The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) was recognized by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) for its outstanding performance in allocating and using its Gender and Development (GAD) budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
The award highlights DEPDev’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, the department said.
DEPDev received certificates of recognition for ranking in six categories: highest attributed expenditures (seventh); highest client-focused expenditures (eighth); highest organization-focused expenditures (eighth); and highest GAD budget expenditures (ninth). The department also placed tenth in both the highest client-focused allocation and highest organization-focused allocation categories.
Undersecretary Ma. Monica P. Pagunsan, chairperson of the DEPDev GAD Focal Point System-Executive Committee, received the award on Sept. 25, 2025.
PCW chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla and executive director Nharleen Santos-Millar led the presentation ceremony.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the PCW for our excellent utilization of the GAD budget in Fiscal Year 2024,” Pagunsan said.
“This recognition affirms DEPDev’s commitment to integrating gender mainstreaming throughout its systems, processes, and programs, benefiting both the organization and its clients,” said Pagunsan.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were also recognized at the ceremony for ranking in the top 10 across 14 categories of the gender budget review.
Pagunsan also extended gratitude to Secretary Arsenio Balisacan for his support of the DEPDev GAD Focal Point System in the Central and Regional Offices.
