SAN FERNANDO CITY - The Regional Gender and Development Committee region I (RGADC-1), in partnership with the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) will host a gender focal point assembly (GFPS) cum Gender and Development Convention (GADCON) at the DMMMSU-NLUC International Convention Center, Bacnotan, La Union on March 28.

The convention will be in a hybrid set-up, which will be attended by about 100-300 GAD focal persons and participants from GAD focal point system of various regional line agencies (RLAs), local government units (LGUs), academe, and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the region.

“We expect to learn a lot of things from our speakers, and this is the third year of our convention and finally it will be done in a hybrid set-up. This will also be a testing ground if by next year, we can already conduct a full face-to-face GADCON since for the past two years, we did it virtually,” said Atty. Anna Leah T. Romero, RGADC-1 Secretariat.

Moreover, Kim Harold T. Peji, Supervising GAD specialist of PCW, is expected to give a review of the guidelines for the creation, strengthening, and institutionalizing the GAD Focal Point System under the Memorandum Circular No. 2011-01.

Likewise, Peji is expected to discuss also the GFPS Functionality Assessment tool for NGAs, while Neil Ryann P. Rodil, PCW GAD specialist will talk about the GFPS Functionality Assessment tool for LGUs.

There will also be an orientation on the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) in Development Planning, and Gender Issues/Challenges identified and addressed in the Evaluation of the Ilocos Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023-2028 to be discussed by Mariz Dafnae H. Mendoza, Senior Economic Development Specialist, NEDA-RO1 and Certified member of RGADC-1.

Further, this event is in line with the month-long celebration of Women’s month with this year’s theme, “We R1 (are one) for gender equality and inclusive society,” which aims to bring together GAD participants and to conform their commitment and support to strengthen GFPS to be an instrument in gender mainstreaming and in achieving gender equality and women empowerment.

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, also Regional Development Committee-1 Chairperson, is expected to grace the event as keynote speaker. (JCR/MJTAB/KDM/PIA Region 1)