DENR’s Celebration of Women’s Month 2006 : A Report
A series of activities marked the annual observance of Women’s Month. This was spearheaded by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) in collaboration with government agencies, non-government organizations and local government units. NCRFW, as the national machinery for women’s advancement in the country, led the nationwide observance as mandated under Proclamation No. 244, “Declaring the First Week of March of Every Year as Women’s Week and March 8, 1988 and Every Year Thereafter as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day” and Proclamation No. 227, “Providing for the Observance of the Month of March as Women’s Role in History Month”.
This year’s celebration revolved around the theme “CEDAW ng Bayan: Karapatan ng Kababaihan!” in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Philippine ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).The Local Government Units hosted several events in coordination with NCRFW and other national government agencies. This is to bring the essence of CEDAW closer to women in the communities and underscore its implementation among key policymakers, program implementers, non-government organizations and stakeholders.
Kick Off-Activities launched this year’s celebration at Amoranto Sports Complex, Roces Avenue, Quezon City on March 1, 2006. It was facilitated by the NCRFW in coordination with the Quezon City Government. Different agencies, academes and non-government organizations participated in the kick-off activities. These include: Alay Lakad which started at the Jamboree Circle and ended at the Amoranto Sports Complex; Hataw Aerobics, conducted at the Amoranto Stadium and an exhibit and trade fair. The latter replete with a service and information booth was formally opened by ribbon-cutting ceremony. Simultaneously, a program was presented. It started with a National Anthem led by the PNP Band whereas the invocation/doxology was presented by the Shirley Halili School of Ballet. Mayor Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City gave the welcome remarks and Ms. Myrna Yao, NCRFW Chair, delivered the opening message. Several intermission numbers were presented by different groups. There was also Mini-Cheering Competition hosted by the Ladies of Choice and Awarding of SEA Games Athletes by Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and Chair Myrna Yao. A Press Conference was also facilitated simultaneously with the program.
o lend support to the celebration, DENR sent a delegation composed of participants from the Central Office, different bureaus, attached agencies and regional offices. In addition, a Whole-day display of Hands-on Interactive Calendar on Geohazard Assessment at the designated DENR booth set at the complex was also provided and was spearheaded by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). A total of one thousand five hundred (1, 500) copies of brochures and reading materials on landslide, flooding and natural disaster preparedness were distributed and disseminated to participants, academes and walk-ins. Experts and geologists were present to entertain queries on geo-hazards. Mayor Sonny Belmonte, among others, commended for the display of the interactive calendar.
According to the good mayor, said display and the video presentation were very informative and opportune in the wake of the recent Southern Leyte Saint Bernard Tragedy.
he launching of the department’s women’s month celebration was conducted on March 6, 2006. The National Gender and Development Focal Point System (NGADFPS) hosted the Flag Raising Ceremony and facilitated the opening he Flag Pole Area and Lobby of the DENR Main Building, respectively. The welcome remarks was delivered by Director Donna Gordove vice Chairman of NGADFPS Atty. Analiza Teh who had to attend an equally important activity.
Ms. Ma. Sabrina Cruz, Director of Public Affairs Office, on the other hand, introduced this year’s Guest of Honor, in the person of Ms. Rina Jimenez David, a feminist and a journalist. The message of the Secretary, who was not able to attend the program, was delivered by the Undersecretary for Technical and Management Services. The speech started with one of the sayings of Author Washington Irving, “There is in every true woman’s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity , but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity”. It also pays tribute to the late Mrs. Purificacion Reyes, the secretary’s beloved mother. The unfortunate “Wowowee stampede in the PSC stadium” and the St. Bernard Landslide were also cited giving emphasis on the number of affected women. It also emphasize the department’s accomplishments on women and development and designation of women on several top-level management positions. The speech ended with some words that not only inspire but also challenge everyone to action. It goes:
“Do more than belong… PARTICIPATE.
Do more than care… HELP.
Do more than believe… PRACTICE.
Do more than dream… WORK.”
