“We must always remember that Gender and Development is not only our approach, but also our fundamental basis for achieving our department’s overall development outcomes”, said Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Services Maria Catalina E. Cabral, Ph.D., CESO I, during the recently concluded workshop/seminar on the DPWH GAD Agenda.
The five-day workshop/seminar aims to capacitate the DPWH GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) in the formulation of programs, activities and projects to be included in the GAD Plans and Budget (GPB) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Further, it will provide the GFPS the direction in setting and monitoring their GAD initiatives towards the achievement of their gender equality and women’s empowerment goals.
Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Services Maria Catalina E. Cabral, Ph.D., CESO I, gave the introductory remarks at the workshop. As the Chairperson of the GFPS, she urged the Central Office and Regional Focal Persons to go beyond the scope of the existing gender mainstreaming strategies. Moreover, focals must need to go deeper to elicit key recommendations to implement the gender tools. According to Usec. Cabral, coupled with the Plans and Programs of GAD, DPWH has deemed it necessary to formalize its channel and initiatives through the establishment of GFPS. Lastly, she expected the participants to participate in the five-day workshop as this is an opportunity to share and highlight the DPWH GAD’s best practices over the years from the formulation of the DPWH GAD Toolkit: Making Road Infrastructure Projects Gender-Responsive.
Participants were also introduced by Ms. Rosemarie B. del Rosario, DSD, Division Chief of Environmental and Social Safeguards Division. Two participants from each regional office were invited, one is permanent, the other one is alternate.
The training was attended by 34 people, with 7 men and 27 women representing the DPWH-ESSD Secretariat, Services, Bureaus, UPMO clusters, Regional Office Permanent and Alternate GFPS.
Ms. Maricar Rovira-Chan, Gender and Social Development Specialist of the Asian Development Bank's Mindanao Irrigation Development Project, was invited to participate in the five-day program as a resource speaker. She is also a member of the GAD Resource Pool of the Philippine Commission on Women, which assists organizations in mainstreaming gender and development.
During the five-day workshop, the results of the recent DPWH GMEF application and MOVs, copies of the GPB and GAD ARs for the last 3 years, SDD, IEC materials and other GAD related documents were used to strengthen the DPWH GAD Strategic Framework and Strategic Plan. Aside from the data that were gathered from the workshop, gender issues of the clients were identified to gather insights from those who used and got impacted on by DPWH projects. This will basically touch upon matters like their visions and goals for DPWH GAD Agenda; GAD challenges and recommended remedial measures, etc. Moreover, the results of the preparatory workshops and quantitative and qualitative surveys will be reviewed and processed to ensure correct alignment and articulation of gender issues and fill the gaps as needed. Lastly, comments and inputs will be considered and integrated into the draft GAD Agenda. The Consultant will perform table review to finalize the DPWH GAD Agenda which will again be presented to the GFPS for approval.
With the help of the facilitators and the resource speaker, the participants eagerly participated throughout the workshop and at the plenary presentation and validation.
Ms. Rosemarie B. Del Rosario, Division Chief of ESSD, gave the closing remarks at the course.