The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII, being the newly-elected chair of the Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) XII, played host to its First Quarter Meeting on February 17.
Dir. Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, Regional Director of DILG XII and chairperson of RGADC XII, personally presided over the meeting which was attended by the member agencies, including its core members, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) XII, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII, and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), other regional line agencies (RLAs), and representatives from the academe.
One of the main topics of the meeting was related to the preparation for the 2020 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) this coming March.
NWMC is part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day (IWD). Proclamation Nos. 224 and 227, series of 1988, signed by the then President Corazon C. Aquino on March 17, 1988, declares the first week of March every year as ‘Women’s Week’ and March as ‘Women’s Rights and International Peace Day, and Women’s Role in History Month”. Also, Republic Act (RA) 6949, series of 1990, declares March 8 of every year as “National Women’s Day.”
For this year, NWMC will be focused on gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) and the celebration endeavors to bring together women and girl leaders from various generations towards a collective agenda of empowering all women and girls.
March 2 marks the kick-off of 2020 NWMC for all regional line agencies in Region XII. The activity will be held at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Regional Office XII at the Prime Regional Government Center, Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, the host for the Monday flag raising ceremony for the month of March.
A motorcade around the city, which will terminate at the Regional Center, will formally signal the start of the celebration. Through the Philippine Red Cross-South Cotabato Chapter, and in collaboration with the Association of the Regional Executive (ARDE) 12 and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Council (MSAC), a bloodletting and blood-typing activity will be conducted afterwards.
Service booths will be set up by various agencies, including the CHR XII, which will provide free legal assistance to various clients, the Department of Agriculture (DA) XII, which will give away vegetable and fruit seeds/seedlings to those who are interested and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) XII which will deploy a number of skilled trainees offering manicure, pedicure and haircut. Blind masseuse and other persons with disabilities will be around to render soothing body massages.
Towards the afternoon, a zumba dancing and fitness session had been prepared for all RGADC members and RLAs, including all the fitness fanatics who are present.###
