Coinciding with the culmination of the nationwide celebration of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women, the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office XI (CHEDRO XI) in partnership with the Philippine Council for Women (PCW) hosted the Davao Region Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Gender and Development (GAD) Summit on December 13, 2022, at Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City.
Shortly dubbed as GAD Summit, this convention of GAD focal persons from various HEIs in Region XI aims to realize the provisions in relation to GAD as indicated in Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994” and Section 25 and 33 of Republic No. 11313 or the “Safe Spaces Act” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and orient on the newly enforced CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 3, series of 2022 also known as “The Localized Guidelines for the Safe Spaces Act for Higher Education Sector.
Almost 120 GAD focal persons and representatives from HEIs of Region IX, X, XI, XII, and CARAGA attended and participated in the said summit.
The Summit also invited GAD resource speakers to discuss pertinent topics revolving around GAD implementation and its correlated laws. CHEDRO XI Regional Director, Dr. Maricar R. Casquiejo, CESO III, gave her welcome remarks and followed by CHED Oversight Commissioner for GAD, Dr. Aldrin A. Darilag, who gave his message on the importance of the passage of the CMO no. 3, s. 2022, for the localization of the Safe Space Act in HEIs.
Ms. Jojie B. Balanag of the CHED Legal Legislative Service Department discussed the legal basis of the guidelines for Safe Space Act while Dr. Rogelio T. Galera, Jr., Director IV of CHED Administrative, Financial and Management Service (AFMS) presented the CMO 3 s. 2022 to the attendees.
The University also attended the Summit through Ms. Rioliza B. Molina, USeP GAD Office Director. Ms. Molina presented the compendium on Best Practices in Mainstreaming GAD in the Policy, Governance, and Instruction Function of HEIs in the Davao Region. She was joined in by Dr. Mary Fil M. Bauyot and Ms. Cecile Lofranco, who discussed the Research and Extension functions of GAD, respectively.
The Summit also included a signing of the Pledge of Commitment for a VAW-Free Philippines where HEIs/SUCs GAD focals and collaborators affixed their signatures on a poster to seal their commitment.
