DA-PhilRice celebrated the 2022 National Women’s Month (NWM) this March to cap the 6-year recurring theme, “We Make Change Work for Women” focusing on the sub-theme: Agenda ng Kababaihan Tungo sa Kaunlaran.
The institute’s activities were aligned with the three-point objectives of the NWM celebration: inform and engage women as stakeholders of government programs and services, create and facilitate platforms to discuss good practices, gaps, challenges, and commitments in pursuing Gender and Development (GAD), and empower women and girls to be agents of change.
The DA-PhilRice GAD Initiatives (GADi) Facebook page was launched as an official page for the institute to share its GAD mainstreaming efforts.
GAD Focal Person Dr. Diadem B. Gonzales-Esmero meanwhile led the Gender Analysis Training among project leaders using a module developed by the institute in consultation with the Philippine Commission on Women.
A webinar, “Leading with Heart! Building Mental Resilience,” was also conducted to empower men and women in the rice sector on how to bounce back to the new normal way of life while serving others. Majella Tumangan – Villaroman, an internationally acclaimed and sought-after speaker on mental health and well-being, served as the resource person.
As part of NWM, the institute continues to strengthen its strategy in promoting women’s rights by reconstituting the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) in compliance with Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women.
Branch stations also showed their support to NWM by conducting GAD orientations, webinars, awareness campaigns, trainings, cooking contests, and social media expositions. (PMC Gabato)
