The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Levelling Sessions on Basic Gender and Development Concepts, Gender Analysis and GAD Planning and Budgeting for MGB GAD Focal Point System on February 20 to 23, 2023 at the El Vistra Hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The sessions aimed to achieve the following objectives:
- level off the knowledge and skills of participants on Basic GAD Concepts, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC1), Gender Analysis, Gender Analysis Tools, and GAD Plan and Budget to help them strengthen gender mainstreaming at MGB;
- clarify concerns on administration and utilization of results of Gender Analysis Tools to contribute to the development of gender-responsive GAD Plan and Budget;
- enhance the skills of participants in developing comprehensive annual GAD Plan and Budget; and
- enable the participants to appreciate the significant role of gender mainstreaming as a strategy towards gender-responsive operations.
Representatives of the GAD Focal Point System of MGB Central Office and Regional Offices attended the said activities.
The Learning Session of Day 1 walked the participants through the Review of Basic GAD Concepts and Overview of GAD Policy Imperatives which were presented by Mr. Jose Rey Q. Espina, Head of GAD Office and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs and Persons with Disability Affairs Office of the Pasig City Government.
On Day 2, four Learning Sessions were held. A Learning Session on Understanding SOGIESC was facilitated by Mr. Pent Elyria Dawn V. Liongson, Independent GAD Specialist and Gender Advocate. Afterwards, a Learning Session entitled Introduction to Gender Analysis was facilitated by Ms. Salvacion Barnedo, Officer-in-Charge of GAD Office Training Division of Pasig City Government. In the afternoon, a Learning Session on Review of the Enhanced Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF) was given byMs. Barnedo. It was then followed by a Learning Session on Revisiting the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) facilitated by Mr. Liongson.
Day 3 was packed with workshops, plenaries and learning sessions. A Workshop on Consolidation and Preparation of GAD Accomplishment Report 2022 was facilitated by the MGB GAD Focal Point System and the Resource Speakers. Afterwards, Plenary Session 1 centered on the Presentation of 2022 MGB GAD Accomplishment Report. The workshop carried on in the afternoon with Learning Session 6 focusing on GAD Planning and Budgeting. It was followed by Plenary Session 2 on the Presentation of MGB GAD Framework and Strategic Plan 2022-2027. Another workshop on the 2024 GAD Planning and Budgeting set the development of the draft 2024 Regional GAD Plan and Budget in motion. A wrap-up of learnings, insights and discussions ended Day 3.
On the last day of the learning event, Plenary Session 3 focused on the Presentation of Regional Offices of the Proposed GAD Plan and Budget for 2024. It was followed by an open forum and a synthesis wherein the salient points of the learning activities were integrated.
The event concluded with the Closing Message of Ms. Diory T. Carr, GAD Focal Person of MGB Central Office and photo opportunities with the participants and Resource Speakers.
