The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) headed by Secretary Mark A. Villar is recognized as the awardee of GADtimpala 2018 Bronze Award, the highest award given this year, by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) for its indisputable efforts in developing gender responsive infrastructure projects that contribute in ensuring gender quality and protection of all stakeholders particularly women workers.
The Bronze Award was conferred to the DPWH for its Outstanding Gender Responsive Project, in particular the Secondary National Road Development Project (SNRDP).
The DPWH, through its Eastern Visayas Region, became the catalyst for DPWH to pioneer Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) safeguards and has institutionalized GAD advocacies in all its project phases.
Under DPWH Department Order 48 series of 2011, gender-friendly standards based on the “Toolkit for Making Road Infrastructure Projects Gender Responsive” are incorporated at the execution of all projects during planning, design, reconstruction, construction and maintenance stages.
“The hard work and dedication of women employees and field workers of the DPWH contributes greatly to the prompt and effective implementation of our quality projects and our collective national development objective as well,” - Secretary Mark A. Villar.
Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral, Chairperson of DPWH-Committee on Gender and Development, said that the recognition given to DPWH will further inspire the agency to continue and carry out innovative ways to strengthen gender equality in the workplace and to develop gender responsive projects aside from joining different GAD related programs.
The DPWH is received the award on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 during the 10th year celebration of Magna Carta of Women at the Philippine International Convention Center.