Gender and Development Program

By: Chita de la Cruz - Heap

KALIBO, Aklan - The three day Orientation and Action Planning Workshop on Gender and Development Program was held on the third floor of the Mayor Emeliano M. Acevedo function hall. The event started on May 10th and culminated on May 12th, 2011. Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado, GAD Focal Point Chairperson, welcomed the participants from the LGU’s and various sectors. Ms. Grace Quimpo, member of Aklan Gender Commission was also present. The resource speaker, for the three day event was Ms. Irene F. Daguno, GAD consultant.

Vice Mayor Regalado stressed in her message the importance of GAD’ formulation in the municipality of Kalibo.

She explained that it strengthens our ability to grow, to reduce poverty and to govern effectively;

She went on to say that promoting gender equality is an important part of a development strategy that seeks to enable our people, women and men, alike to escape poverty and improve the quality of their lives.

She continued that Gender Equality has both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Quantitative in the sense that implies an equal distribution of women and men in all areas of society such as education, work, recreation and positions of power.

Qualitative aspect implies that the knowledge, experience and values of both men and women are given equal weight and are use to enrich and direct endeavor in all social areas.

The topics discussed on the first day were ‘GAD’s Concepts and Principles,’ and ‘How Does Gender Mainstreaming Work.’ It was a lively interaction between speaker and participants.

After the lunch break, SP03 Luzbella U. Isada discussed the Police Community Relationship with the PNCO, followed by Mr. Terence June T. Toriano, Community Affairs Officer II, on the issue of Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE).

The following day started with the reflection on the previous day’s activity. Ms. Maricel M. Bechayda, MLGOO VI of the DILG Kalibo, discussed the Local GAD and Budgeting Guidelines,followedby MsDaguno on Gender Analysis.

The afternoon session was devoted to the discussion of Prioritization and Planning.

The final day began with a discussion on what was achieved the previous day.This wasfollowed by more weigthy issues such as the Presentation and Validation of the Draft of Strategic GAD Plan. Localizing GADand the values, responsibilities and skills of GAD Focal Points. The three day event culminated with the distribution of Certificates to the various attendees and resource speakers.

Editors Note: Hopefully all the time and resources used on this three day seminar will yield a result so that we do not waste our time in talking and planning without arriving at any solution to the chronic problems of this town./TE