Te NGADFPS also sponsored the 2006 DENR Inter-Office Booth Display Contest. Said contest was open to all DENR line and staff bureaus, attached agencies and regional offices within Metro Manila except Central Office. The contest had for its theme “Ang Kababaihan sa Paglinang at Pangangalaga ng Ating Likas Yaman at Kapaligiran”. There were eight competing entries and these were ERDB, PAWB, LMB, Forest Management Bureau (FMB), Environment and Management Bureau (EMB), MGB, an entry from the office of DENR-4A and 4B with National Resources Development Corporation (NRDC), National Capital Region (NCR), MGB 4A and 4B and EMB 4A and 4B, and National Mapping Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA). The judging of said contest was commenced after the ribbon cutting. Judges were USEC Castillo, USEC Borje and Ms. Rina Jimenez-David. The winners were also chosen during the morning program. This year’s winners are: EMB- 1st place, entry of NCR, R4A, R4B, MGB 4A-4B & EMB 4A-4B and NRDC—2nd place and PAWB - 3rd place. Entries were judged according to its relevance to the theme, presentation and visual impact and advocacy of GAD principles.
A demo-lecture on Urban Organic Gardening was also conducted during the afternoon program participated in by representatives from different offices. Experts from the Bureau of Plant Industry-Manila served as resource speakers. Containerized gardening according to the lecturers, is an alternative farming system of producing vegetables, ornamentals, medicinal plants, herbs, spices and small fruit trees. This entails minimum cost and labor with maximum utilization of limited space and can be done within the vicinity of one’s home. The demo-lecture was conducted in preparation for the establishment of a model organic farm which will show to DENR employees and clientele the benefits that could be derived from gardening in the urban areas. The area for the model farm has already been identified.
Gender and Development Community-Based Activities
n celebration of Women’s Month this year, different community-based activities in the communities of Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City, Norzagaray, Bulacan, Taguig City and at Los Baños Laguna were conducted. The participation of the six bureaus in all activities was assured by the NGADFPS in preparation for the reinforcement of GAD mainstreaming activities in the different programs of DENR. A briefing and discussion on GAD and CEDAW was conducted in all communities as part of the awareness campaign.
GAD on Solid Waste Management
“Talakayan sa Tamang Pamamahala ng Basura at mga Maaaring Pagkakitaan”
This activity was held on March 10, 2006, at 9:00 am-12:00 noon, at the Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City with 87 participants. Stakeholders from said barangay, DENR-GAD Focal point and staff from Central Office and Bureaus in attendance. It was sponsored by EMB in coordination with the Brgy. Council of Vasra. The program started with an opening message given by the Councilor of Brgy. Vasra, followed by another message from Ms. Elenida Basug, EMB Gender and Development Focal Point. She discussed, the relevance of CEDAW and women rights over management of solid wastes. She stressed during her presentation that women have rights to participate in the planning and development, equal access to economic and livelihood opportunities and the right to adequate living conditions such as housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, transport and communication.
A forum-demo on solid waste management was provided by Ms. Ofelia Panganiban of Zero Waste Recycling Movement of the Philippines, Inc. She discussed the types of wastes that we produced, proper management of such giving emphasis on 3rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) and economic and livelihood opportunities over management of solid wastes. Different craft projects out of wastes were also displayed during the demo-lecture for the participants’ appreciation of the lecture. There were also demonstrations on vinegar making out of pineapple peelings, production of Coco Burger patties out of “sapal”, lumpiang shanghai from banana “saba” peelings and medicines out of herbal plants.
GAD on Watershed Management and Forest Protection
“Ang Kababaihan sa Paglinang at Pangangalaga ng Tubig Kanlungan (Watershed) at Kapaligiran”
Women from Sitio Ipo, Norzagaray Bulacan, Barangay Officials and selected staff from DENR-Central Office, Bureaus and DENR-Bulacan participated last March 17, 2006 on a GAD community-based activity on watershed management and forest protection. This was sponsored by FMB in coordination with the Brgy. and Municipal Council of Norzagaray, Bulacan to identify women’s role in forest management. The DENR participants/representatives were divided into two groups. One group participated in the IEC-Lecture held at the Brgy.Hall of Sitio Ipo and the other group in the plantation maintenance and protection activities at an identified DENR-tree planting site. The program for the activity started with an opening prayer. Brgy. Captain Pablo Reyes while OIC-CENRO Raul Mamac gave the welcome remarks and opening message.
