The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) conducted its final GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) Meeting for 2025 last Tuesday, 9 December. The GFPS Meeting marked a significant milestone in UPOU’s gender mainstreaming efforts, and was held in a hybrid format. The meeting brought together the Chancellor, key GFPS members, and the Gender and Development Officers (GDOs).

Chancellor Serrano presided over the meeting and reaffirmed UPOU’s sustained commitment to advancing gender equality, promoting inclusive digital learning environments, and ensuring safe, empowering spaces for the entire UPOU community. She emphasized that the participation of GDOs marks a significant step forward in UPOU’s gender mainstreaming agenda, reflecting deeper institutional engagement necessary for implementing gender-responsive programs across all units.

The meeting covered key agenda items central to advancing UPOU’s gender mainstreaming efforts. The Office of Gender Concerns (OGC) presented updates on the implementation of gender-responsive programs and compliance mechanisms, along with proposed enhancements to UPOU’s Anti-Sexual Harassment (ASH) protocols. These include the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures and the Grievance Management Mechanism (GMM), both aimed at strengthening the ASH functions across the UPOU.

The meeting also strengthened the alignment of unit-level initiatives with the Safe Spaces Act and UPOU’s own strategic thrusts, as manifested in the development of the Policy on Advancing Non-discrimination, Tolerance, Accessibility, and Yes to Equality (PANTAY), which also serves as the GEDSI policy framework of the university.

In addition, the OGC also shared the progress in UPOU’s 2025 GAD accomplishments across teaching, research, extension, and administration. The GFPS Members also reviewed the drafted 2026 GAD Plan and Budget in accordance with principles of sustainability, resilience, and equity to guide next year’s gender-responsive initiatives.

The expanded role of GDOs in data gathering, monitoring, reporting, and unit-level advocacy was emphasized, with Chancellor Serrano calling for the consistent tagging of activities to ensure ease of tracking and accuracy of budget attribution. The GFPS members and GDOs contributed to discussions on enhancing coordination mechanisms, improving the timeliness and quality of reporting, and leveraging digital innovations to advance gender advocacy.

The meeting concluded with a unified commitment to further integrate gender perspectives into institutional policies, operational processes, and academic programs as UPOU moves into the coming year.

Written by: Xandra Marie G. Villareal | Edited by: Maria Lourdes T. Jarabe, Anna Cañas-Llamas