Key university officials listen to Mr. Ongkiko in the first day of GAD fora.

The newly-created Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System conducted a series of activities on gender sensitivity issues for university key officials, members of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), GAD peer advocates and student services providers.

The activities started with the training on gender-responsive management of university key officials on October 18-20, 2017 through a structured learning exercises led by the resource person, Mr. Joseph Astrophel C. Ongkiko.

On October 24-25, the Committee on Decorum and Investigation members (CODI) underwent the training on sexual harassment cases. Mrs. Teresita V. Menguillo, Administrative Officer V, Civil Service Commission (CSC), delivered a lecture entitled Sexual Harassment: A Silent Foe which dwelt on the historical and legal basis on sexual harassment, what constitute sexual harassment and the Administrative Rules on Sexual Harassment Cases Resolution No. 01-0940. On her lecture on Competence Building of the CODI members, Mrs. Menguillo discussed the preventive and punitive role and responsibility of CODI as well as their attributes. Atty. Cherry G. de la Cruz, Acting Director III, CSC RO6, gave a clear picture on the classification of sexual harassment offenses and penalties and oriented CODI members on the procedure on handling sexual harassment cases.

A two-day gender sensitivity training for GAD peer advocates was conducted on Oct. 26-27. Dr. Rosario H. Asong, retired faculty of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) and Ret. Police Supt. Cecilia M. Detablan lectured on various gender sensitive issues which includes the review of the basic gender and development concepts. Other issues discussed were the gender issues in the households, in schools, and in communities; gender socializing factors-cultural and historical; international, national and local situationer; educational interventions; gender-ralated laws and envisioning a gender-fair society.

The last leg of the series which was held on Nov. 8-9 focused on gender sensitivity training for student services providers. Dr. Rosario H. Asong and Dr. Ida M. Siason, former UPV Chancellor, were the invited resource persons. The topics discussed were the four premises of gender training, legal bases for GAD, the development schema, basic gender and development concepts, forces and factors that shape gender, gender issues: international national and local situationer, recent laws and interventions, selected laws and Magna Carta for Women: relevant interventions, educational interventions: gender mainstreaming in the academic institutions and gender-fair use of language.

According to Ms. Emily de la Cruz, ISAT U GAD Focal person, the proposed activities for the coming month will focus on children’s and women’s rights.