Fifteen local government units (LGUs) were trained by the DSWD in developing plans which includes activities, programs and projects in relation to providing equal opportunities for both men and women last April in Naga City.

The three-day Gender and Development (GAD) Workshop were attended by the municipal budget officers with their respective GAD focal persons to institutionalize gender mainstreaming in local plans and allocate budget for its implementation.

The first batch of municipalities who attended the workshop last April 23-25 were from Libmanan, Cabusao, Gainza, Labo, Baao and Ocampo while the second wave of the training were participated in by Ragay, Basud, San Vicente, Gigmoto, Viga, Bato, Bula, Bombon and Caramoan last April 28-30.

The said LGUs were currently implementing Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) funded by Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. foreign aid agency that helps reduce poverty.

Gender mainstreaming is one of the key thematic areas of Kalahi-CIDSS along with risk management, Indigenous People’s (IPs) participation and disaster risk reduction management (DRRM).

On the other hand, the workshop included the topics on:
• Construction of femininity and masculinity
• Legal Mandates and Polices on GAD
• Gender Assessment of Organizations and its services
• Gender Responsive LGU
• Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines
• Application of PIMME to ongoing project/service

The abovementioned topics were discussed by staff of DSWD Field Office V namely, Aladin Naje and Regional GAD focal Salome Balaoro with Ms. Lourdes Turiano, the National Gender Specialist.

According to Balaoro, the workshop will capacitate the LGUs to include relevant activities, programs, projects and services that will promote gender equality in their Annual Investment Plans with corresponding budget from their internal revenue allotment (IRA).

She also added that the initial agreement of the LGUs is to establish GAD code, a mandate that will ensure the implementation of GAD plans. Moreover, the LGUs suggested that the creation of a GAD structure in the local government should be to monitor and execute the GAD plans.

Based on RA 7192 (An Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men in Development and Nation Building and for other Purposes), it directs agencies and LGUs to mobilize up to 30 percent of their Official Development Assistance (ODA) to fund GAD programs, projects and activities. This is on top of the five percent GAD budget provided for by the 1998 General Appropriations Act.