COTABATO CITY— The Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) has completed the formulation of the region’s Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda.
BWC Chairperson Bainon Karon emphasized that the GAD Agenda will “act as a concrete foundation for gender mainstreaming, establishing gender equity, and improving the lives of women. “
“And further, it will support women’s empowerment and guarantee that their full involvement is a necessity for society,” Karon said during the three-day workshop on Oct. 9-11 held to finalize the agenda.
According to BWC, the agenda will guide all of BARMM’s ministries and offices in adhering to the GAD plans and budgets, as well as how legislators, local government units, and civil society organizations will support GAD initiatives in the region.
Under the Bangsamoro Administrative Code,
at least five percent (5%) of the total budget appropriation of
each ministry, office, and constituent local government unit of the BARMM
shall be set aside for gender-responsive programs, in accordance with a gender and development
plan.
The crafted GAD Agenda will be submitted to the Bangsamoro Gender and Development Special Committee (BGADSC), which ensures the integration of gender perspective in regional development plans, investment programs, and policies.
BGADSC is s special committee under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC).
United Kingdom Government and the Sweden Embassy in Manila funded the 3-day workshop, through the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
