Caloocan boosts gender development drive

Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri said yesterday city officials have conducted a three-day gender and development seminar workshop to ensure that women’s rights and privileges, particularly their participation in nation-building, will be given priority.

Echiverri created a Gender Development Council, along with its technical working group (TWG) and secretariat last year, to formulate plans, programs, policies and guidelines on gender and development and ensure its strict implementation in the city.

He said the seminar from Aug. 17 to 19 held at the Makiling Highlands in Calamba, Laguna was also intended to create gender laws for Caloocan.

Echiverri is the council’s honorary chairman.The mayor said the creation of the council is mandated under Republic Act 7192, or the Women in Nation Building Act, which calls for the integration of women as full and equal partners of men in development and nation-building.

To help the council, a technical working group and secretariat were formed to formulate policies and guidelines that will spearhead the city’s thrust on gender and development (GAD).

It will also ensure the strict implementation of existing laws and policies addressing gender and development issues such as, but not limited to the Philippine Development Plan on Women, Republic Act 7192 or the Women in Nation Building Act and other policies of the national government on gender and development.

Echiverri said the TWG will monitor the GAD implementation and submit progress reports to the council, prepare various gender and development-related programs, projects and activities for its proper integration in the City Development Plan.