Government responses on

JOHN FLORENTINO E. ECHONDISCUSSANT

GADBataan Peninsula State University, Main Campus

OVERVIEW

GAD Related LawsPLAN FRAMEWORK of the Philippine Plan for

Gender-Responsive Development 1995-2025PPGD Key Objectives for the Education

Sector

GAD RELATED LAWS

RA 7192 “Women in Development and Nation-Building Act”

RA 9710 The Magna Carta of WomenRA10354 “The Responsible Parenthood and

Reproductive Health Act of 2012″

Republic Act (RA) No. 7192, or the “Women in Development and Nation-Building Act”

Set into motion the allocation of a certain percentage of official development assistance for gender concerns. The law has likewise been the starting point of what is now known as the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget Policy.

Republic Act (RA) No. 7192, or the “Women in Development and Nation-Building Act”

The Development (GAD) Budget Policy, which was initiated in the 1995 General Appropriations Act, specifically mandates all government departments, bureaus, offices and agencies to set aside at least 5 percent of their total budget.

RA No. 7192 was signed into law by then President Corazon C. Aquino on 12 February 1992.

THE BUDGETThe government allotted P105.75 billion for its 2015 Gender and Development (GAD) budget, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) boasted.

Year % of GAD budget

allocation

Exact amount

2010 0.34% P4.37B2013 4.22% P57.73B2015 8.27% P105.75B

(Source: Philippine Commission on Women)

“A review of the Philippine GAD budgeting process noted that while the Philippines is the only country that authorizes a specific budgetary allocation to implement the GAD Budget Policy, compliance with the policy has been very low, and there is no operational mechanism to actively promote compliance and performance,” Source: rappler.com

In 1999, the media uncovered how certain government agencies were misusing GAD budgets.

Funds were used for flowers, jewelry, aerobics classes, ballroom dancing, personal transportation and accommodation of government officials, among other unnecessary expenses.

Since then, the PCW has pushed agencies to maintaining stricter and more productive GAD implementations.

All government agencies are required to submit an annual GAD plan, budget, and accomplishment report. "While submissions have generally increased through the years, compliance with the said requirement remains low," the Senate reported

Year GAD Plan Submissions

1995 192005 1532010 109

(Source: Senate, PCW)

RA 9710 The Magna Carta of Women

Magna Carta of Women (MCW, or RA 9710), a watershed legislation signed into law on 14 August 2009, reiterates the Constitutional policy declaring: “the State affirms the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men.”

“The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012″

Known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, is a law in the Philippines, which guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10354

RH LAWRH, the UN Women stressed, is closely linked to development: "Sustainable development cannot be achieved unless all women and girls enjoy universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights over the life cycle, enabling them to make free and informed decisions about sex and reproduction."

With the RH law in full swing, much is to be expected of the Philippines in achieving women empowerment in the coming years, according to advocates. Results, however, are yet to be seen.

The Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive

Development 1995-2025

The PPGD 1995−2025 is the thirty-year long-term perspective plan that carries the country’s long-term vision of women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The PPGD aims to alter the traditional concept of a woman's self-worth as being subordinate to men.

Improved women's participation in government projects Improved access to resources distributed through projects

(i.e., water supply, agriculture) Reduced sexism in school learning materials Increased rescue of trafficked victims Improved transporation facilities Safer workplaces for women Improved women's access to jobs

PPGD Key Objectives for the Education Sector

PPGD Key Objectives for the Education Sector

1.Elimination of all forms of gender bias and acceleration of the responsiveness of education and training

2. Upgrading of the internal efficiency and enhancement of the capacity of the educational system

PPGD Key Objectives for the Education Sector

3. Provision for equitable access of women to services and opportunities4. Raising of the general consciousness regarding women’s gender concerns

In responding to a Gender Responsive Society, it is not the Government alone, but our COLLECTIVE effort as a nation.

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