The 5% that went to GAD

By: Atty. Joanne Ranada

All the government agencies are required

to review and revise all their policies and

procedures to remove gender biases as

well as promote more gender-responsive

planning. The Women in Development

and Nation Building Act (RA 7192) also

provides that external and domestic

resources shall be mobilized by national

and local government agencies to support

programs/projects for women. Under the

same Act, 5-30% of Official Development

Assistance (ODA) funds is allocated for

programs and projects for women.

Aside from RA 7192, Executive Order 273

operationalizes the Philippine Plan for

Gender-Responsive Development (PPGD).

It directs that all national and local

government agencies to incorporate and

reflect GAD concerns in the annual budget

proposals, work and financial plans.

GAD plans are also included in the annual

Genera; Appropriations Act (GAA). The

Act mandates that all government

agencies, including local government units

should formulate a GAD Plan designed to

empower women and address gender

issues. The cost of implementing the GAD

Plan shall at least be 5% of the

agency/LGU’s total MOOE budget

appropriation;

The GAD Budget Policy

This policy authorizes government

agencies, offices, bureaus, state

universities and colleges, government

owned and controlled corporations and

LGUs to utilize at least 5% of their annual

budget for GAD related activities.

In line with this, the following are the legal

bases for which the Policy is authorized:

1. Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive

Development (PPGD), 1995-2025

expressed public financing commitment

for identified specific goals, services and

activities for women;

2. Joint Circular 99-4 and 2001- are GAD

administrative guidelines issued by the

National Economic Development

Authority (NEDA), the Department of

Budget and Management (DBM), and the

NCRFW (now Philippine Commission on

Women or PCW);

3. Section 27 of RA 8760 or the 1999

General Appropriations Act; and Joint

Memorandum Circular 2011-03 provides

for integrating GAD in the local planning

and budgeting system. It was issued by the

Department of Interior and Local

Government (DILG), the DBM, and the

NCRFW.

The Annual Budget Call

“4.5.1. A GAD Plan shall be

formulated outlining how agencies intend

to include the priorities set in the Game

work Plan for Women. GAD issues and

concerns shall be considered in preparing

the budget of the agency consistent with

the provisions of DBM, NEDA and

NCRFW Joint Circular No. 2004-1.”

A GAD Plan is a systematically designed

set of services programs, activities and

projects carried out by agencies/LGUs

over a period of time to address gender

issues and concerns of their respective

staff, sector and constituents.

Under the Plan, the following items should

be addressed:

1. Gender-related issues

2. Program Project, Activity (PPA)

3. Budget Allocation/Costing

4. Expected Outputs/ Target Beneficiaries

5. Implementation Period Performance

Indicators

And now, what everyone has been waiting

for:

The GAD Budget

This is the portion of the agency’s yearly

budget (appropriation) that is intended for

gender-responsive programs and projects.

It is important to note that GAD budget is

not an additional amount over and above

that of the regular budget.

Purposes/Uses:

The GAD budget should not be

whimsically used for purposes irrelevant to

what the mandate calls for. Activities may

be women-focused (WID), gender oriented

(GAD) and mainstreaming.

WID focuses on women and does not

consider the status of women in relation to

men. T is inadequate as an overall

approach, although special projects for

women addressing their basic needs in

their reproductive roles are important.

GAD compares women and men to

identifying differentials in access,

participation and benefits and focuses on

the gender relations that generate such

differences.

Mainstreaming focuses on developing

institutional mechanisms and strategies to

effectively implement a fender-oriented

approach in all areas of the mainstream.

The budget can also be used for personal

services such as salaries of workers

directly engaged in GAD PPAs.

Maintenance and other operating expenses

such as cost of managing a women’s

shelter, a women’s health project, training

of women in non-traditional occupations

and training of field workers in GAD are

allowed. Capital outlay such as building of

and providing equipment for women’s

shelters and training centers are also

included.

