DILG-7 gets gold GAD Seal award

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government 7 (DILG-7) recently got a gold Gender and Development (GAD) Seal from its Central Office, the only one to have received such a regional from the Visayas regions.

The GAD Seal Certification Program has been defined by the DILG as an incentive and recognition program within the department to recognize and promote institutional gender mainstreaming.

It is an avenue to assess the existing mechanisms of all concerned using indicators on gender mainstreaming derived from existing laws and tools, and, thereby, providing guidelines for its conferment.

The program has three classification --Gold, Silver, and Bronze, based on performance scores.

This year, DILG-7 is one of the only five regions throughout the country that was conferred with such gold seal.The rest are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen.

DILG-7 Regional Director Leocadio Trovela received the GAD Seal, which for them “symbolizes the region’s commitment to Gender and Development (GAD), embodying the principles of RA 9710 or Magna Carta for Women."

Before receiving the award in Manila, the DILG-7 reported that in a continuing effort to deepen awareness and strengthen the GAD implementation initiatives, they also organized the “Panag-Ambit sa Kaalam” late last month.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, who was present in the event, shared best practices and initiatives implemented by the DILG Central Office – Human Resource Development focusing on the integration of gender perspectives in capacity development, staff wellness, and leadership development.

The DILG-7 also presented its "Amuma sa Barangay" initiative, a program that showcases a community-based savings mechanism designed to empower and support grassroots women and their families.

An orientation about Republic Act 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, was also discussed. (CEBU NEWS)