Month: May 2023

The DA-PCC GAD Focal Point System Members (GFPS) undergo training-workshop on Gender and Development (GAD), Gender Mainstreaming (GM), Gender Analysis (GA), and orientation on the GM Evaluation Framework (GMEF), May 10-12, at the DA-PCC headquarters.

The final output of the said workshop was a GAD Plan and Budget (GPB) that was developed by the participants. Relatedly, a discussion ensued on accomplishing the GAD Accomplishment Report (GAD AR).

May Angelica A. Saludez, Senior GAD Specialist from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), served as the resource speaker for the activity. The participants finished 10 sessions, which include gender mainstreaming, GA and GA tools, enhanced GMEF, policy entry points, enabling mechanism entry points, program/project/activity entry points, how to begin GM, planning and achieving GM, and preparing GPB/GAD AR.
In one workshop session, the participants were tasked to evaluate the agency’s PAPs using GMEF, a tool to measure the extent of the gender mainstreaming efforts of organizations, both national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs). It will also assist the GFPS members measure gains and successes, as well as pinpoint areas for improvement in the way GAD perspective is mainstreamed in the organization.

Moreover, the activity taught the participants how to integrate the GAD mandate and gender issues into the annual GAD plan and budget.

Under Republic Act 9710, known as Magna Carta of Women, all agencies, offices, bureaus, SUCs, GOCCs, LGUs, and other government instrumentalities shall formulate their annual GAD plans, programs, and budgets within the context of their mandates. Following the conduct of a gender audit, gender analysis, and/or review of sex-disaggregated data, each agency or LGU shall develop its GAD plans, programs, and budget in response to the gender gaps or issues faced by their women and men employees, as well as their clients and constituencies.

Dr. Caro B. Salces, DA-PCC’s OIC-Executive Director, challenged the GFPS members to gear up for a higher gender mainstreaming performance level in the year to come.

The DA-PCC annually conducts GAD-related activities for its employees, such as gender mainstreaming assessments and training advocacy on gender sensitivity.

In another episode of CaraAralan Webinar Series, Michael R. Pascual, owner of MCCR Pascual Dairy Farm from Minabuyok, Talavera, Nueva Ecija shared his success story in buffalo dairying during yesterday’s webinar episode, “May Magandang Bukas sa Paggagatas–Kwento at Kwenta ng Tagumpay ng MCCR Pascual Dairy Farm.”

Although dairying was far from the business he started, Pascual tried it in 2007 because of financial struggles. He doubted himself at first because of lack of skills and experience. Driven by his desire to continue dairying and establish a career, he attended training and seminars at the DA-PCC and adopted important practices and technologies.

Pascual shared his knowledge and skills in silage making, feeding milk replacer to calves, monitoring in-heat buffaloes, and milk quality screening using california mastitis test. He also emphasized the proper procedures in hand milking to ensure the quality of milk, along with other best practices and technologies in enhancing dairy production.

His hardwork paid off, as he achieved financial stability, and was able to support the education of their children, renovated their farm and house, and bought vehicles and appliances.

In the future, he wants his farm to be accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute as a Learning Site for Agriculture.
He concluded his presentation by encouraging everyone to venture into dairy farming because of its benefits and stability.
“Inaanyayahan ko po kayo na subukan niyo po ang negosyong matatag, ang gatasang kalabaw dahil kung livestock lang ang pag-uusapan dito na kayo dahil marami nang binagong buhay ang paggagatasang kalabaw, hindi lang ako kundi ang napakaraming mamamayang Pilipino,” he said.