Other sample activities where the GAD

Budget can be used include:

Setting up/strengthening a GAD

Focal Point: Gender sensitivity trainings

(GST), trainings on gender analysis,

gender mainstreaming and laws on

women;

Advocacy activities on GAD,

violence against women laws,

reproductive health;

Capacity building for GAD

trainers, staff of Women’s Desk and

women in non-traditional

occupations;

Establishment of

an agency gender-

responsive database; and

GAD planning activities

which should both be

client-focused and

organization-focused. The

former seeks to address

the gender issues of the

agency’s clients. The

later, on the other hand,

aims to achieve the

following:

a. Create the organizational environment

for implementing gender responsive

policies, programs and projects; and

b. Address the gender issues of employees

particularly those that affect women’s

performance as government workers like

sexual harassment (for this purpose, the

Committee on Decorum and Investigation

[CODI] was reconstituted within which

the SEC Sexual Harassment procedure is

now pending approval), low participation

of women in human resource development

undertakings and decision-making

structures and processes, and lack of

support to ease women’s multiple burden

such as daycare in the workplace.

The GAD activity is a component of the

regular programs, activities and projects of

the agency. The SEC GAD Focal Point

welcomes suggestions on any activity

suitable to the GAD mandate.

An activity may be reported as a GAD

activity if it seeks to promote the

equality between women and men in the

distribution of benefits and the

opportunity to contribute to an agency

program or project and/or that the

activity addresses the gaps in

knowledge, skills and attitudes of key

personnel on gender mainstreaming.

It should be remembered that activities

that target women without clear

articulation as to

HOW they will

contribute to

CLOSING THE

GENDER GAP is

of little value.

Construction of

structures such as

a tennis court, a

zen garden,

covered path

walks, laser tooth

extraction for

employees

purchase of mineral water and

procurement of uniforms for a women’s

choral group are just some of the

activities that the PCW has disallowed

as not being responsive to the GAD

mandate.

Men are included.

Nevertheless, GAD activities target BOTH

men and women. Those that are mainly

focused on men may be reported as a GAD

activity for as long as the objective is to

correct gender disparities such as training

and encouraging men to share in parenting

and child-rearing responsibilities.

Joint Circular No. 2004-1 mandates all

agencies to formulate their annual GAD

plans and budgets within the context of

their mandate and overall plans and

budgets within the context of their

mandate and overall plans and programs

and that agency heads are responsible for

ensuring that GAD activities are provided

with adequate resources.

The Committee On Decorum and

Investigation or CODI is an offshoot of the

Anti Sexual Harassment Law (R.A. 7877)

which was enacted by Congress on

February 8, 1995 to combat all forms of

sexual harassment in the work place (both

in government service and private sector),

education and training environment. The

law mandated employers and heads of

offices to prevent or deter the commission

of acts of sexual harassment and to provide

procedures for the resolution, settlement

and/or prosecution of the offenders. The

same law likewise directed the created of

the CODI and delineated its duty to

conduct an investigation on cases

constituting sexual harassment. However,

the filing of an administrative case or the

imposition of an administrative sanction

against the offender do not bar the filing of

criminal action in the proper courts for

unlawful acts of sexual harassment.

Hence, CODI was established in

the Commission in January 2002 with

Commissioner Ms. Juanita E. Cueto as its

first chairperson. It was during her watch

that CODI had crafted its current rules of

procedures for the investigation of sexual

harassment cases and the consequent

administrative sanctions. A CODI was also

created in our regional and extension

office(s) nationwide to resolve sexual

harassment cases in their respective

jurisdictions.

On December 19, 2008, SEC

Chairperson Fe B. Barin issued Office

Order No. 356 re-constituting the CODI

with Atty. Nilo V, Margate as its new

Chairman and Atty. Joanne Rañada as Co-

chairman. Under the present leadership,

CODI is currently reviewing the existing

rules of procedures and making the

existing rules of procedures and making

more than a few amendments to make it

attuned to the present time. In connection

thereto, CODI has invited respectable

personalities such as Director Hubert B.

