In line with the Proclamation No. 227, series of 1988: Providing for the Observance of the Month of March as “Women’s Role in History Month”, “WE for Gender Equality, Inclusive and Resilient Society” is DENR’s pronouncement to celebrate and conduct activities that will highlight the participation and contribution of women in ensuring a gender-equal and inclusive society where no one is left behind in development.

Given this, an Orientation on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in Climate Change was conducted on 08 March 2023, 9:00AM to 12:00NN via zoom platform. The inputs and discussions centered on ensuring including women and gender diverse people, people with a disabilities, peoples facing other form of marginalization and other vulnerable groups, to equitably access, use, contribute to, influence and benefit from the design, development and implementation of programs, activities and projects of the DENR.

Understanding the necessity of GEDSI, this activity was participated by more than one thousand DENR employees from various offices of the Central Office, Bureaus, Attached Agencies, Regional Offices, PENROs and CENROs.

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Gender mainstreaming in the Environment and Natural Resources Academy (ENRA) Supervisory Course and Management Course Modules is crucial so that key officials and the leadership of the DENR are equipped with gender-responsive course modules in making sure that the agency’s mandates consider the differential needs, roles and expectations of both men and women -- towards the overall effectiveness of the agency and its contribution to the country’s development goals.

This was the goal in the recently- concluded Training of Trainers, and Gender-Responsive Workshop for the DENR ENRA Supervisory and Management Course Facilitators, held last 26-28 October 2022 at the Estancia de Lorenzo, San Mateo, Rizal. Attended by various DENR directors, division chiefs, section heads and their representatives, the activity was anchored on the Memorandum of Understanding between the DENR and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) who vowed to work together in pursuing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the environment sector. The partnership aims to fully mainstream Gender and Development in DENR’s programs, activities and projects.

The activity was implemented by the Gender and Development Office, Human Resource Development Service and Climate Change Service of the DENR Central Office with resource persons from the PCW. ###

LOOK: Attorney Janelle Tamoro-Cruz of DENR National Capital Region’s Legal Division discusses the salient points of Republic Act 11313 or “Safe Spaces Act of 2019” to the members of the expanded Executive Committee in a meeting held at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) last Wednesday, 13 July 2022. Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan specifically asked that the Safe Spaces Act—also known as the “Bawal Bastos” Law—be put on the agenda of the expanded Execom meeting to inform the Division and Section Chiefs, Unit Heads, and Focal Persons of the regional office. She said she expects the members of the Execom to cascade the information and learnings to their subordinates and help in promoting positive behavioral and cultural changes towards gender-based issues, especially in the office. “We are all public officers and expected to act with 'justness and sincerity'. We have to remind ourselves constantly that we are here to serve the people, regardless of their social status or gender orientation, and uphold good morals, good customs, public safety and interest”, RED Caancan added.

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna and Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change and chair of the National Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh (4th and 5th from left, respectively) lead the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the celebration of National Women’s Month with the theme “Women Make Change Amidst Climate Crisis and COVID-19,” on March 7, 2022 at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City. A photo exhibit at the DENR lobby highlights the contributions of women on climate and disaster resiliency and COVID-19 response.

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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has signed a partnership agreement with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) to mainstream gender and development (GAD) programs and capacitate officials and employees to promote gender equality in all aspects of work within the DENR.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the agreement will bring great strides in the GAD implementation as it raises awareness about the role of women in the environment sector.

"We at the DENR are honored to have this partnership with PCW to promote the role of women in the environment sector and spread more awareness about their significant role," Cimatu said.

According to the DENR chief, the recent addition of the GAD courses in the agency’s Environment and Natural Resources Academy (ENRA) also serves as "another avenue for DENR personnel to be more equipped in the changing society and times."

"With the recent launch and conclusion of the special course on enforcement at ENRA, another specialized course—this time on GAD—will make men and women more sensitive and more prepared to interact with their colleagues while keeping in mind the lessons in gender and development," Cimatu added.

Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, who serves as the chairperson of the DENR's National Gender Focal Point System, said that the agreement serves as "an anticipatory and thorough planning for mainstreaming gender and development concerns in the department, rather than the as-the-need-arises basis."

"Partnership is bound to change the way we in the DENR team can go about assessing the state and requirements of gender-based training in the Department, prioritizing carefully those that need attention on both sides," Rebuelta-Teh said.

Meanwhile, PCW Executive Director Kristine Rosary Yuson-Chaves said the Commission has "high hopes that this endeavor will bring clarity as well as new insights to DENR’s mainstreaming journey."

According to Yuson-Chaves, PCW "has identified the environment sector to be prioritized for the provision of the GAD-related technical assistance."

"PCW commits to support DENR in this gender mainstreaming journey so that implementation will go beyond near compliance but, more importantly, to achieve gender responsiveness of the agency’s programs, projects, activities and services, and realize positive impacts in the lives of its duty-bearers and clients, especially on women and girls," said Yuson-Chaves.

Under the agreement, the DENR will take the lead in organizing GAD-related activities, including preparation of GAD Plans and Budgets, and Enhanced Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework.

Meanwhile, PCW will provide resource persons to guide and support the capacity development program of DENR in its ENRA’s supervisory and management courses and extend the necessary technical assistance in other related activities.

The PCW serves as the national machinery for gender equality and women’s empowerment and is mandated to capacitate national government agencies to effectively implement Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.

Witnessing the signing of the partnership agreement were DENR Climate Change Service Director Elenida dR. Basug, also the concurrent Director for DENR GAD Office, and PCW Chief GAD Specialist for Sectoral Coordination Division Macario T. Jusayan. ###