On August 29-30, 2024 the Office of Gender Concerns of UPOU participated in the UP System GAD Coordinating Committee Meeting conducted by the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), with the support of the UP Office of the President. Held at the UPCWGS Conference Room, the event brought together heads and staff from the Gender and Development (GAD) offices and Offices of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH) across the UP constituent universities.
During the 1st day of the GAD Meeting, UPOU Office of Gender Concerns’ Project Staff, Dani Mercado and Denise Palisoc presented the accomplishments and plans of UPOU OGC for the year 2023 to July 2024 as they highlighted the following initiatives: development of Gender Sensitivity Orientation Site, GST MOOC Offering for 2 years, processing of GFRG Proposals, implementation and dissemination of research initiatives, conducting more awareness raising activities most especially during big celebrations such as National Women’s Month, Pride Month and 18-Day Campaign to end VAW, and strengthening the Anti-sexual harassment mechanisms within the University among others.
On the 2nd day, OGC Director, Dr Finaflor Taylan shared insights on the best practices of UPOU OGC, highlighting its experiences in maintaining and sustaining the minimum 5% GAD Budget through the years. Dr. Taylan emphasized the importance of active participation of OGC in the UPOU leadership, long-term support from administration, gender integration in various university activities and initiatives across offices, use of HGDG for other expenditures for budget attribution, and institutionalization of efforts through policy-making among others.
Resource persons included Atty. E. (Leo) D. Battad of the Gender Law and Policy Program (GLPP), College of Law, UP Diliman and Boz Paul B. Suaybaguio; Armando G. Orcilla Jr. of the Policy Development, Planning, and Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PDPMED), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW); Atty. Fortunata M. Rubico of the Commission on Audit (COA); Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Jocelyn Beltran-Balanag of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan of the UP Open University Office of Gender Concerns; Anna Myrishia R. Villanueva of the UP Diliman Gender Office; Dr. Rosemarie B. Del Rosario of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); and Genesis Giselle T. Baseleres of the UP Los Baños Gender Center. Guest speakers were UP President Angelo A. Jimenez and Dr. Leo D. P. Cubillan, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs. (UP CWGS, Retrieved from https://cws.up.edu.ph/?p=3061 6 September 2024).
To cap off the two-day event, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez hosted a social gathering at the UP Executive House, providing an opportunity for socialization, networking and further discussion among attendees.
The UP System GAD Coordinating Meeting underscored the importance of collaborative efforts and shared best practices in advancing gender and development initiatives across the UP System.
Written by Dannah Mercado | Edited by Finaflor Taylan