𝗣𝗖𝗦𝗗𝗦 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮-𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗠𝗘𝗙 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

PCSDS urges Government Agencies to implement Public Service Continuity Plans to safeguard Women and Children in disasters during the 2-Day Capacity-Building on GMEF Training

On September 5-6, 2024, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), through the ECAN Education and Extension Division (GAD Focal Division), in collaboration with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), hosted a capacity-building workshop focused on the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF) in Palawan Sustainable Development Training Institute (PSDTI). The GMEF, mandated by PCW Memorandum Circular No. 2016-03, is a crucial tool used by government agencies to assess and enhance their gender mainstreaming efforts.

The training brought together members of the Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) ExeCom and the Technical Working Group from various PCSDS Divisions. These participants were provided with a comprehensive understanding of GMEF’s four entry points: Policy, People, Enabling Mechanisms and Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs). By the end of the training, participants were equipped to use the GMEF tool to identify their organization’s strengths and weaknesses and prioritize gender issues for their GAD Agenda and Plan.

In the Executive Director’s remarks, Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta, MNSA, emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying: “We can turn this opportunity for environmental equality and mutual development. Let’s remove traditions of oppression, inequality, and abuse. These are the things that everybody has been going through, so as PCSDS.”

It also highlighted the critical need for all government agencies to have a Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP). PSCPs are essential in mitigating risks during disasters, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and children. Additionally, having a PSCP is a requirement set by the Civil Service Commission. Government agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with this mandate and to help promote the implementation of PSCPs to ensure broader awareness and preparedness.

This training, led by the Independent GAD Practitioner and GAD Consultant, Dr. Renifer Rebello-Francisco, reflects the ongoing commitment to promoting women’s human rights and eliminating gender discrimination within government systems and policies.