MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur --The different ministries and offices of the Bangsamoro Government presented to the women sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the region Thursday, March 30, their respective gender and development (GAD) plans and budgets for the year 2023 and beyond.

Some of the programs identified were awareness-raising on gender issues, gender mainstreaming, capacity building, training, and forum, among many others.

The participants were also asked for their issues and concerns, and the output will be included in BARMM’s GAD guidelines in addressing the socio-economic welfare of the women in the region.

Among the CSOs that joined the forum was the Sigay nu mga Babay Association from Dapiawan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.

Its president, Guiamela Sayutin, said “ngayon masaya kami kasi kung saan-saan kasali na kami sa forum at mga dialogue. Napakasaya namin dahil hindi lang miyembro namin ang natutulungan sa aming ginagawa sa organization, lahat ng mga kababaihan sa SPMX box (adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona) ay may benefit sila sa organization namin.”

She also shared that aside from advocating the rights and participation of women and youth in their municipality, their organization also generates income through weaving and food processing, to support their activities.

Spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), the forum was the highlight of the culmination program of the National Women’s Month celebration in the region.

BWC Chairperson Bainon Karon said this year’s theme ‘We Make Change Work for Bangsamoro Women’ resonates with the call for gender balance in leadership and decision making, the inclusion of women’s concerns in leadership platforms and government’s development agenda, and capacitating and preparing women to reach their ambitions.

“Let us be instruments in ensuring that women get half of the plate, that women’s role and contribution as active agents of peace and development are on mainstream and not on the sidelines,” Karon emphasized. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)