PCW, PIA-10 Localize GAD Communication in NorMin
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – March 26, 2026 – The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), through its North Mindanao Field Office (PCW-NMFO), formalized its partnership with the Philippine Information Agency – Region 10 (PIA-10) to accelerate the mainstreaming of women’s rights and gender equality, a major move aimed at fostering a more gender and development (GAD) informed and engaged grassroots community. Concretely, this will result in strengthening the visibility, credibility, and public engagement of the PCW at the regional level.
PCW Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar and PIA-10 Regional Head Franklin P. Gumapon signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the development of the localized GAD communication program in Northern Mindanao, an initiative also supported by the Regional Gender and Development Committee-10 (RGADC-10) and media practitioners. The signing ceremony took place on March 26, 2026 at Limketkai Center, witnessed by PIA-10 Information Officer, Recthie T. Paculba and RGADC-10 Chairperson, Neil Aldrin G. Omega.
Seated from the left are PIA-10 Information Officer, Recthie T. Paculba; PIA-10 Regional Head, Franklin P. Gumapon; PCW Executive Director, Nharleen Santos-Millar; RGADC-10 Chairperson, Neil Aldrin G. Omega
The PCW is the government’s primary policymaking and coordinating body, mandated to advance women’s rights and gender equality. Through the establishment of its pilot field office, the PCW-NMFO, in 2021, the Commission is better positioned to directly engage with the agencies, organizations, communities, and all stakeholders in integrating GAD policies into their programs and services at the grassroots level.
To fully leverage this regional presence, the PCW-NMFO spearheaded the co-development of a localized communication program with PIA-10, the government’s primary regional communication arm, which has extensive networks and expertise in print, digital, and broadcast media.
“The PIA-10 is committed to support [using our platforms] the advocacies espoused by PCW. With everyone’s support and cooperation, women empowerment and gender equality is within our reach”, Gumapon expressed.
PIA-10 Regional Head Franklin P. Gumapon delivers a welcome remarks
Through the 2-year partnership, both agencies agreed to co-produce three media outputs: (1) a dedicated PCW spread in PIA-10’s monthly e-magazine “NorMin Plus” to mainstream GAD initiatives; (2) a co-developed localized Broadcasters’ Manual for gender-sensitive reporting; and (3) a quarterly video magazine show highlighting women’s rights, gender equality, and GAD program success stories.
Collectively, these outputs will strengthen gender mainstreaming by embedding GAD perspectives across regular government communication platforms, ensuring consistent, accurate, and gender-responsive messaging. They will also deepen community engagement by making information more accessible, relatable, and contextualized through the amplification of grassroots voices, the encouragement of public discourse, and the fostering of ownership of gender equality efforts among diverse stakeholders in the region.
“Upang maibahagi ang gender equality at women’s empowerment na mas malapit sa mga tao kailangan nating palakasin at dalhin sa mga mamamayan ang komunikasyon—at malaki ang ginagampanan ng medya dito. Kaya nga po, itong MOA signing ngayong hapon kasama ang PIA-10 ay matatawag nating herstoric”, Santos-Millar said.
(To bring gender equality and women’s empowerment closer to the people, we need to strengthen and localize communication—and the media plays a vital role in this. That is why this afternoon’s MOA signing with PIA-10 is truly considered to be herstoric)
The PCW exec GADvocate also stressed the need to ensure that the language of empowerment is understood, owned, and acted upon at the community level.
PCW Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar delivers a keynote message
RGADC-10, through its Chairperson Neil Adrin G. Omega, also expressed its support, emphasizing collective participation to achieve a transformative impact.
“As we lead this event today, may this partnership inspire us to do more than inform. May it move us in two ways: to advocate, and more importantly, to act together for a real change in the lives of women, girls, families, and communities across Northern Mindanao,” Omega expressed.
RGADC-10 Chairperson Neil Aldrin G. Omega delivers a closing message
Following its planned implementation in Region 10, which serves as NMFO’s operational base and allows close monitoring and evaluation, the PCW envisioned to scale up the localization of GAD communication plans to Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and Region 13 (Caraga).
Throughout the event, mall-goers—students, families, and groups of friends—stopped by the mini booth organized by PCW-NMFO, featuring gamified trivia activities designed to reinforce public awareness and underscore the significance of GAD education.
Trivia game participants receive short orientation on GAD principles, PCW merch
After the MOA signing, the event transitioned into the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, a moderated press conference that engaged the media practitioners and executive heads and officials to further articulate the initiative’s mechanism and their respective agency mandates and GAD programs.
Media practitioners pose questions during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas
The executive heads together with PCW-NMFO Supervising GAD Specialist, Hamilcar B. Chanjueco, Jr. (at the center) and Kapihan Moderator from PIA-10, Irene Joy B. Dayo (most left)
This initiative forms part of the Commission’s effort to cascade national GAD commitments into the local setting, aiming to reach the marginalized women through government and agencies and grassroots organizations, while strengthening the Philippines’ chairship of the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) for 2025–2026.