PCW recognizes Top Performers in 2024 Gender Budgeting
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) honored 123 government entities for their Gender and Development (GAD) Budget performance covering fiscal year 2024 in a ceremony held in Quezon City on September 25, 2025.
Also known as the women’s budget, the GAD budget policy was first introduced in the 1995 General Appropriations Act (GAA). It requires all government entities at the national and local level to allocate at least five percent of their total budget for programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) that address gender issues and promote gender equality and women empowerment. Over the last 25 years, the policy has remained an important feature of the annual GAA, further reinforced by the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710).
Over the years, the GAD budget has fueled the government’s gender mainstreaming strategy and resulted in notable progress, such as increased funding for gender-responsive PAPs, diversification of GAD activities, expansion of capacity-building initiatives, and consistent compliance with GAD budget submission requirements. One tangible result of gender mainstreaming is the establishment of support mechanisms for victim-survivors of violence against women in barangays, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and social welfare and development offices. It expanded training and scholarship opportunities for women, including entry into traditionally male dominated degrees and trade courses. These initiatives, along with livelihood training and financing being offered by various agencies, are some examples of how the GAD budget effectively translates into concrete benefits and lasting change for women across the country.
Going Beyond Mere Compliance
Opening the event on an inspiring note, PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla said that the recognition ceremony is the first of its kind, and the Commission wants to honor agencies for demonstrating commitment to GAD through gender budgeting. She emphasized that planning and budgeting must always go hand-in-hand, complemented by a corresponding accomplishment report to ensure accountability.
Chairperson Valdeavilla also underscored that moving forward, this recognition initiative will not only celebrate compliance but will also focus on measuring concrete improvements in the lives of women, stressing that enhanced measurement tools are crucial to ensure that every peso of the GAD budget is spent with accuracy, transparency, and integrity.
PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla delivers her opening message, emphasizing that planning and budgeting must go hand-in-hand.
“This is how we advance the vision of Bagong Pilipinas. We must ensure that this budget reaches those who truly need it and remains untouched by corruption – a lifeline for integrity,” Chair Valdeavilla affirmed.
DSWD, DOH, DFA, DAR Top the List of GAD Budget Performers
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) emerged as the top agencies that consistently ranked in the top 10 of 14 categories in the GAD budget performance review.
The government entities covered include Line Agencies, National Government Agencies (NGAs), Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Their performance was assessed based on the following:
- GAD Budget Allocation
- Total GAD Budget Allocation
- Allocation for Client-focused PAPs
- Allocation for Organization-focused PAPs
- Attributed Allocation
- GAD Budget Expenditures
- Total GAD Budget Expenditures
- Client-focused PAPs Expenditures
- Organization-focused PAPs Expenditures
- Attributed Expenditures
Client-focused PAPs are those that address the gender issues of an agency’s clients or external stakeholder, while organization-focused PAPs address the gender issues of the agency’s own employees, aiming to create a gender-responsive workplace by tackling issues like sexual harassment, lack of women’s participation in decision-making, and the burden of multiple roles. On the other hand, attributed GAD budget refers to a portion of an agency’s mainstream program or project budgets that is identified as gender-responsive and attributable to the GAD budget, using a gender analysis tool called the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines.
Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, together with Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar, presented the Certificates of Recognition to the top-performing agencies. Former Chairperson of the then National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) Imelda ‘Mely’ M. Nicolas also graced the occasion and conferred the recognition to DSWD, DOH, and DFA. Ms. Nicolas and then Department of Budget and Management Secretary Emilia T. Boncodin were the key movers for the inclusion of the GAD budget in the 1995 GAA. (The complete list of awardees may be accessed through the link: http://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GTFYezq4k/).
PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar, and Former NCRFW Chairperson Imelda ‘Mely’ M. Nicolas present the Certificates of Recognition to the top performers.
Former NCRFW Chairperson Imelda ‘Mely’ M. Nicolas graces the recognition event.
Shared Commitment to Move Ahead with the GAD Journey
The event also served as a platform for the top performing agencies to share their respective key interventions to continue their successful GAD journey.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Janet P. Armas shared that to further improve their GAD performance, they already have a draft GAD Agenda for 2026–2028. It is anchored on four key goals: promoting social impact and stakeholder empowerment through gender-responsive interventions; institutionalizing an inclusive and gender-transformative program and policy framework; strengthening leadership and commitment to gender mainstreaming within the agency; and fostering continuous capacity-building and knowledge sharing.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Janet P. Armas, DOH Dr. Juan Alfonso R. Perez IV, and DFA Undersecretary Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega share key GAD interventions of their agencies.