Guevara (Head of SEC Preliminary

Investigating Committee); Director Ariel

G. Ronquillo (Office of Legal Affairs,

Civil Service Commission (CSC)); and

Prosecutor Leah Ramos (DOJ) as resource

person(s) or speaker(s) in its roundtable

discussions to assist in drafting the new

rules and to provide their views on the

existing rules as well as the proposed

amendments vis-á-vis the existing laws,

rules and CSC circulars on sexual

harassment.

At present, CODI is in the process

of reviewing the final draft of the new

rules of procedure as amended before the

same will be presented to the SEC

Chairperson for approval and

implementation. Nonetheless, the CODI

continues to accept complaints for sexual

harassment through its secretariat (Ms.

Maria Ida B. Falejo and Mr. Roseller N.

Capila of HRAD). Moreover, all

information relating to sexual harassment

field with the CODI including the

complaint-affidavit and other documentary

evidence are treated with strict

confidentiality. Up to this time, no

complaint has yet been filed for sexual

harassment before the CODI. This is a

good sign indeed that sexual harassment

has no place in the commission. In other

words, SEC employees have a high regard

for each other’s rights./nvm

CODI efforts go into high gear

By: Atty. Nilo V. Margate

Standing Tall Through the Years!

By: Dr. Bernadette V. Manuel

Filipino women have gone a long

way from the stereotype housewife to the

more sophisticated woman creeping into

the corporate world of finance,

information technology, arts, and even

public service.

Since they are coming on strong,

women should take charge of their health

if only to survive co-equal with men. The

truth is both sexes are created equally by

God. Unfortunately, there are diseases

such as OSTEOPOROSIS, which carry a

gender bias. Women bear a greater

proportion of the disease burden.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis simply put is bone

loss. Bones become weak because they

lack enough calcium to maintain its

structural integrity, thus, easily broken

with or without trauma.

Bones are made up of minerals

mostly calcium and phosphorus. Our bone

mineral density (BMD) or its thickness

builds up until the age of 30 years. During

childhood and adolescence, bone

formation outpaces bone resorption- that’s

how we grow.

Symptom of a Silent Disease

Osteoporosis isn’t like most

diseases. Even if your bones are getting

weaker, you won’t feel it. Commonly, the

first indication is when you gradually

developed a stooped posture or height loss.

This hunched appearance or “Dowager’s

hump” is a sign that the spine is already

too weak to carry the trunk’s weight

because of compression fractures. When

fracture occurs, it is already in the

advanced stage.

Making a Diagnosis

Dual energy x-ray absorptometry

(DEXA) is the standard test that is safe,

painless, and quick, taking only 15

minutes. It is like having an x-ray of your

bones in different parts of the body, and

exposes you to only 1/10 as much

radiation as a chest x-ray.

The common sites where bone

mineral density is measured are the lumbar

(low back) vertebra, hip, forearm, heel.

These are also the common locations of

osteoporotic fractures.

Risk Factors

Here are the conditions to watch

out so you will know what you can control

and what you cannot.

Female (it is estimated that 58% of

people above 50 years old have

osteoporosis and about 80% are

women)

Old age (>65 years old for women

and >70 years old for men)

Small or thin body frame (weight <

127 lbs, though having a large frame

is not a defense against it)

Menopause (estrogen deficiency

either by natural or surgical

accelerates bone loss ranging from 5

to 8 years)

History of osteoporosis in immediate

members of the family members

(genetic predisposition)

Abnormal absence of menstruation (

those who have anorexia or female

athletes with irregular menses)

Smoking (heavy smokers are 2 to 3x

at risk of developing osteoporosis.

Chemicals in cigarette interferes with

the normal functioning of bone cells

and inhibit adequate calcium

absorption)

Heavy Alcohol consumption (also

inhibits normal bone formation and

depletes bone calcium supply)

Excess caffeine consumption ( limit

to 3cups a day)

Medications (long-term use of

steroids, anti-convulsants, anti-

coagulants such as heparin)

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention need to be started early

in life because of its no apparent

symptoms when osteoporosis strikes.

