PCW, OCD ink partnership to intensify gender mainstreaming in providing public service for disaster risk reduction and management
Emphasizing the need to enhance gender mainstreaming performance and intensify gender development efforts in the environment sector, particularly in the field of disaster risk reduction and management, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) forged a partnership agreement with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on May 22, 2023, in a hybrid set-up at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City and via Zoom.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is the culmination of a series of proactive technical assistance between PCW and OCD that aims to capacitate OCD personnel on gender sensitivity and gender-responsive public service.
In his welcome remarks, Dir. Edgar L. Posadas, CESO IV, Director III, Administrative and Financial Management Service, and Vice-Chairperson of OCD GFPS ExeCom, expressed his profound appreciation for how this partnership will help OCD reinforce its policies, programs, and activities on gender mainstreaming in attaining gender equality in their workplace.
“We want to ensure that all workplaces of OCD across the archipelago are conducive to the growth of human potential regardless of gender and able to provide equal access to our entire workforce on various resources and opportunities,” he added.
The need for gender-responsive climate and disaster-resilient development measures
In the various phases of disaster and recovery, women and men often respond and react differently. Sexual and physical assault often increase in the confines of rehabilitation sites. The lack of sanitation facilities also posed greater risks for women and girls. Even in the aftermath of disasters, women are often on the frontlines of reestablishing households in relocated or reconstructed sites, collecting basic household needs such as water, food, and hygiene items, and taking care of their families. Due to disparities in power between men and women, women face an array of gender-specific vulnerabilities despite their tremendous resilience and potential for survival in the face of disaster.
According to the World Risk Index 2022, the Philippines ranked first among 193 countries in disaster risk. The country scored high in its exposure, vulnerability, susceptibility, lack of coping capacities, and lack of adaptive capacities in the face of disasters. These findings emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the multifaceted challenges faced by the Philippines.
The mutually reinforcing relationship of climate change and disaster with the COVID-19 pandemic has a substantial impact on the poorest and most disadvantaged people, be it through gender inequality, age, disability, or any other intersecting vulnerability. This underscores the importance to establish climate and disaster-resilient development strategies that are adaptive, inclusive, and equitable.
Commitment of PCW and OCD
Under the one-year partnership, the PCW will provide proactive and responsive technical assistance to OCD in all gender-related capacity development training and activities. This includes the conduct of a GAD Executive Briefing for the OCD top management, the provision of technical assistance on the application of the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) for GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) members and programs and projects implementers, and the assessment of the gender mainstreaming efforts of OCD through the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF). Another goal is to conduct a training workshop on GAD Planning and Budgeting and the use of the HGDG and provide review and technical inputs to the OCD FY 2024 GAD Plan and Budget and the OCD FY 2023 GAD Accomplishment Report. The final activity is to assess and evaluate the implementation of the Partnership Agreement and 2023–2025 Work Plan between PCW and OCD. This assessment will help monitor progress, identify gaps, and determine necessary adjustments to ensure the attainment of agreed-upon objectives.
In her commitment message, PCW Executive Director Atty. Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chaves amplified the essential role of OCD in ensuring gender-responsive disaster risk reduction.
“With this partnership, the PCW commits to work with and support the OCD in its gender mainstreaming journey so that implementation of GAD will go beyond compliance and, more importantly, by capacitating its people to ensure the gender responsiveness of the OCD’s programs, activities, and services. This is to ensure that these will positively impact the lives of its duty-bearers, clients, and stakeholders, particularly women and girls who are the most affected by disasters and other crisis situations,” Yuzon-Chaves said.
In their role within the partnership, the OCD commits to taking charge of the necessary logistical support, allocating budget and resources to implement the activities under the partnership’s signed work and financial plan, and submitting the results of its gender mainstreaming efforts. They were also tasked with ensuring the timely submission of the GAD Plan and Budget and their GAD Accomplishment Report to PCW.
In his commitment speech, Asec. Hernando M. Caraig Jr., Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration and OCD GFPS ExeCom Chairperson affirmed the joint endeavor between PCW and OCD. He expressed his unwavering belief in the collaboration to successfully nurture a culture of fairness, eliminate gender biases, and ensure equal treatment, support, and mutual respect throughout their program implementations.
“I also look forward to the positive impact that these arrangements will have on the services that are being offered by OCD as we pursue our objectives of national safety, climate change mitigation and adaptation, resilience, and prosperity,” he added.
In her closing message, PCW Deputy Director for Operations, Ms. Maria Kristine Josefina Balmes, noted that several technical assistance sessions on GAD Planning and Budgeting had occurred, which led to the recognition of the need to work together to mainstream GAD and ensure its integration in OCD’s programs, activities, and projects.
“As your ally towards gender-responsive governance, the PCW will continue to provide the needed GAD-related technical assistance now that our partnership has been made official. We hope that this will be an initial step towards ensuring gender responsiveness in disaster risk reduction and management in support of the country’s development agenda,” she added.
The partnership agreement was signed by PCW Executive Director, Atty. Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chaves, and Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, as witnessed by Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration OCD Chairperson, GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) Executive Committee, Assistant Secretary Hernando M. Caraig Jr., and the Division Chief of the Sectoral Coordination Division, Dr. Macario T. Jusayan. Also present in the signing ceremony are Asec. Hernando M. Caraig Jr. and Dir. Edgar L. Posadas to represent the Civil Defense Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.