Meanwhile, Dr. Juan Alfonso R. Perez IV of the DOH Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau, underscored their agency’s shift in perspective: “We are moving from compliance to commitment. For many years, the GAD budget was perceived as a reporting requirement – something to comply with, rather than a tool for transformation. Today, the five percent GAD budget is not just a number to meet; it is a lever to institutionalize gender mainstreaming across the 95 percent of agency programs and budgets.”
Capping the sharing of interventions, DFA Undersecretary for Administration and Chairperson of the GAD Focal Point System Executive Committee Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega reaffirmed their Department’s dedication to gender mainstreaming. She assured that the DFA, in cooperation with partner agencies, will continue to ensure that gender and development remain an integral part of international discourse. “We will continue to strive to create an environment where the needs and contributions of both women and men, whether they are internal or external stakeholders, are equally recognized, valued, and supported,” she emphasized.
Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc commends the PCW for its initiative in advancing gender equality. CHR is designated as the GAD Ombud under the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710)
Formally concluding the ceremony, Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc commended the Philippine Commission on Women for spearheading the initiative, describing the recognition as both timely and fitting given the indispensable role of the GAD Budget in advancing gender equality. He ended his message with a powerful call: “Let us continue to maximize the GAD Budget as a tool for dismantling discrimination, challenging harmful gender norms, and creating opportunities where all persons are truly able to live a life of equal dignity and rights.”
Media Engagement Highlights in GAD Budget Implementation
To fully maximize the objective of the event, a press conference was held with media partners, with PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar, Deputy Executive Director Anita E. Baleda, DFA Undersecretary Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, DSWD Assistant Secretary Janet P. Armas, DAR Director Agnes B. Mendoza, and PCW Policy Development, Planning, and Monitoring and Evaluation Division’s Atty. Ma. Sophia Isabella P. de Castro as panelists.
Key officials from PCW, DFA, DSWD, and DAR answer media queries on GAD Budget Implementation.
When asked regarding their insights as top-performing agencies in GAD Budget, DSWD ASEC Armas reflected that mainstreaming gender into services has been a continuing journey, one that comes with notable progress but also persistent challenges. Echoing this, DAR Director Mendoza emphasized that gender mainstreaming is still very much a work in progress, requiring sustained effort and commitment.
DAR Director Agnes B. Mendoza shares their department’s continuous progress for gender mainstreaming.
DFA USEC Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega shares the interventions of their Department for Gender and Development.
Meanwhile, DFA USEC Dizon-De Vega shared the unique position of their Department in serving both local and overseas Filipino communities, underscoring that awareness, education, and programs with real and lasting impact are essential in advancing gender and development.
Following these reflections, the press conference proceeded with questions from the media. Responding to queries on how the public can gauge concrete results from GAD-funded programs, PCW Deputy Executive Director Baleda acknowledged that while measuring overall impact remains a challenge, several agencies have already demonstrated effective ways of assessing their GAD Plan and Budget.
Highlights from the press conference.
PCW Chairperson Valdeavilla added that measuring outcomes depends on each agency’s mandate, while emphasizing PCW’s role in ensuring critical interventions, such as the training of Violence against Women Desk officers in barangays, is included in the activities in the submitted GAD Plans. She also stressed the need for accurate data on women experiencing abuse, particularly in rural areas, and assured that PCW continues to coordinate with partner agencies to address these issues across various sectors.
When asked by the media about agencies that have yet to allocate the mandated 5% of their budget for GAD, Chairperson Valdeavilla acknowledged that some remain non-compliant. She explained that such cases may be addressed through administrative measures and stressed that agency heads are accountable for ensuring GAD integration in their budget proposals. She added the importance of establishing effective mechanisms at the barangay level, while noting the Commission on Audit’s role in monitoring proper utilization of GAD funds.
The media also inquired about fund diversion and accountability, particularly how agencies ensure that GAD funds are used for their intended purposes. PCW explained that any reallocation of GAD funds requires prior approval and submission of a detailed justification, outlining how the funds will still benefit women. Annual reports are also submitted to monitor proper utilization and ensure transparency. Agencies with strong compliance practices, such as DFA, assured that they follow strict guidelines, itemize GAD-related projects, conduct regular reviews, and provide training for personnel to align programs with budget objectives.
Additionally, DAR shared its interventions, with Director Mendoza highlighting awareness programs for employees and agrarian beneficiaries to better understand their rights. It was also shared that women are now being recognized in land titles, marking a significant step toward gender recognition and inclusion.
Lastly, PCW underscored its continued partnerships with private stakeholders, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, to complement government efforts in advancing gender and development.
PCW Executive Director Nharleen Santos-Millar concludes the conference by expressing gratitude to media partners and recognizing the efforts of the top-performing agencies
In her closing message, Executive Director Santos-Millar acknowledged the support of media partners and underscored the significance of the exemplary performance of national government agencies in advancing programs and services that directly benefit women. She emphasized, “GAD is not merely a compliance issue, but a powerful stand for equality and inclusion.”