A forum on gender and development (GAD) organized by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) together with the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and Road Engineering Association of The Philippines (REAP) was held Thursday, March 16, 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City, Metro Manila
The forum entitled “Women Paved the Way for Gender and Development” is part of the National Women’s Month celebration.
As chairperson of the DPWH Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS), Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral shared how the Department’s GAD Toolkit serves as guide in the implementation of gender-responsive initiatives, programs, and infrastructure facilities that are beneficial to all Filipinos nationwide.
The forum was participated by Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Atty. Persida V. Acosta, Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine B. Roman, DPWH-Public Private Partnership (PPP) Service Director Alex G. Bote, and guest speakers from PICE Inter-Specialty Group Committee, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific, Philippine National Police (PNP) – Human Resource Development Doctrine, and Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD).
DPWH which was the recipient of the prestigious GADTimpala Award in 2018 has pioneered the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) safeguards and incorporated GAD in all infrastructure project cycle, starting from planning, design, construction, and maintenance stages.
“By imparting our knowledge in our chosen field to promote women empowerment, may this activity serve as an eye-opener in developing mechanisms toward achieving better gender equality results,” said Undersecretary Cabral.