by Christnel Angel Olo and Ellyza Salvador, UM interns
THE INTEGRATED Gender Development Division (IGDD) received national recognition for its two notable programs from the Philippine Commission on Women on April 17.
During the iSpeak media forum, IGDD head Lorna Mandin said the two programs were Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day and the Protection Against Sexual Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination (PSAED).
“Ang PCW, mao na sya ang national machinery for women empowerment in the whole country. So, nagahatag na sila ug recognition sa mga LGUs pag naay mga maayo kaayo na mga (they recognized LGUs for notable) programs so that other LGUs will learn from us,” she said.
She added PCW conducts an assessment for certification renewal every three years, and the city was able to renew its certifications.
Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day and PSAED are new programs of IGDD, adding to the four established programs also which received accreditation in 2015. With this, the IGDD currently has six nationally recognized programs, the highest in the country.
Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day is an initiative implemented in 2009 to assist skills development and a livelihood program with women as its primary beneficiaries. Around 10,000 women benefited from the program.
Meanwhile, the PSAED is a collaborative effort by the IGDD and the Department of Education (DepEd) launched in 2020 as an intervention program against the rising number of reported rape cases.
With this program, the school principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and gender-focal persons in schools were trained to integrate concepts about gender-sexual abuses into the curriculum.
“The recognition that we received in the city is a testament of our commitment, pero dili lang ni sa city kay dako man kaayo ug contribution ang atoang partners,” Mandin said.
IGDD urged victims of any forms of sexual abuse, exploitation, and discrimination to reach out to the office or the CSWDO and other service providers or call or send a message to the Kean Gabriel Hotline: 09088184444 or the Davao City Reports through the numbers: 09171312333, 09190722222, 09618340359, 09169067134.
