Councilors seek gender training

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has requested the Office of the Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Secretariat to come up with a capacity building and enhancement program for the members of the 15th SP and legislative staff on gender and development (GAD).

At the same time, the training is hoped to help facilitate gender mainstreaming through gender-responsive legislation and policy formulation anchored on the power of the council to enact “transformative” laws for women and girls to advance their rights and welfare and promote gender equality.

Councilor Alvin Dizon sponsored the resolution regarding the matter, which was approved by the council on Wednesday.

Dizon said as local legislators, they can become catalysts in advancing women’s rights in the formulation of their policies, structures, and processes within the Sanggunian.

“A continuing capacity building and enhancement program on Gender and Development will aid us in our law-making function especially in ensuring that all our policies, structures, and processes are carefully seen through a more gender-sensitive and gender responsive lens,” said Dizon.

According to the United Nations (UN), there are eight major characteristics of good governance and that is: participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law.

Good local governance, the UN says, is premised on legislations that create positive impact on the lives of people, especially amplifying the voice of the marginalized and addresses all forms of inequality and discrimination.

Dizon said participatory, responsive, and inclusive governance can only be materialized if due attention is given to gender equality values and principles and women’s empowerment. — JMD (FREEMAN)