Eat food that are rich in sources of

calcium such as dairy products,

green leafy vegetables, fish such as

salmon and sardines

Exercise regularly specifically

engaging in weight-bearing

exercises- aerobic, jogging,

climbing stairs

Quit smoking

Consume alcohol in moderation of

less than 2 drinks a day

Calcium and Vitamin D

supplementation. Vitamin D is

important to absorb calcium in the

intestines. A more practical source

of vitamin D is sunlight exposure

where vitamin D is naturally

synthesized in the skin.

Bone drugs which can be oral or

injectable given once a year

Estrogen Receptor Modulators for

post-menopausal women are more

safe and effective than estrogen

alone

Fall prevention measures especially

for older people such as provision

of rubber mats on slippery surfaces

in the bathroom or kitchen,

adequate lighting of stairs,

hallways

If osteoporosis is really a gender

issue then women should fight for gender

equality. Nowadays, more Filipino

women break the proverbial glass ceiling

without provoking a raised eyebrow. This

means that they can do necessary changes

in their lives that could make a difference

in keeping them continually empowered

and at the same time remaining to be

healthy and alive. (bvm)

Sugar Mommies

By: Dr. Bernadette V. Manuel

What is the essence of a

woman? It is a very significant

question to all the women of this

age and time. The consummation

of womanhood is perceived to be

when one has borne a child.

Pregnancy is an experience that is

excitedly anticipated despite its

boons and wanes- morning

sickness, altered food preferences,

changes in physical appearance,

etc., because of the bundle of joy

to come after.

Sadly though, about two (2%) to

five (5%) percent of pregnancies are

complicated with “gestational diabetes”

(GDM) or diabetes in pregnancy. It occurs

during the 4th

to 6th

month of pregnancy.

Women are usually not aware that they

have GDM until their doctor discovers that

their babies are fast growing inside their

womb.

One probable cause of developing

GDM is that the pancreas of the pregnant

woman can't keep up with the increased

insulin demand during pregnancy resulting

to gestational diabetes.

Risk Factors

Roughly forty (40%) percent of

pregnant women who are overweight

before pregnancy run the risk of

developing diabetes during pregnancy.

Other risk factors are: family history of

diabetes (first degree-relative), over 25

years of age at the time of pregnancy,

smoking, history of recurrent miscarriages,

had previously given birth to a baby who

weighed more than 9 lb (4.1 kg), and those

on steroids. Even the mother’s birth weight

is important-women who weighed less

than six (6) pounds or more than nine (9)

pounds at birth are also at risk for GDM.

Every expectant mother should be

tested for possible gestational diabetes.

Oral glucose tolerance test is a laboratory

examination that measures the blood

glucose after fasting followed by hourly

extractions (one and two hours) after

drinking sweet liquefied solution in

specified amount. The results are

interpreted based on the recommended

values for pregnant patients.

Complications

Both the mother and the fetus can

have complications at all stages of

pregnancy-conception to delivery – if

neglected. The mother is prone to

infections and can have difficult labor and

delivery because of big babies. Between

three (3%) to five (5%) percent of diabetic

pregnancies result in death of the newborn

within 28 days. The baby may develop

congenital malformations, abnormal birth

weights, and diabetes.

In most cases, gestational diabetes

resolves spontaneously after the baby is

born. Once you've had gestational

diabetes, however, you are at higher risk

for getting it again during a future

pregnancy and for developing diabetes

later in life.

Intervention

Optimal blood glucose control

throughout pregnancy is necessary to

ensure the health of both the mother and

the baby. The delivery of a healthy baby is

the primary goal of each pregnancy.

Pregnant women should modify

her diet in order to sufficiently control her

blood sugar. Regularity of food intake is

still of utmost importance. How can you

starve a pregnant woman? Proper diet

includes right proportion of nutrients

(proteins, fiber, less carbohydrates, fats)

and the distribution of daily calories.

Exercise is also of great help. If one needs

medication, insulin is the safest choice.

