MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Marawi Response Project (MRP) of Plan International Phils. made significant progress not only in advancing women and youth empowerment but also in pushing for gender equality.
During the formal closeout of the project on Monday, November 28, Plan International Deputy Country Director Bobby Fugnit shared that the promotion of gender equality was an integral part of the project.
He said, toward the final year of MRP implementation, awareness raising on ending gender-based violence (EGBV) was implemented including capacity building of duty bearers in the covered areas of the project.
Accordingly, MRP produces 17 gender champions to continue knowledge sharing and educate the communities on EGBV.
One of the champions is Diamond Mauna Abinal from Barangay Mantapoli in the municipality of Marantao. At the age of 13, Diamond was married off by her parents to a relative due to the belief that she would have a better life with his family. One year after, she gave birth to her first child.
Now, Diamond is very active in EGBV activities in her municipality because she does not wish anyone else to experience early marriage. She is the president of Matarantis a Bae, an all-women community solidarity group. She is also a member of the Marantao Women’s Association, the municipal sectoral federation of women which MRP helped form and capacitated.
"Ang gender advocacy ay napakahalaga sa ating lahat dahil para ito sa ikakabuti ng susunod na henerasyon na mawawakasan ang pang-aabuso sa karapatan ng bawat tao. Sobra kaming nagpapasalamat sa MRP, USAID, Plan International at Maradeca. Dahil sa inyo kaya kami na empowered, lalong lalo na ako," she said.
[Gender advocacy is very important to all of us because it is for the benefit of the next generation, ending the abuse of the rights of every person. We are very grateful to MRP, USAID, Plan International and Maradeca. Because of you, we are empowered, especially me.]
Marantao Municipal Planning and Development Officer Johaena Marcom is also thankful to MRP for empowering many women like Diamond to be EGBV champions.
She stressed that GBV is occurring in the province but many are just ignoring it while some are not admitting it is happening, thus the need for more EGBV champions.
"Nagtrain sila ng mga EGBV champions na kahit wala na sila, meron pa rin tayong mga tao na pwedeng bumaba to the barangay and sitio level at iparating what is gender-based violence," she said.
[They trained EGBV champions, so even if they are gone, we still have people who can go down to the barangay and sitio level and convey what is gender-based violence.]
Plan International's MRP was funded by USAID and implemented in Marawi City and 20 other municipalities in Lanao del Sur. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
