TO promote gender equality and create a safer workplace, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has signed a partnership agreement with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), as they push for the stricter implementation of gender and development (GAD) programs.
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the agreement will bring great strides in the GAD implementation as it raises awareness about the role of women in the environment sector.
"We at the DENR are honored to have this partnership with PCW to promote the role of women in the environment sector and spread more awareness about their significant role," Cimatu said.
The DENR chief said the recent addition of the GAD courses in the agency’s Environment and Natural Resources Academy (ENRA) also serves as "another avenue for DENR personnel to be more equipped in the changing society and times."
"With the recent launch and conclusion of the special course on enforcement at ENRA, another specialized course—this time on GAD—will make men and women more sensitive and more prepared to interact with their colleagues while keeping in mind the lessons in gender and development," Cimatu added.
Meanwhile Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, who serves as the chairperson of the DENR's National Gender Focal Point System, said that the agreement serves as "an anticipatory and thorough planning for mainstreaming gender and development concerns in the department, rather than the as-the-need-arises basis."
PCW Executive Director Kristine Rosary Yuson-Chaves said the Commission has "high hopes that this endeavor will bring clarity as well as new insights to DENR’s mainstreaming journey."
According to Yuson-Chaves, PCW "has identified the environment sector to be prioritized for the provision of the GAD-related technical assistance."
Under the agreement, the DENR will take the lead in organizing GAD-related activities, including preparation of GAD Plans and Budgets, and Enhanced Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework.
Tags: #DENR#genderequality#PCW#saferworkenvironment