Lectures on Watershed Management and Forest Protection and on RA 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management, were given by Ms. Dolores Wanasen of FMB and Ms. Irish Nabua of DENR-EMB Bulacan . Participants from Bulacan raised the issue that illegal activities like timber poaching, deforestation, illegal grazing and kaingin persist inside Ipo Dam. They appreciate the conduct of said lecture as it is very timely. Plantation maintenance and protection activities like ring weeding and grass cutting were conducted. Approximately, a one-hectare plantation site was brushed and ring-weeded. The symbolic adoption of the GAD model/planting site was also done. Said site will be planted at the on-set of the rainy season and will be regularly maintained and monitored by the DENR-NGADFPS.
GAD on Women’s Land Rights
“Talakayan sa Taguig: Karapatan ng Kababaihan sa Lupa”
The activity was held on March 24, 2006, 8:00am-12 noon at the Brgy. Signal Village, Barangay Hall. It was sponsored by LMB in coordination with the Land Administration and Management Program (LAMP) and the Municipal Council of Taguig. Majority of the participants came from Upper, Lower and Western Bicutan of Taguig City. The program started with a prayer and the singing of the national anthem. Mr. Henry Dueñas, Brgy. Chairman of Signal Village, delivered the welcome address. Forester Juliet Texon, Chief of Project Development and Evaluation Division –DENR and Secretariat Head of NGADFPS, on the other hand, gave the opening remarks and briefly discussed the rights of women specifically over lands. The whereabouts of Proclamation 172, “Handog Titulo sa Taguig” was delivered by Atty. Allan Barcena, Assistant Director of Land Management Bureau. The total land area, processes, application requirements under Proc.172 and the rights of women over lands were also discussed. An open forum followed. Several queries were raised by the participants/stakeholders of
Taguig. LMB, took note of said queries for appropriate action. Intermission numbers of folk and modern dances, were rendered by the Alyansang Maralita ng Taguig, Western Bicutan and a group from Brgy. Signal Village, respectively. CEDAW and Women Land Rights: Making Connection was presented by the Gender Officer of LAMP. Ms. Elsie Terencio, a local women leader, shared her experience and success stories on land titling system provided by Proc.172.
GAD on Eco-Tourism Development
“Seminar on Community-Based Ecotourism”
This culminating activity of women’s month was held at the Makiling Botanic Garden of Los Baños, Laguna on March 31, 2006, 8:00am-2:00 pm. It was sponsored by PAWB in coordination with the Makiling Botanic Gardens, UPLB and Municipality of Los Baños, Laguna and attended by 58 participants composed of women of Los Baños, Laguna, and DENR GAD Focal staff. The program started with a prayer and singing of the national anthem. Forester Juliet Texon, presented the highlights on CEDAW. Ms. Thelma Perez presented an Overview of the activities while Mr. Roberto Cereno, Superintendent of MBG, talked on Mt. Makiling as Ecotourism Destination and Livelihood Opportunity for the Community. Other speakers were Ms. Priscilla Calimag on Role of Women in Ecotourism,
Ms. Marites Viste-Agayatin on Types of Community Participation and Ms. Althea Abarquez on Philippine Raptors Conservation Project in Mt. Makiling. The Municipal Mayor of Los Baños, Laguna , Caesar Perez, also attended said seminar. The closing remarks was delivered by Councilor Lulu Principe, Chairwoman, Women and Family, Social Welfare RUrban Poor Committee.
Game Ka Na Ba Contest
he NGADFPS, in coordination with EMB conducted 2006 Game ka na ba contest on 27th, 28th and 30th of March. Said contest is a yearly Inter-Office GAD Quiz Contest conducted during Women’s month in support to the GAD awareness campaign among DENR employees. The Bureaus, Manila-based Regional Offices and Attached agencies competed during the 1st elimination round while offices within the DENR-Central Office contended during the 2nd elimination round. The final round was held on March 30 with the eight teams, MGB,PAWB, NAMRIA, NCR, Planning Office, FMS, PAO and FASPO, competing for the plum awards. This year’s winners are: Planning Office - 1st place; FASPO and MGB - 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
DENR-Medical GAD Initiated Activities
ree medical check-up and laboratory examination were conducted during the month long celebration. Twenty - five (25) patients availed of Fasting Blood Sugar, 155 patients were examined in the mobile x-ray laboratory, 15 patients underwent prostate screening and 146 members of Fortune Care Cooperative availed of free physical examination.
Challenges