Wednesday, March 30, 2016

DA Supports Women Empowerment in Agri Sector



At all times, women should be protected!

Womens' Power in Agriculture!
A marching call of the United Nations to all nations around the globe in every circumstances and situations.

Heeding to the call, the Department of Agriculture Caraga hosted the orientation workshop of National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security (NAP-WPS) held in one of the convention center in Butuan City last February 17-18, 2016.

The activity was participated by Gender and Development (GAD) and PAMANA focal persons from different regions in the country.

According to Director Helen Rojas of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Philippines is still currently considered a conflict area considering the number of rebel groups operating in the country though the government is pursuing for a peace process. 

However, she emphasized that in conflict and post conflict situations, women should be protected, empowered, and should play a decisive role in peace and security mechanisms.

“The National Action Plan in Women, Peace and Security (NAP-WPS) was formulated in support to the implementation of gender equality as well as peace and development,” Rojas said.

NAP-WPS is the articulation of the Philippine’s commitment to international resolutions and national mandates on women, peace and security and in adherence to provisions of RA 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women and the 2010-2016 Philippine Development Plan. It aims to accelerate gender mainstreaming on conflict-affected areas.

DA on its part will support the integration of the NAP-WPS in government programs through the GAD and PAMANA program implementations.

DA Regional Director Edna Mabeza lauded OPAPP for spearheading the peace building initiatives and expressed her support by extending interventions to conflict-affected areas benefitting women.

To capacitate the participants, Planning Officer III Rebecca Baylosis of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) discussed the mechanisms on how to integrate NAP-WPS to GAD Plan and Budget.

Meanwhile, Supervising Agriculturist Lorna Villegas of DA Central Office Field Operation Services spearheaded the workshop crafting the DA NAP-WPS guidelines.

At the national level, NAP-WPS is implemented under the National Steering Committee created through Executive Order No. 865. 

In 2013, agencies implementing the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, a complementary program for the peace process were also engaged to implement NAP-WPS. 

Consistent with Proclamation No. 227 s. 1988, the annual National Women’s Month Celebration every March aims to give due recognition to the contributions of Filipino women in our society.

This year’s theme is "Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!"(Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)


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