ARMM establishes Gender and Development – Focal Point System in line agencies

COTABATO CITY– The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), through the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW), is institutionalizing measures to promote equal gender opportunity.Chairperson Sittie Jehanne Mutin of RCBW-ARMM said the establishment of Gender and Development – Focal Point System (GAD-FPS) in the region’s line agencies is aimed at facilitating gender mainstreaming within state agencies and other institutions. Itong pag-eestablish po natin ng gender and development focal point system ay isang estratehiya para ma-gender mainstream ang ating mga programa (The establishment of this gender and development focal point system is a strategy to mainstream gender issues in our programs),” Chairperson Mutin said.Gender mainstreaming is a public policy concept of assessing the different implications for women and men of any planned policy action, including legislation and programs, in all areas and levels.ARMM’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has conducted a three-day training on GAD-FPS from August 19 to 20 in this city. Fifty-nine planners and employees from regional and provincial offices of the department attended the event.Alindatu Pagayao, DENR-ARMM assistant secretary, said in an evaluation in the department, 70% of the employees have little knowledge about gender and development. This is the first time that we had such an extensive workshop, we expect that gender and development will be institutionalized in the DENR so that it can be gender responsive,” Asst. Sec. Pagayao added.He noted that 230, or about 26%, out of 888 manpower personnel of the department in the region are women. The training has capacitated the participants about basic GAD concepts, gender mainstreaming, GAD tools for analysis, and functions of GAD-FPS.OnJune 1 to 3, the region’s Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-ARMM) also conducted similar training. Ma. Corazon Dans, DAR-ARMM communications head, said the three-day training encompassed all the necessary knowledge to guide the department in formulating GAD plans and budget.Based on Joint Circular No. 2012-01 by the Philippine Commission on Women, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Department of Budget and Management, all government agencies, offices and other instrumentalities shall allocate 5% of their annual budget for GAD activities.Chairperson Mutin, said training will also be given to other departments and agencies of the ARMM. It is our mandate to guide all agencies with regards to gender and development programs, projects or activities.”