BACNOTAN, La Union – The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) encouraged national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) to use functionality assessment tool to measure the effectiveness of Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) in their respective offices.

This after the Regional Gender and Development Committee Ilocos (RGADC-1), in partnership with Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) and PCW, gathered for their 3rd Gender and Development Convention (GADCON), with almost 300 GAD focal persons from regional line agencies, NGAs, LGUs and academe held at DMMMSU-North La Union Campus on March 28.

Kim Harold Peji, supervising GAD specialist, said “The GFPS functionality assessment tool or what we call GFAsT will serve as a checklist of the NGAs and LGUs for the fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities.”

He added, “Maganda ang tool na ito dahil dito nakikita ang strength and weaknesses ng agencies at magkaroon ng baseline information or reference kung paano pa natin ma-strengthen ang ating GPS. "

For NGAs, the scoring is based on three assessment areas namely: structure and composition of the GFPS, GAD-related competencies of GFPS members, and fulfillment of GFPS roles and functions based on structure.

On the other hand, the scoring of LGUs is based on four assessment areas which include the creation and strengthening of the LGU-GFPS, structure and composition of LGU-GFPS, fulfillment of functions and roles of the LGU-GFPS, and GAD-related competencies of the LGU-GFPS.

Neil Ryann Rodil, PCW GAD specialist, encouraged the LGUS to use the GFAsT to assist them in improving the performance of the GFPS.

“I hope ma-encourage namin ang ating mga LGUs na gamitin ang GFAsT kasi iyon talaga ang idea kung bakit natin ito ginagawa at pini-present, para magamit ng NGAs at LGUs dito sa Region 1 at matulungan ng PCW at RGADC na ma-improve pa ang performance ng GFPS,” said Rodil.

Moreover, the GFAsT aims to ensure that NGAs and LGUs have a functional mechanism to mainstream the GAD perspective in policy making, planning, programming, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation process.

Also, it examines the performance and level of compliance of agency’s GFPS based on the parameters of the Magna Carta for Women (MCW) and PCW Memorandum Circular (MC) 2011-01.

The LGU may access the GFPS functionality assessment tool through this link https://tinyurl.com/GFPSFunctionalityToolforLGUs.

Further, the GFPS is an interacting and independent group of people tasked to catalyze and accelerate gender mainstreaming and an established enabling mechanism that ensures and advocates, guides, coordinates and monitors the development, implementation, monitoring, review, and update of the GAD plans and GAD-related programs, projects, and activities (PPAs).

Meanwhile, the GADCON is part of the month-long celebration of Women’s Month with the theme “We R1 (are one) for gender equality and inclusive society,” which aims to share and learn the best practices for gender equality and women empowerment. (JCR/AMB/KDM/PIA Region 1)