Two months after the successful launch of the National GAD Seal Certification Program on March 22 at Greenleaf Hotel in General Santos City, DILG Rehiyon Dose has once again given recognition and fitting honors to the select LGUs and NGAs for the Second Batch of the Gender and Development (GAD) Seal Awarding Ceremony 2023 for Region XII.
The region-wide awarding was held recently at The Farm @ Carpenter Hill in the City of Koronadal. Various NGA and LGU awardees took center stage during the awards night, along with DILG field officers and other attendees who were dressed up in their glittery and fabulous Inaul-accented and inspired attires. “Inaul,” which literally means ‘woven’ in Maguindanaon, is a traditional cloth with unique designs and vibrant, sparkling colors.
The event was formally started with the grand entrance of the honorees, including GAD Focal Persons of DILG XII, GAD SEAL Regional Assessment Committee (RAC) Members, Hon. Airene Claire A. Pagal, Sangguniang Panglunsod member of Kidapawan City who represented Hon. Emmylou "Lala'' Taliño-Mendoza, the Provincial Governor of Cotabato Province and the Chairperson of the Regional Development Council XII, and B/Gen. Joselito E. Kakilala (Ret), Co-Chair of the RGADC XII. There were more than a hundred other guests and attendees and they were all dressed up for the occasion.
Dir. Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, the Regional Director of DILG XII and Chairperson of RGADC XII, highlighted the Region's journey towards achieving the GAD Seal. She also emphasized the pioneering role of RGADC XII in the development and implementation of the GAD Seal Certification Program in the region.
In her message, she thanked the DILG Central Office for the full support and attribution to DILG Rehiyon Dose, through the issuance of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-070, which established the Gender and Development (GAD) Seal Certification Program.
Dir. Leysa then congratulated the awardees and RGADC XII members for their commitment to gender and development and urged everyone “to continue moving forward together.”
Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Pagal of Kidapawan City, who spoke on behalf of Cotabato Provincial Governor Emmylou "Lala" Taliño-Mendoza and the Chairperson of RDC XII, acknowledged the Region's accomplishment in “advancing gender-mainstreaming through the establishment of the GAD Seal Certification.” Governor Mendoza, while serving as a member of the House of Representatives, has always been a staunch supporter and advocate of the GAD Program.
During the awarding ceremonies on May 26, 2023, Dir. Leysa and PSR Kakilala were joined onstage by DILG XII Assistant Regional Director Lailyn A. Ortiz, CESO V, to give the certificates of recognition to the GAD Seal Regional Assessment Committee (RAC) for their invaluable support and imparting expertise to the committee in assessing the candidates for the Seal.
Meanwhile, the Regional Directors and the representatives of the three agencies, namely, DOH-Center for Health and Development (CHD) XII, DBM XII and BJMP XII, together with their GAD Focal Persons, received their awards on stage. DOH-CHD XII GAD Focal person Godwin Lord Y. Gallo, RN, together with DR. Fatima A. Emban, MPH-Licensing Officer V/ Chief of RLED and Ms. Juhlyn Mae M. Makilang, RN, GAD Specialist received the certificate on behalf of RD Aristides Concepcion-Tan.
BJMP RD JCSupt Leo P. Baldon and BJMP GAD Focal JS/INSP Rowena G. Aujero received the certificate for their Bureau while DBM XII RD Akmad J. Usman, CESO III, together with Ms. Arlyn B. Adajar, Chief Admin. Officer (CAO) and Ms. Pamela Joy Yumtiamco-Bueno, Senior Admin. Officer (SAO) and GAD Focal Person shared the limelight as they received their certificate.
The awardee Local Chief Executives and their representatives, together with the concerned DILG Provincial Directors, GAD Focal Persons, and C/MLGOOs received their GAD Seal Certification Certificates. The LGU awardees are the following:
- PLGU Sultan Kudarat
- LGU Tacurong City (Sultan Kudarat)
- LGU Isulan (Sultan Kudarat)
- LGU Bagumbayan (Sultan Kudarat)
- LGU Esperanza (Sultan Kudarat)
- LGU Palimbang (Sultan Kudarat)
- LGU Columbio (Sultan Kudarat)
- PLGU Sarangani
- LGU Malungon (Sarangani)
- HUC Gen. Santos City
- LGU Makilala (Cotabato Province)
- LGU Kabacan (Cotabato Province)
PSR Kakilala, in his closing message, recalled the efforts of the Committee in expediting GAD in Region XII through the GAD Seal Certification Program. He commended the RGADC XII Chair, Dir. Leysa in pioneering the innovation, together with the stakeholders involved, the RGADC XII members, the RAC, and the RGADC XII secretariat.
He then urged everyone to continue to become “champions the rights of women, foster inclusive communities, and create opportunities for all, adding that the impact of the Program will resonate for generations to come and benefit the nation as a whole.”
