Davao City, February 9-13, 2025 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), in collaboration with the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), and the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), has organized a comprehensive Gender and Development (GAD) training program consisting of three sessions for the 100 duty bearers who are members of the GAD Focal Point Systems (GFPS) in the municipalities of the Special Geographic Areas (SGAs) and Maguindanao del Sur. This ladderized training aims to enhance the technical capacities of local government units (LGUs) in gender mainstreaming, gender-responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring, and the use and application of the gender analysis tool.
The Localization of the Magna Carta of Women
In pursuance of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) or Republic Act No. 9710 and the Joint Memorandum Circulars 2024-01, Revised Guidelines on The Localization of Magna Carta of Women, requiring the submission of Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda, GAD Plans and Budget (GPB), and the GAD Annual Report (AR) by March.
The BABAE (Babaeng Bangsamoro Arkitekto ng at Ehemplo sa Pagbabago) Project offers three (3) training sessions primarily on the strengthening of GFPS structure, gender mainstreaming, and other topics relevant to local government units (LGUs) to address the capacity gaps and need for technical assistance on Gender Mainstreaming, GAD Agenda, Gender Analysis, Gender Planning, Budgeting, and Monitoring, and the application of GAD tools of the LGUs in Kadayangan, Kapalawan, Ligawasan, Malidegao, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Pahamuddin, and Tugunan of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) and the municipality of Datu Montatwal and Pagalungan of Maguindanao del Sur.
Developing GFPS as GAD Champions
The GAD Ladderized Training Track 1, held from November 18 to 21, 2025, includes a module on basic GAD concepts, covering an orientation on GAD and Gender Sensitivity Training (GST), along with an introduction to the roles and functions of the Gender and Development Focal System (GFPS). Track 1 has trained 77 GAD champions (28 males and 49 females) representing GFPS members from the eight municipalities of SGA and delegates from SGADA.
The GAD Ladderized Track 2 offers an introduction to Gender Analysis, conducted on January 20-23, 2026, which is an essential element of gender mainstreaming. The training focused on the setting of GAD agendas. Gender issues identified during the Gender Mainstreaming and Evaluation Framework (GMEF) workshops were translated into concrete action points and incorporated into the respective GAD agendas and the formulation of GAD Planning and Budgeting (GPB) of participating LGUs. Track 2 has trained 92 GAD champions (31 male and 61 female) representing GFPS members of the ten municipalities, delegates from MILG-SGAFO, MILG-MDS, and SGADA.
For the GAD Training Track 3, the application of three more gender analysis tools, the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG), the Gender Responsive LGU (GeRL) Assessment Tool, and the GFPS Functionality Assessment Tool (GFAST). The four-day training workshop was held on February 9-13, 2026, at Apo View Hotel, Davao City. The Track 3 workshop was attended by 89 GAD champions (34 male and 55 female), members of the GFPS, alongside the representatives from the MILG-SGAFO, MILG-Maguindanao del Sur, and SGADA.
Furthermore, the workshop also offers sessions on the integration of the Islamic perspective to mainstream GAD, focusing on critical and sensitive topics such as gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual reproductive and health rights (SRHR).
Gender and Development and Gender Mainstreaming Mandate
In his opening message, Mr. Hanzel Luke De Vera, UNFPA Social Norms Change Analyst, acknowledged participants’ commitment and emphasized that the training marked a shift from commitment to concrete action. He highlighted the practical application of gender tools, including the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) and Gender and Development Plan and Budget (GPB), reaffirming UNFPA’s support in translating inclusive plans into gender-responsive outcomes.
Ms. Jeannette S. Actub, Program Manager of CBCS-BABAE, contextualized the training within UNFPA’s 9th Country Programme for 2024–2028, emphasizing the regional challenges of high maternal mortality and gender-based violence and the LGUs’ mandate under Republic Act No. 9710, Magna Carta of Women, to allocate 5% of their budget for GAD Plan and Budget. Track 3 focused on refining draft GAD Plans, strengthening the GFPS, and applying tools such as HGDG, GMEF, and GFPS to ensure responsive and evidence-based planning.
Islamic perspective of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Violence Against Women
On the first day, Ms. Norhaya A. Usman of the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta (BDI) discussed Islamic perspectives in mainstreaming GAD, covering Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), maternal health, marital responsibilities, and Shariah-compliant family planning. She also presented Religious Guideline No. 26 (Series of 2021) on Violence Against Women and Children, emphasizing that Islam strictly prohibits gender-based violence, coercion, forced marriage, and abandonment, while safeguarding women’s dignity.
GeRL Ka ba?
The second day featured presentations of municipalities’ draft 2027 GPBs, refined from Track 2 training outputs. Following, Ms. Zarah Kathleen Alih, Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Minister, MILG-BARMM, introduced the Gender Responsive LGU (GeRL) Assessment Tool, a mechanism for evaluating LGU capacity, service delivery, and policy gaps. Participants then engaged in a plenary workshop to assess services, document gaps, and strengthen GAD Plans, policies, and mechanisms toward full gender responsiveness.
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