ZAMBOANGA CITY, 15 Mar (PIA) – The Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) IX shall lead the conduct of serbisyo caravan to women deprived of liberty (PDL) at Zamboanga City jail on March 22.

As part of the approved activities for the women’s month of March, dubbed as #PurpleDay, the members of RGADC IX will visit and deliver free services to women deprived of liberty in Zamboanga City, hoping that through this activity, more women will be empowered to take an active role in gender equality towards an inclusive society.

The activity is also in line with the 2023-2028 theme: WE are all for Gender Equality, WE are all for an inclusive society. WE stands for Women and Everyone and Women Empowerment and emphasizes the role of women and everyone in gender equality and providing women with equal rights and opportunities.

The RGADC-9 wished to maintain the tradition of a convergence effort that fosters camaraderie and strengthens network linkages among committee members in the region.

Committee chairperson Raymond B. Domingo has encouraged all member agencies and non-government organizations to support and participate in the project.

Over 200 women PDLs are expected to benefit from the services from various agencies, to include: medical services, livelihood skills demonstration, and distribution of hygiene items, among others.

In its recent meeting, the RGADC IX also passed resolutions approving the following: (a) inclusion of the National Gender and Development (GAD) Resource Pool members in the Selection Committee of the Region IX GAD Resource Pool; (b) preparation of compendium of RGADC IX policies, studies and best practices; and, (c) the 2023 Philippine Commission on Women-RGADC IX Work Plan.

RGADC IX is a special committee of the Regional Development Council IX where it leads and promotes the empowerment and participation of women and all gender in regional development. (EDT/RVC/PIA9-Zamboanga)