LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – Together with the world’s declaration of March as National Women’s Month, the Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII actively joined the kick-off activity of its celebration in Caraga Region on March 1, 2023 with the theme, “WE for gender equality and an inclusive society.”

WE stands for Women and Everyone which highlights the role of women themselves and everyone in the pursuit of gender equality. It also stands for Women’s Empowerment, which encourages and calls for agencies, institutions, private partners, and duty-bearers from the national to the local level to provide women equal rights and opportunities, and for women to take these opportunities to further themselves.

The event was led by the Regional Gender and Development Council (RGADC) composed of the different government agencies together with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). It started with a motorcade from Guingona Park in Downtown Butuan City to Caraga State University (CSU) in Barangay Ampayon, as they were the host. Zumba exercise then followed.

Messages were given by Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil, CSU President, and Alexander A. Makinano, Commission on Population Regional Director and RGADC Chairperson. 

Moreover, as this was just the start of the commemoration, social media postings, Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), advocacy activities such as using the NWMC-themes Flag Raising Ceremony, Digital forums series, PurpleWednesday, and Musika ng Kababaihan Wednesday were promoted and agencies were encouraged to participate.