COMVAL finds partners in Gender Responsive Program

By Jeanevive D. Abangan

Friday 6th of July 2012

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley, July 6 (PIA) -- The provincial government together with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and the Women’s Education Development Productivity and Research Organization (WEDPRO) had its initial discussion last June 3, 2012 at the Social Hall of the capitol. This is to address gender and development issues and concerns.

The said discussion is a prelude to a conduct of a five-day training and capacity building of local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and people's organizations (POs) sometime on September this year.

UNFPA is an international organization that aims to inform the world that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. It aims overall improvement in the quality of life of Filipino adolescents and youth in terms of reproductive health and rights, gender equality and equity.

WEDPRO is committed to build a sovereign, democratic and gender-fair society where women are fully empowered, enjoying and participating in protecting and promoting their human rights towards gender-responsive and rights based development and social transformation. It works towards creating and providing an empowering environment for women and men who work towards influencing gender-responsive and rights based development in Philippine society, cognizant of the national, regional and international contexts, and aimed at building solidarity to advance gender equality, human rights and social equity.

Both agencies are extending and providing technical assistance to all LGUs, NGAs, CBOs and POs in increasing its capacity to undertake gender responsive programming, especially in planning and budgeting.

During the discussion, training director Lourdes Marina Padilla-Espenido informed everyone that their task is to provide all forms of assistance to the province in addressing present condition and concern related to gender and development.

The scheduled training and workshop will focus on the enhancement of gender and development planning, gender diagnosis, budgeting and policy advocacy on the Mindanao Commission on Women. (Rodielyn A. Manugas-IDS COMVAL)