For as long as a woman continue to

show to the world (and to the men) how

important is her noble right of bearing and

safeguarding another life; then the essence

of a woman will remain to be one who is

continually empowered because of the

love for the life growing within her.

It has been said that “Of all the

rights of women, the greatest is to be a

mother” (Lin Yutang). (bvm)

SEC Women’s Self Defense Training By: Meriam E. Caldez

-

It all started with a suggestion from

one of the male SEC GAD Focal Points to

organize self-defense trainings for women

lawyers. The hazardous work of SEC

employees particularly women lawyers

joining the conduct of raids, inspections,

surveillance incognito scenarios of

corporations suspected as investments

scams and boiler room operations has

brought them to a very risky situation. In

order to address this concern, the SEC

GAD Focal Point thought of organizing

self defense training aimed to address the

need for mental and physical preparedness

of women on personal safety specifically

on high-risk and hazardous activities. The two-hour sessions were held

on five consecutive Tuesdays at the 12

Floor SEC building. We invited a combat,

judo, karate arnis expert and P.E professor

from the Polytechnic University of the

Philippines. He is Mr. Domingo E. De

Guzman (fondly called Sir Ding) who

provided the necessary skills on said

training. On hand to provide support to the

participants were two of his best students.

Incidentally Mr. De Guzman is the father

of one of our employees at the Office of

the General Accountant.

Each session started with warm-up

exercises and ended with cool down

exercises. Why are these important? A

good warm-up assure that muscles are well

supplied with oxygen to prevent cramps,

raises one’s muscles’ temperature for

optimal flexibility, and adequately controls

heart rate. It also helps minimize

additional work load to the heart when one

starts for training. Just as critical is the

cool down which keeps the blood

continuously flowing throughout the body.

When one suddenly stops, there might be

significant drop in blood pressure level.

Winding down slowly allows B.P levels to

fall gradually.

On the first day, our instructor introduced

the following concepts of self defense:

1. If you are a smaller or weaker

person, you may use the technique

of incorporate eye gouges;

2. Blend styles of combat and fighting

into your overall techniques;

3. Learn styles of martial arts, i.e.,

karate, judo, kung fu, ninjutsu,

jeetkunedo concepts;

4. Be active and stay healthy keeping

your weight to a healthy level ,

which is essential to perform self-

defense; and

5. Another passive aspect of martial

arts styles is staying passive and

avoiding trouble. Not because you

acquired range of skills and

techniques does not mean you

should be involved in silly battles

based on ego.

Since the training is just for six

sessions Mr. De Guzman shared the

simplest techniques that one can remember

when confronted an actual danger. During

the four training sessions, Mr. Ding

introduced the following basic techniques:

1. Blockings:

a. Downward

b. Inside

c. Outside

d. Upward

2. Parrying Techniques

a. One-arm outside/ inside

b. Extended Crossed Arms

c. Hammer parrying

d. Circular parrying

e. Double hand block (inside/outside)

f. Scissor parrying

3. Foot techniques

a. Tripping

b. Sweeping

c. Blocking

4. Kicking

a. Frontal (snap)

b. Frontal push

c. Dropped kick

d. Side kick

5. Elbow Delivery

a. Backward

b. Upward

c. Side (alternate right and left)

d. Downward

6. Knee Delivery

a. Right knee

b. Left knee

c. Side

d. Front

7. Hold and releases

a. Right to right hand hold

b. Right to left hand hold

c. Double hand hold – right and left

d. Both hand hold

8. Stances footwork

a. Forward steps

b. Backward steps

c. Side steps

9. Arm locks

a. Ordinary wrist hold lock

b. Reverse wrist hold lock

c. Arm Bar lock

d. Triangular loc (left and right hand

hold)

e. Wrists hold triangular lock.

