By Teodosia D. Jaraba
DA-ATI-RTC X joins along with other government agencies and stakeholders in celebrating the 2022 National Women’s Day. This Women’s Month where Juanas take center stage- standing up for their rights, challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and serving as pioneers of change. This year, the nation recognizes women’s valuable role in society and proves that inclusive and sustainable development is only possible when gender equality becomes obtainable.
Hence, in this observance, ATI-RTC X joins to celebrate the gains and be proactive towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. It also serves as an opportune time to give Juanas the power to lay down the blueprint for future leaders regarding essential gender issues that demand immediate attention and solution.
This year 2022 National women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) culminates the 6-year theme “We Make CHANGE Work for Women” and will focus on the sub-theme “Agenda sa Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran”. It will be a celebration of women exercising their choices, taking chances to make their voices heard, and benefitting from and trailblazing changes. It is a celebration of Filipino women’s power to take the narrative, raise priority issues that matter to them and call for concrete actions. This year's sub-theme focuses on including women’s concerns in the government agenda and enabling more women to implement and at the same time, demand programs and services that can bring the country closer to narrowing the gender gaps and moving towards sustainable and equitable development.
The Philippine Commission for Women (PCW) being the lead Agency for NWMC, calls for government agencies and stakeholders to joins this month-long celebration. They continue to push for gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) in leadership, governance, and public service. With this theme, stakeholders can gauge the changes implemented towards GEWE, pursuant to laws on women, particularly the Magna Carta of Women.
As a kick-off activity, ATI-RTC X conducted a one-day Capability Enhancement Seminar to discuss the Magna Carta of Women or RA 9710 and the Anti-Sexual Harassment (RA 7877) in the Workplace on March 8, 2022, at ATI Training Hall, Poblacion, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. Forty-five (45) ATI Technical and Administrative Staff actively participated in the activity. The Resource Persons were: Atty. Pilipinas C. Palma and Atty. Kristine T. Gaudiel-Gambe from the Office of the Commission on Human Rights Region 10, Cagayan de Oro City. It was indeed a lively discussion and interaction. No less than the center Director of ATI-RTC X-Maria Lydia A. Echavez gave the Opening Message.
Upcoming ATI RTC X - organized activities include the following: ATI-RTC X will be conducting a Capability Building Training for Rural Women on March 23-25, 2022 at ATI-RTC Training Hall. Expected to attend will be twenty-five (25) young mothers and women entrepreneurs residing within El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. This activity is conducted in collaboration with the City Government of El Salvador through the Office of CSWD. Resource Persons are coming from the Commission on Human Rights Regional Office, Public Attorney’s Office Region 10 and ATI-RTC X. Another client-focused activity will be a series of webinars. On March 11, 2022- Webinar to showcase successful young mother-entrepreneurs; on March 18, 2022 – Webinar on Free Range Chicken Production; and on March 25, 2022 – webinar on Goat Raising/Production Technology.
Likewise, for organization-focused activity there will be a Webinar on the Safe Spaces Act - The Law and Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11313 via zoom to be attended by ATI-RTC X Technical and Administrative Staff on April 1, 2022, Friday at 1:30-4:30. Also Hanging of the 2022 NWMC Official Streamer/Tarpaulin as provided by PCW as ATI RTC X joins the celebration. Also the Use of “All Women Cast Lupang Hinirang” Video in NWMC activities.