Marawi City, Lanao del Sur – In a proactive move to strengthen gender responsiveness across government offices, the Provincial Gender and Development (PGAD) Office of Lanao del Sur conducted a comprehensive training-workshop for the Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) today, held at the PGAD Conference Room of the Provincial Capitol.
The activity aimed to enhance the capacity of GFPS members by reviewing the 2026 GAD Plan and Budget, revisiting foundational gender concepts and principles, and analyzing pressing gender issues in the province. Participants also tackled tools for gender analysis (GA), strategies for gender mainstreaming, and the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF).
PGAD Focal Person Alliah K. Lucman opened the event by commending the participants for their sustained efforts in promoting gender equality within their institutions.
“This activity is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively integrate gender perspectives into planning and budgeting processes,” Lucman said. “We will explore how to identify gender gaps and translate these into concrete, measurable, and impactful GAD programs and activities.”
The morning session was facilitated by Prof. Nabiha L. Lao, Executive Director of the Lanao del Sur People’s Council, who provided a review of key GAD concepts including sex, gender, gender roles, and characteristics. She emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing gender inequalities to improve institutional policies and practices.
“Understanding how gender affects access to resources, opportunities, and participation is crucial. We must constantly challenge and reflect on existing gender biases,” Lao noted.
The training’s legal and policy framework segment was led by Dr. Sittie Jehanne U. Mutin, an independent GAD consultant. Dr. Mutin outlined key legislations such as the Magna Carta of Women, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development.
She emphasized the roles and responsibilities of government offices in complying with gender mandates and institutionalizing gender-responsive programs.
In the afternoon, Dr. Mutin facilitated sessions on gender analysis techniques, mainstreaming strategies, and the application of the GMEF in local governance. Through interactive workshops, participants were guided in assessing gender roles and developing more targeted and inclusive plans for 2026.
The PGAD Office reiterated its commitment to fostering an inclusive and gender-sensitive governance landscape in Lanao del Sur by continuing to provide capacity-building activities for government stakeholders.