Mainstreaming gender equality is a strategy adopted internationally and promoted by the Beijing Platform for Action in order to meet gender equality goals. Gender equality is also espoused by the United Nations and bilateral aid agencies as an avenue to facilitate women empowerment.

In compliance and in support with Republic Act 9710, more popularly known as the Magna Carta of Women, and in accordance with the memo from the Philippine Commission on Women to water districts and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on the guidelines on the review and endorsement of water district annual gender and development plans and budgets, the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) conducted a Gender Analysis and GAD Planning and Budgeting workshop on September 26-28 at the MNWD Multi-Purpose Hall with 62 participants from the Water Districts of Bato, Nabua, Calabanga, Bula, and MNWD in Camarines Sur and the Water District of Ligao in Albay.

BAAO Water District with GAD Resource Persons.(seated from left to right: Esther J. Abrugar, Senior Research Analyst A; Reina P. Olivar, GAD Consultant; Atty. Ma. Elena R. Te, Acting Deputy Administrator for Administrative Services, LWUA GAD Focal Point Chairperson; General Manager Cesar H. Federizon; Gemma B. Englisa, Acting Manager, Water District Development Division; Flordeliza A. Ella, Senior Water Utilities Development Officer; Engr. Ajero C. Comia, Supervising Water Utilities Development Officer)

MNWD Board of Directors, Dr. Marilissa J. Ampuan and Mrs. Socorro B. Felix, actively participated in the Gender Analysis and GAD Planning and Budgeting Seminar.

Participants were expected to be trained on Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework, Harmonized GAD guidelines, and GAD Planning and Budgeting plus identification of organization and client-focused inputs for 2018 GAD plans.

Resource person from the Philippine Commission on Women, National GAD Resource Pool was Reina P. Olivar while resource persons from LWUA were: Esther J. Abrugar, Senior Research Analyst A; Gemma B. Englisa, Acting Manager, Water District Development Division – Bicol, Area IV; Engr. Ajero C. Comia, Supervising Water Utilities Development Officer Water District Management Advisor; Flordeliza A. Ella, Senior Water Utilities Development Officer, and; Atty. Ma. Elena R. Te, Acting Deputy Administrator for Administrative Services, LWUA GAD Focal Point Chairperson.

GM Cesar H. Federizon welcomed the participants on the opening program with a speech. Director Socorro B. Felix gave the opening remarks. Introduction of participants, resource speakers, and guests from LWUA came next.

Course Outline on Day 1:

Guidelines on the Review and Endorsement of Water District Annual Gender and Development Plans and Budgets, Refresher on Basic GAD concepts, Mandates on Gender Mainstreaming with Interactive discussion, Introduction to Gender Analysis, Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework, Group Workshop on Policy, People, Enabling Mechanisms, and PAPs, Synthesis and closing of Day 1.

Course Outline for Day 2:

Recap, Presentation of Workshop Mechanics and Demonstration, Group Workshop 5 and Plenary: Identifying gender issues and strategizing for Policy, People, Enabling Mechanisms and PAPs, Plotting GMEF Results in the GAD Plan, Group Workshop 9, Group Presentation, Synthesis and closing of Day 2.

Course Outline for Day 3:

Introduction to Harmonized GAD Guidelines, Demo Box 7a Exercise: Plenary, Group Workshop 10, Presentation of Outputs, Group Workshop 11: Identifying Strategies to Increase GR of Water District PAPs, Presentation of Workshop Outputs, Demo: Plotting HGDG results in GPB, Project Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Demo: GAD Accomplishment Report, Impressions, Awarding of Certificates, and Closing.

One highlight of the activity was Atty. Ma. Elena Te sharing of LWUA’s challenges, experiences, and success formulation in the planning and presentation of the GAD Programs. She encouraged the participants to strive and meet the objectives of the GAD Programs.

“There is a plan and a purpose, a value to every life, no matter what its location, age, gender or disability.” – Sharron Angle