate Affairs Ma. Monica Pagunsan discussed the background, purpose, and legal basis of the formulated Joint Memorandum Circular, as well as the prescribed composition of the Regional Gender and Development Committees and its roles, functions, and responsibilities.
She reiterated the importance of the participation of different sectors, particularly the marginalized women, the indigenous people, and other representatives from the grassroots level. he also added that reviewing the Joint Memorandum Circular is necessary, particularly on the financial and expenditures provision.
PCW’s Technical Services and Regional Coordination Division Chief GAD Specialist, Ms. Nharleen Santos-Millar, presents the RGADC Profiling Report
Meanwhile, the Chief GAD Specialist of PCW’s Technical Services and Regional Coordination Division, Ms. Nharleen Santos-Millar, expressed her delight at the achievements done by the RGADCs from its first and second convened summits from 2014 and 2018, which led to the creation of the RGADCs Declaration of its commitments, and the issuance of NEDA-PCW JMC 2016-01, and the institutionalization of the rewards and recognition system for the regional committees’ success through the GADtimpala for Regional GAD Mechanisms.
Currently, with 14 RGADC partners, PCW continues to work with these committees to ensure their compliance with the NEDA-PCW JMC 2016-01.
According to the RGADCs Profiling Report, despite the minimal shortcomings of some of the regional committees, the majority still managed to be compliant in the implementation of the JMC, particularly the proper number of representations and functions of regional committee members, convening of their respective technical working groups, development of the Regional GAD Agenda, issuance of external and internal policies addressing gender issues in the region, the establishment of Regional GAD Resource Pool, and the monitoring and evaluation of GAD-related plans, programs, and policies.
Ms. Santos-Millar also commended the 15 regional committees for the successful implementation of their respective GAD capacity-development activities like online write shops for GAD project designs, proposals, and accomplishment reports; capacity development services for planners, GAD focal point assemblies, and others.
She also cited that 10 out of 15 RGADCs actively use sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics, as well as gender analysis tools, in the formulation of their gender-responsive and evidence-based regional and local development plans and programs.
Furthermore, almost all regional committees have strong institutional linkages and GAD mechanisms in pursuing the localization of their respective gender and development efforts and coordinating it with the oversight agencies such as PCW, NEDA, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG.
As part of the continued efforts in strengthening the RGADCs to enable their efficacy in the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women, several recommendations were formulated, like the development of an RGADC GAD Agenda/Framework or plan; collaboration and benchmarking activities for gender mainstreaming efforts; strengthening of their monitoring and evaluation capabilities; partnerships with Regional GAD Resource Centers and strive to identify GAD Local Learning Hubs.
Agreed Conclusions: Ms. Anita E. Baleda, Chief GAD Specialist of the Police Development, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division, reported the summary of the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
On the other hand, Ms. Anita E. Baleda, Chief GAD Specialist of the Police Development, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division, presented the Agreed Conclusions of the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women or UNCSW.
Ms. Baleda hopes that RGADCs consider the recommendations contained in the agreed conclusion, particularly that of prioritizing digital equity to close the gender digital divide; providing financing for inclusive digital transformation and innovation; gender-responsive digital and science and technology education; full, equal, and meaningful participation, leadership, and employment of women in technology and innovation sectors; adopting gender-responsive technology design, development, and deployment; strengthening fairness, transparency, and accountability in the digital age; enhancing data science to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls; and preventing and eliminating all forms of gender-based violence through the use of different technologies.
Ms. Baleda also looks forward to the RGADCs’ support of these initiatives to help marginalized women reap the benefits of the current dynamic technological and scientific advances.
She also asked for the support of the regional committees for the Philippines’ chairpersonship of the 68th Session of UNCSW for 2024.
RGADCs Best Practices and Exchanges
The second day of the Summit has been a great opportunity for RGADCs to feature their best practices and tested mechanisms on gender mainstreaming and localization of the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women from the regional agencies to local government units down to the grassroots level.
Best practices: The first plenary sessions on RGADC’s Best Practices on Regional Mainstreaming with Ms. Nharleen Santos-Millar, Chief GAD Specialist from PCW-TSCRD (left, at the podium). Present during the open forum were (from left to right) Ms. April M. Suyat, RGADC Secretariat Senior Economica Specialist, NEDA Calabarzon; Ms. Cheryl Arellano, Co-Chairperson, RGADC XI; Ms. Aurora R. Chavez-De Guzman, Chairperson RGADC V; Ms. Teresa B. Fernandez Co-Chairperson, RGADC VII; Dr. Irenea B. Ubungen, Vice-Chairperson OIC-Regional Director, NEDA I; Lora L. Yusi, Chairperson, RGADC III; and Mr. Leon Quintilla, Chairperson, RGADC-CAR and Regional Director DSWD-CAR.
The first plenary session focused on the capacity development and integration of gender perspectives into the regional development plans, with RGADCs chairpersons, co-chair, secretariat, and assigned officials of regional committees in Regions I (Ilocos), Central Luzon (III), V (Bicol Region), VII (Central Visayas), XII (Davao Region), CALABARZON, and Cordillera Administrative Region presenting their best practices, challenges, and capacity development measures on gender mainstreaming.
