The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was cited as one among the most gender-responsive agencies in the Philippine bureaucracy.
Secretary Rogelio L. Singson received on Monday, July 14, 2014, a citation from Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Executive Director Emmeline L. Versoza for being chosen one (1) of the four (4) top gender responsive agencies in the Search for the Most Outstanding Gender Responsive Agency under GADtimpala 2013 (GAD Transformation and Institutionalization through Mainstreaming of Programs, Advocates, Linkages and Actions) in upholding rights of women and gender mainstreaming efforts particularly in developing gender-responsive tools for infrastructure projects.
The award aims to recognize the outstanding achievement and/or performance of government agencies in upholding the rights of women and maximizing the implementation of gender- responsive programs.
At the awarding ceremony, Executive Director Versoza specifically cited the DPWH gender equality program with the issuance by Secretary Singson of Department Order 48 in 2011 prescribing guidelines and procedures in mainstreaming gender equality actions in all phases of road infrastructure projects and the mechanics for monitoring gender equality actions in DPWH.
Execution of DPWH gender equality actions at the planning, design, reconstruction, construction and maintenance stages is guided by “Toolkit for Making Road Infrastructure Projects Gender Responsive”.
In his acceptance message for the GADTimpala citation, Secretary Singson committed to pursue more gender-friendly projects and vowed to continue to listen to the voices of women working at DPWH.
The criteria used in selecting awardees are the following: a developed and implemented gender-responsive programs addressing Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Millennium Development Goal (MDGs), and Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and national laws on women such as Magna Carta for Women (MCW); GAD Plan and Budget (GPB) and Accomplishment Report (AC) submitted to PCW for the last three consecutive years (2011, 2012 and 2013); has functional GAD Focal Point System; has utilized analysis tools; and has conducted basic GAD competency training for agency officials and staff.