Brief Overview and Background

The Magna Carta of Women (MCW) or Republic Act No. 9710, issued on 14 August 2009, with its Implementing Rules and Regulations  is a comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment, and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging in the marginalized sectors of the society. It conveys a framework of rights for women based directly on international law.

The MCW establishes the Philippine government’s pledge of commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women’s (CEDAW) Committee in its 36th Session in 2006 and to the UN Human Rights Council on its first Universal Periodic Review in 2009.  It is the local translation of the provisions of the CEDAW, particularly in defining gender discrimination, state obligations, substantive equality, and temporary special measures. It also recognizes human rights guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

The Philippine Commission for Women (PCW) is then tasked to monitor and oversight the implementation of the Magna Carta, as well as to ensure that government agencies are capacitated in its effective implementation. Click here to know Herstory as explained by the PCW. 

 

History of GAD in DENR

DENR formally welcomed Gender and Development (GAD) in 1989, when former DENR Secretary Fulgencio Factoran was at the helm, in response to Executive Order 348. The first GAD structure created in the DENR was the Technical Working Committee on Women (TWCW) composed of representatives from six (6) Bureaus and four (4) Regional Offices.

This Committee was responsible for ensuring that DENR policies, programs and projects responded to the needs and are sensitive to the interests of its women clients/beneficiaries and employees. Headed by Victoria Orara of the Management Division, the TWCW can be proud of a major accomplishment. It succeeded in its lobby for the inclusion of a clause in DENR Administrative Order No. 4 which provides for the awarding of certificates of stewardship (CSs) to both spouses. This provision constitutes a radical departure from the past practice of awarding of CSs to the head of the family who is the husband.

The TWCW was responsible for the preparation of reports on DENR compliance with Republic Act 7192 – promoting the integration of women as full and equal partners of men in development and nation building.  DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 07. Series of 1995 transforms the TWCW into the DENR National Gender and Development Focal Point System that provides the Head Executive Assistant (HEA) as the Chair and supported by various Technical Committees.  DAO No. 07, Series of 1995 was amended subsequently by DAO No. 15, Series of 1998, DAO No. 55, Series of 1998, DAO No. 27, Series of 1999 and DAO No. 2001-18, which is now headed by the highest woman official (Undersecretary and Chief of Staff) and co- chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance.

 

DENR GAD Mission and Vission

Vision - Partnership of Empowered Men and Women for Sustainable Development.

Mission - "Women and men are mobilized in protecting, conserving and managing the environment and natural resources for the present and future generations."

Client-Oriented Goals

  1. Improved participation of women in consultation processes, in community organizations and in decision-making bodies towards the
    sustainable management of the country’s environment and natural resources;
  2. Ensured equal access of women and men to environment and natural resource goods and services;
  3. Enhanced resiliency of women and men in natural resource-based communities

Organization-Oriented Goals

  1. Enhanced gender mainstreaming in policies, plans and programs of DENR services, bureaus, attached agencies, and regional offices;
  2. Enhanced the knowledge management system of GAD; and
  3. Institutionalized GAD mechanisms in DENR services, bureaus, attached agencies, and regional offices that can serve as model to other organizations.
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Published: 21 October 2021