The techniques which were

introduced were:

A. Two hand hold

Stepping forward with the left foot, the

attacker grabs both wrists and attempts a

right knee kick to the groin. Defender

avoids the kick by stepping back with the

left foot, forces his right hand against

attacker's weak thumb releasing the grip,

and continues his motion into a right knife

edge strike to the temple. Defender then

usesthe right hand to grab the attacker's

right wrist from the top and twists to the

right, and ends with an arm lock and wrist

lock forcing the attacker to submit or have

his arm broken.

B. Front kick

Defender parries a right kick by turning

the body to the right and stepping back

with the right foot. He then grabs the foot

of attacker's raised leg with hands, twisting

the ankle, breaking it, and then forcing

attacker backward and down.

The participants develop a high level of

awareness in identifying potential danger

and violence using their instincts and other

bodily signals, and confidently perform

techniques that would make them mentally

and physically keen defending themselves

against attackers in real world situation.

With the efforts of the SEC GAD

Focal Point, the Self Defense Training is

shaping up to be one of the support system

for our women employees. The training

activity also became an avenue for the

participants to release their bottled up

stress from a day’s work.

Breaking the PROSTATE Challenge By: Dr. Bernadette V. Manuel

When was the last time your male

partner or parent had a complete medical

check-up? Maybe he doesn’t see the need

for a check-up because he is feeling well,

or he is afraid of what the doctor may tell

him. While many men feel uncomfortable

talking about prostate because it affects

both sex and urination, it is important so

that those affected receive timely diagnosis

and treatment. Let’s take the case of Mr. Andy V.

a 50-year old, non-diabetic, non-

hypertensive government employee who

had a fairly active sexual life. It was five

years ago when he felt difficulty in starting

urination. This would eventually lead to

frequent trips to the comfort room

including rising to get up several times at

night. Initially, it’s hardly noticeable, but

the same symptoms became worse as years

went by. This time, he needed to strain to

pass urine, and an incomplete emptying

after urination was felt. However, there are

times when he would also feel the need to

pass urine urgently, accompanied by

embarrassing leaks of small amounts of

urine. These symptoms dictate other

behavior- such as insisting on aisle seats at

the theater and on airplanes, along with

drinking beverages after dinner. He also

avoids joining team building activities or

activities that will require long distance

trip. Embarrassed by his condition, he

would more often than not retreat to his

home and venture out only when it was

absolutely necessary. His life seems to be

coming to a halt.

At the heart of the matter, there are

hundreds of Filipino males in the same

situation. When Mr. Andy consulted a

Urologist, a medical specialist in men’s

diseases, he was diagnosed to have lower

urinary tract infections or LUTS, which

may be attributed to having enlarged

prostate or benign prostatic hypertrophy or

enlargement (BPH). BPH is very common

affecting one third of men over 50 years

old. It is not cancer, and it does not raise

your risk for prostate cancer.

At birth the prostate gland is the

size of a pea and undergoes a rapid growth

to that of a size of walnut in the young

post-pubertal male, and gradually enlarges

from about the age of 40 years. Its

principal function is fertility (contributing

most of the volume of ejaculate), which

allows the sperm to move freely.

Although it is not known why only

some men develop BPH, it is clear that

advancing age is the prime risk factor. It is

also thought to be linked with the male

hormone, “testosterone”. A family history

of prostate enlargement can increase the

odds of developing the same.

BPH symptoms vary in severity

among men, and don’t always pose a

problem. About half the men experience

signs and symptoms that become

noticeable or bothersome, enough to seek

medical help.

An important and simple technique to

examine the size of the prostate is by

digital rectal examination (DRE). Many

men find the prospect of a DRE

embarrassing uncomfortable but it is not

painful. Accuracy is improved with

Transrectal Ultrasonography, where an

ultrasound probe is passed into the rectum

to give a view of the prostate.

Determination of a blood test is also done

such as PSA or prostate specific antigen,

which measures the amount of enzyme

produced by the prostate. High levels of

the enzyme can indicate prostate cancer.

Treatment options include

“watchful waiting”, medications, lifestyle

changes and surgery. Those with mild

symptoms might not warrant treatment at

all because BPH is not always progressive.