Accelerating Gender Mainstreaming: Participating RGADC Representatives during the open forum of the second sessions were (left to right) Mr. Neil Aldrin G. Omega, Director RGADC X; Ms. Teresita A. Tabaog RGADC Focal Person for Region II; Marie Grace T. Pascue, Chairperson RGADC MIMAROPA; Ms. Josephine Cabrido- Leysa, Chairperson RGADC XII; Ms. Nharleen Santos Millar, Chief GAD Specialist, PCW (Event Moderator); Ms. Paulina L. Nayra, Co-Chair, RGADC VIII; Ms. Febie S. Ibojos, Chairperson RGADC VI; NEDA Regional Director Felicidad R. Guerrero, Chairperson, RGADC IX; and Population Commission Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano, Chairperson, RGADC IX
For the second plenary session, regional committees from Regions II (Cagayan Valley), VI (Western Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), X (Northern Mindanao), XII (Soccsksargen), Caraga and MIMAROPA Regions presented their notable gender mainstreaming measures, strengthened GAD policies and other GAD-enabling mechanisms in their regions.
Common best practices in the regions are the use of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics in calibrating regional plans, which will enable regional and local stakeholders to have a gender lens in designing and implementing their local programs and projects.
Also highlighted during the presentations and discussion is the use of Gender Analysis Tools like the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) and the active and unified coordination with the LGUs, marginalized sector, and civil society organizations in implementing the Magna Carta of Women and other law and GAD-relevant policies.
RGADCs also dwelled on the importance of establishing their Regional GAD Resource Pool and the issuance of localized policies to implement gender mainstreaming measures of member agencies and the systematic and proper use of the GAD budget.
During the open forum, the RGADCs agreed on common grounds to strengthen the coordination and partnerships with the marginalized sectors, strive to improve the monitoring and evaluation systems to properly measure and analyze the outcomes of the policies and programs created locally, and establishment of baseline data to help the agencies formulate more suitable policies and programs in accordance to the local needs.
GADtimpala for Regional GAD Mechanisms Awarding Ceremony and Solidarity Night
Proposed Amendments on PCW-DILG-DBM-NEDA JMC 2016-01: Strengthening the participation of Local Government Units in Regional GAD-related initiatives
LGUs strengthen participation in gender mainstreaming efforts: DILG-Bureau of Local Government Development Director Anna Liza Bonagua presented the proposed amendments of the PCW-DILG-DBM-NEDA Joint Memorandum Circular 2016-01.
As part of the expanded participation of LGUs in implementing their GAD-related initiatives, activities, and programs, the DILG introduced amendments to the PCW-DILG-DBM-NEDA 2016-01 that will delegate the review and endorsement of component LGUs’ GAD Plan and Accomplishment reports to the higher level LGUs.
These amendments are in line with the Executive Order 138 series of 2012, which requires the National Government to devolve certain functions from the Executive Branch to the LGUs and are related to the provisions of the Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, and Section 36 of the Magna Carta of Women.
According to Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua of the Bureau of Local Government Development of DILG, these amendments will allow LGUs to align their GAD Plan and Budget; streamline its submission, review, and approval; and will enable them to maximize their capabilities to govern in accordance to the local concerns and gender-related issues that are needed to be addressed.
Director Bonagua also highlighted the following key measures:
- Establishing and strengthening of LGU GAD Focal Point System (GFPS)
- Establishing and maintenance of a GAD Database
- Preparation, submission, review, and approval of LGU GAD Plan and Budget and GAD Accomplishment report with Provinces GAD PB and AR to be reviewed by DILG Regional Officer; Component Cities and Municipalities to be reviewed by Provincial GFPS, and Barangays to be reviewed by the City/Municipal GFPS
- Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives in Local Development Plans
- Formulation and or enhancement and implementation of LGUs’ GAD Code
- Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Magna Carta of Women in LGUs
The DILG believes this will imbibe local autonomy, decentralization, and harmonization; and facilitate coordination for the proper implementation of gender mainstreaming measures, thereby ensuring the efficacy of programs and projects for the benefit of marginalized sectors, particularly women.
Conclusion, commitment setting, and ways forward
Undersecretary for Plans, Public Affairs, and Communication Atty. Margarita N. Gutierrez concluded the 3rd RGADC Summit by encouraging RGADCs to strengthen gender mainstreaming measures in their localities.
As the conclusion to the 3-day summit, DILG Undersecretary for Plans, Public Affairs and Communication Atty. Margarita N. Gutierrez stressed the importance of the involvement of local government in localizing the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women.
She also gave importance to the role of RGADCs in bringing a gender lens to the local programs to enable them to empower women to participate and have the opportunity to lead on key aspects of decision-making and contribute to the development of their communities.
“I urge our RGADCs to find more ways to empower Filipinas, especially those who belong to the marginalized sector, to voice out their views and inputs and consider them in making plans, policies, and budgets. The implementation of the full devolution pursuant to the Supreme Court’s Mandanas-Garcia ruling could pave the way for enhanced women’s participation and increase chances to consider their concerns in the localization of Women, Peace, and Security, or WPS agenda.” Gutierrez said.
Usec. Gutteirez assured that DILG will always lend a helping hand to support all the initiatives to implement the Magna Carta of Women on the regional and local levels. She also urged the LGUs, the private sector, and civil society organizations to collaborate for gender-responsive governance to benefit local communities.
As their commitment to having a whole-of-the-nation approach in gender mainstreaming
Whole-of-the-Nation Approach – RGADCs wrote their commitment on their respective regional maps, which were posted later as parts of the puzzle of the Philippine Map, signifying the whole-of-the-nation approach in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Capping off the Summit was a symbolic commitment-setting ceremony of the 15 RGADCs. The closing ceremony facilitated the identification of the top 3 commitments of RGADCs in intensifying gender mainstreaming at the regional and local levels. Some of the commitments of the RGADCs include developing a Regional GAD Agenda, strengthening the Committees’ monitoring and evaluation system, sustaining the inter-agency collaboration on GAD efforts, and establishing a Regional GAD Resource Pool, among others. The PCW aims to revisit these commitments in the conduct of the next Summit and will continue to provide technical assistance to RGADCs to facilitate gender mainstreaming further and localize the Magna Carta of Women.