The AEWs in the LGUs are the front liners in providing extension in their localities and are also expected to mainstream gender and development in their respective communities. Also, there is an increasing request for capability building including GAD in their programs as they have limited knowledge and skills in doing such. Hence, ATI-RTC-CAR through the Career Development and Management Section developed a Training Program for Engendering Extension in the LGUs. Thus, on July 25-27, 2023, Course One entitled Gender Sensitivity Training was implemented with a total of 21 AEWs in attendance.
Course 1 focused on understanding both women’s and men’s role, needs, interests, priorities, responsibilities within the community, and their relations to each other. Women and men equally play vital roles in society and development affects both men and women differently. Women and men have different impacts on programs and projects. Hence, both must be involved in identifying problems, needs, constraints, and solutions.
Ms. Jam R. Balingan, Training Specialist III and the Focal Person on GAD Programs stressed in her overview that Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) is an initial effort to show how gender shapes the roles of women and men in society, including their role in development, and how it affects relations between them. Raising knowledge on gender sensitivity will provide an avenue for the change of structure of gender differentiation. In the context of development, all these require knowledge and appreciation of gender approaches or tools. As a practical tool, GST is important for analyzing gender differentiation and providing adequate knowledge regarding major factors that influence and are responsible for how gender is defined to an individual, an entity and even to a community.
Mr. Ferdinand P. Gonzales, Certified Technical Assistance Provider on Gender and Development at the Philippine Commission for Women, served as the resource person on GAD concerns. He shed light on the importance of understanding and promoting inclusivity in all aspects of life relative to Gender and Development. He uncovers the following topics to the participants such as Legal Mandates of GAD Mainstreaming, Analysis of Gender Issues in Extension, Valuing Male and Female Differences and Vision of Gender Fair Society.
Mr. Cristino Balancio, also a GAD advocate and a retired staff of the Center, discussed the topics of transformational Leadership. He demonstrated how transformational leadership can create positive organizational change and inspire individuals to reach their full potential.
During the closing program, Ms. Merly Dalisay, Agriculturist I of LGU-Itogon, Benguet said in her impression that she the training broadened her knowledge on Gender and Development. “Before, I only see GAD as the classification of different genders such as LGBTQ+. Now, I learned that there are a lot of concepts to learn from, about GAD. I also learned that we can apply this learning not only in the workplace but also in our home and our daily activities where we interact with different people. As a newly employed in the Local Government Unit of Itogon, I encountered and made a research proposal where GAD principles can be incorporated so I am looking forward to the upcoming courses. I am interested on how to incorporate GAD into research proposals,” she stressed.
Mr. Charlie Sagudan, Center Director encouraged and challenged the participants to finish the course not only course 1 but also the remaining courses in the training program in order for them to be engenderize.
Course 2 focuses on Gender Analysis Tools while Course 3 focuses on GAD Planning and Budgeting.
