The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) conducted a gender and development activity dubbed as “Orientation/Reorientation on Gender and Development (GAD) of Focal Point System and Assessment of Focal Point System and Assessment of Gender Mainstreaming” on October 19-20, 2018 at the Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The activity was facilitated by Mr. Jaime Antonio, Jr., a freelance gender and development specialist/trainor and an International Labor Organization (ILO) Certified Participatory Gender Audit (PGA). It was participated by 19 male and 20 female personnel of CEZA, and also attended by the CEZA head himself, Sec. Raul L. Lambino, who delivered an inspirational message on the second day of the occasion.

The objective of the activity was to orient/reorient the functions, roles and responsibilities of the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) and to align the Authority’s system with the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). CEZA intends to integrate the practice of gender sensitivity and awareness in the implementation, monitoring, design and evaluation of its policies, programs and projects and other aspects, such that its men and women personnel will benefit equally. This was also part of CEZA’s efforts to strengthen GAD, pursuant to Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, a government’s effort to promote women’s human rights and to eliminate gender discrimination under its systems, structures, programs, process and procedures.