ILOILO – The provincial government is strengthening its commitment to inclusive and gender-responsive governance by advancing a comprehensive planning framework for its Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives, targeting more effective delivery of programs in 2025 and beyond.
In a two-day session held recently, GAD Focal Persons and members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) revisited Iloilo’s 2024 gender programs, evaluated the utilization of GAD funds, and laid the groundwork for the province’s 2025 GAD Plan and Budget while also initiating a draft for 2026.
The activity aimed to address persistent gender disparities and ensure the province’s programs cater to the needs of women and marginalized sectors.
Key discussions focused on enhancing compliance with the updated Joint Memorandum Circular 2024-01, jointly issued by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The circular provides streamlined guidelines for the preparation, submission, and evaluation of GAD Plans and Budgets (GPBs) and Accomplishment Reports (ARs) by local government units (LGUs).
Participants also engaged in workshops led by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) on how to craft gender-responsive project proposals. The session underscored the importance of monitoring and evaluation, with an emphasis on strengthening institutional support for GAD mainstreaming through mentorship and technical guidance.
According to the provincial government, these planning efforts are essential to ensuring that GAD initiatives do not merely comply with national mandates, but meaningfully address real gaps in equality, empowerment, and access to services across all sectors of the population./PN