However, do NOT try to take over-the

counter cold medications and

antihistamines because these can increase

prostatic symptoms. Avoid alcohol and

caffeine, especially after dinner.

For those whose symptoms have

caused significant disruption of daily

activities even if the prostate is not

markedly enlarged as detected by DRE

and ultrasound, medications may offer

relief and reduce progression of prostate

enlargement. For those men whose

medications have failed, surgical

procedures can be recommended.

Andy, the man in our case, was

indeed a lucky man because he sought

early medical advice. Until now, numerous

Andy’s suffering from lower urinary tract

symptoms caused by BPH do not confide

to their doctors for fear of embarrassment,

or loss of ego. Worse, these patients heard

only myths and inaccurate information.

Because some men maybe

stubborn when it comes to their health,

women in their lives can take an active

role in persuading their partners to get an

annual check-up including prostate

examination especially when they reach 40

years old.

Women, demonstrate your love to

your partners by letting them to take

charge of their health if you desire your

men to spend quality years with you.

SEC Celebrates 2014 Women’s

Month

The Securities and Exchange Commission

(SEC) celebrated this year’s national

theme: Juana, Ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag

Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong” to pay

tribute to the strong and resilient “Juana”

who brought inspiring changes here in the

country and across the globe.

The month-long kick-off celebration

started with an attempt to mark a Guiness

World Records in the largest Human

Woman Symbol Formation entitled

“Sulong Juana: Human Woman’s Symbol

Formation” in celebration of the

International Women’s Day held in

Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila on

March 8, 2014 participated by more than

Ten Thousand Filipinos from government

agencies, non-government organizations,

students from state universities and

colleges and other members of the civil

society groups. The celebration was

organized to honor women’s resilience,

strength, and women’s various roles in

nation-building and their untiring

participation as volunteers in times of

disasters, conflicts, calamity and other

situations.

To quote PCW Executive Director

Emmeline L. Verzosa, in her opening

remarks, “women’s resilience is not

limited to being strong but also every

Juana should embody optimism, patience,

fortitude and compassion for others”. .It

was indeed a memorable experience for

the participants who were so excited to

know whether they were able to set a new

world record for their participation in that

event.

Another highlight of the month-long

celebration was the SEC-GAD Fun Run

2014, a running event for SEC employees,

their dependents, and contract of service

personnel who were interested to join and

has passion for running. This event was

spearheaded by SEC-GAD Focal Point in

coordination with the Human Resource

and Administration Department. It was

held on March 22, 2014, at the Veterans

Memorial Medical Center (VMMC)

grounds. The Fun Run aims not only to

keep them physically fit but also to

promote an active lifestyle and foster

camaraderie as a means to create bonding

moments among employees, their

dependents and other non-SEC personnel.

The running event was undeniably a

success so that the organizers thought of

organizing another running event next

year.

The other activities were a Special Flag

Raising Ceremony every Mondays of

March with a special message dedicated

for women, from a representative of the

assigned department, Enhanced Gender

Sensitivity Training for SEC GAD Focal

Points (GFPs) held in Timberland, San

Mateo Rizal, Gender Sensitivity

Training for SEC Employees with Ms

Margarita Reyes, a SEC employee as

resource person/trainor, Orientation on

the SEC Revised Rules and Procedures

on sexual harassment cases, and the

creation of Wall of change Initiatives,

which will empower SEC women to effect

changes in support of gender advocacies.

The SEC-GAD Focal Point also organized

activities for women and men of SEC in

cooperation with the SEC-Medical, such

as a Focus Group Discussion for working

mothers, which aims to increase their

knowledge on reproductive health

privileges so they can harmonize work and

family responsibilities. The topic is

“Working without Weaning: A Working

Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding” with an

Obstetrician-Gynecologist as the resource

person. Wellness activities to promote

SEC employees’ fitness development were

also organized in coordination with

Bioessence,. Capping it all is the

outpouring cooperation of all the SEC

officials and employees that made the

women’s month activities successful