Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan reported on Thursday that the agency was now a Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework Level II government organization.
“After review and evaluation of the agency’s GAD (Gender and Development) activities covering the period October 2017 to November 2018, the agency’s improved GMEF scores is (sic) largely attributed to the strong support of the PCSO Board of Directors, Management and employees in all scheduled GFPS programs and activities,” said Balutan.
“What’s good about this is that the agency went from Level 0 and in barely a year, na-achieve natin ang Level 1 to Level 2. From October 2017 to November 2018 ‘yung inassess na activity. That’s a big accomplishment on our part,” added Balutan.
GMEF assessment determines what level PCSO is in. From zero, the agency is now at Level 2, where the highest is Level 5, which is replication.
“‘Pag Level 5 ka na, ginagaya ka na ng ibang agencies,” said lawyer Gay Nadine Alvor, chairman of GAD in PCSO.
GAD refers to the development perspective and process that are participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials. It is required under Republic Act 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women.
While GAD was signed into law by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Aug. 14, 2009, Alvor revealed that the agency only became very active on GAD activities when Balutan assumed as the general manager in 2016.
“When the former chairman retired and GM [Balutan] came, I was designated by GM Balutan. I think he used to be the GAD focal point person or head of GAD committee in the Philippine Marines. But it took a while because I wanted to implement the activities once the Philippine Commission on Women approves it,” said Alvor.
Upon the approval of the GAD budget in September 2017, the agency started conducting activities for GAD and had a full blast during the fourth quarter of 2017 (October to December).
Activities include conducting GAD seminars, introducing for the first time agency-wide advocacy activity like National Women’s Month celebration campaign, and launching of “Serbisyo Para Kay Juana,” which offers free snacks and drinks in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The agency also produced videos on women’s right, which were looped all day; and printed various PCW fliers about Magna Carta and Violence Against Women—all are special laws about women.