ARMM’s Bangsamoro women’s commission trains women on gender, dev't , cooperativism

COTABATO CITY– The Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RCBW-ARMM) is holding a series of training sessions onSeptember 7-8here with participants from local government units and line agencies from the province of Maguindanao.Abderson Antao, planning chief of the RCBW-ARMM, said the training program will empower and enable participants to be more active in local development undertakings.Antao said the training program will cover basic gender and development (GAD) concepts, GAD Focal Point System, gender mainstreaming, and basic gender analysis. GAD programs should also be established even in local government units,” added Antao.Training on women cooperativism is included, which, Antao explained, will empower women economically.” The region’s Cooperative Development Authority is giving the inputs on women’s role in the cooperative movement.The training sessions are aligned with RCBW’s economic objective dubbed as Women Economic Empowerment and Livelihood Enhancement Program. The initiative is aimed at enhancing, capacitating and boosting women’s access to employment and livelihood opportunities, and developing entrepreneurial skills.On June 14, 2015, Bangsamoro women in the municipality of Masiu in Lanao del Sur participated in a similar program on cooperatives orientation at the Unda Memorial Agricultural School in Masiu.In 2015, there are 11 women’s cooperatives registered with the RCBW-ARMM. Women numbering 196 were trained on cooperativism, and 42 were trained on entrepreneurial skills. This would boost the support we need from the ground to push forward women and peace agenda in the region,” said Sittie JehanneMutin, RCBW-ARMM chairperson.