The 15th day of August 2019 became significant to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII upon accepting the Chairpersonship of Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) of Region XII. As one important support Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII pursuant to PCW- NEDA Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2016-01, the DILG XII was humbly challenged to continue the strengthening of GAD mainstreaming from the regional level down to local government units as mandated by the Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as “Magna Carta of Women”.

The validation of the 2019 SGLG for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM-Maguindanao) LGUs officially kicked off last August 13, 2019 with twenty-nine (29) LGUs from the said region to be chosen as national qualifiers for the prestigious contest. The towns of Matanog, Sultan Kudarat, Kabuntalan, Guindulungan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Sultan Sa Barongis, Shariff Aguak, Datu Piang, Upi, South Upi, Datu Paglas, Pagalungan, Barira, Buldon and Paglat, in Maguindanao Province had been tipped to be part of the shortlist.