The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is stepping up its efforts to promote gender equality within its organization, programs, and services, as it gathered its officials and Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons for a Gender and Development (GAD) Orientation with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in Manila recently.
The session sought to strengthen their roles as strategic decision-makers in ensuring an enabling environment that not only advances decent, productive, and inclusive employment opportunities but also ensures they are responsive to the different needs, experiences, and challenges of all workers.
PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla led the discussion on inclusive governance and equitable labor, covering the challenges and possible improvements in the integration of gender perspectives within DOLE. She was joined by PCW’s Atty. Ma. Sophia Isabella De Castro, who discussed strengthening gender mainstreaming efforts that could help DOLE.
The activity is aligned with DOLE’s recently developed Gender and Development Agenda 2024-2029, its own blueprint in ensuring that identified gender issues and considerations are mainstreamed into programs and policy decisions.
“The aim is not to enforce gender-based biases, which consequently hinders the individual’s full participation in the labor market, but to allow everyone, regardless of gender, age, and social status, equal opportunities leading to decent, productive, and inclusive employment and development,” Undersecretary Felipe N. Egargo Jr., DOLE GAD Focal Point Executive Committee Vice-Chairperson, said.
The event, organized by the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), was attended by DOLE senior officials, regional directors, bureau and services directors, and other representatives.
Labor Assistant Secretary Amuerfina R. Reyes also highlighted the importance of integrating GAD in DOLE’s organization process.
Also joining the session virtually were division chiefs and members of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation and GAD Focal Point System of all DOLE offices
