The National Economic and Development Authority, Regional Office VI, Iloilo City organized a Training-Workshop on the use of the Harmonized GAD Guidelines (HGDG) and Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting on September 13-15, 2017 at the RDC Conference Room of the NEDA-VI Office, Fort San Pedro Road, Iloilo City.  Sixty-three participants from local government units, government agencies and higher education institutions attended the training.   Ms. April M. Mendoza, Supervising Economic Development Specialist and Ms. Dulce B. Paloma, Senior Economic Development Specialist from the NEDA Central Office Social Development Staff (SDS) served as resource persons.

NEDA-VI Regional Director Ro-Ann A. Bacal, in her message, highlighted the importance of mainstreaming GAD particularly in planning, budgeting and in the formulation of project designs.  Director Bacal further stressed that gender issues that hinder women from achieving their full potential must be addressed for them to fully engage in the development process.

NEDA-VI Assistant Regional Director, Atty. Raul S. Anlocotan, in his opening remarks, reminded the participants of the country’s commitment to ensure a gender-fair society though the Magna Carta of Women, CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and the Philippine Plan for Gender-responsive Development (PPGD)

The three-day live-out training-workshop provided the participants with an overview of basic Gender and Development (GAD) Concepts, GAD mainstreaming, GAD tools and analysis, the use of the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF), the use of the HGDG in development planning and in the various stages of the program or project cycle such as: project identification and development, implementation and management, and monitoring and evaluation.  GAD-responsive planning and budgeting and drafting of the GAD Accomplishment Report were also discussed.  (IGPahila/NEDA VI DRD)