“Gender” is not the same as “sex” since the former is not determined by biological differences, but rather is socially determined, based on social, cultural, political and economic expectations. Since “gender” is shaped by society, it will have different forms from society to society. There are different ways to describe what it means to be a woman or a man. Biologists use physical characteristics which they call sexual differences. While social scientists use social characteristics, which they call gender. These characteristics include the tasks, roles, obligations and privileges in public and private life of women and men as well as the relationships between them.
WHAT'S NEW
GAD monitoring made easy
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) conducted training for the Department of Energy’s and its attached agencies’ Gender and Development groups on the Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS) on October 29, 2014 at the DOE-Audio Visual Room to demonstrate the functionalities of the online system that was developed by the PCW with support from Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo.
This hands-on training is intended for GMMS Focal Points including reviewers and encoders for them to effectively use the GMMS to facilitate the management and monitoring of GAD Profiles, Plans and Accomplishment Report submissions of each agency, and its compliance to the Magna Carta for Women, CEDAW, BPfA, etc., and also to generate related reports.
During the training, the PCW discussed the basic requirements to be able to access the GMMS, submission patterns, encoding of data and information, and incorporating comments of reviewers from the agency itself and from PCW prior to final submission and endorsement by the Head of Agency to PCW. It is envisioned that with this GMMS, the agencies will be more conscious in keeping up with their timelines to ensure quality and timely submissions of relevant GAD documentary requirements to PCW.
Click to Readmore on Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS)
The Department of Energy-Gender and Development Focal Point System (DOE-GAD FPS) launches its new GAD logo to visibly manifest DOE’s commitment to promote gender equality by mainstreaming gender in its plans, programs and activities.
In 2013, the second and third phases of research and mapping studies through DOE-GAD’s partner Affiliated Renewable Energy Center (AREC), the Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos, were rolled out in order to establish gender structures relative to the development of Renewable Energy Systems (RES) in the service areas in Northern Luzon. Gender Sensitivity Modules were also developed and trainings were conducted for each RES service provided.
National Gender Mapping Consultation & Workshop March 21 - April 2, 2014
2nd National Renewable Energy Gender Mapping Consultation & Workshop November 5-8, 2014
In the same year, the DOE-GAD conducted information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns on Energy Safety Practices & Measures (ESPEM) in Mulanay and Catanuan, Quezon; Comembo and Rembo, Makati City; Luneta, Manila; Albay and Camarines Sur, Bicol; and at Palo and Tanauan, Leyte benefitting 875 participants who were provided with vital information on consumer rights and obligations, energy conservation, energy labeling for household appliances & lighting systems, ssafety tips on liquefied petroleum products (LPP), and consumer tips for handling Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns on Energy Safety Practices & Measures (ESPEM) in Luneta, Manila
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns on Energy Safety Practices & Measures (ESPEM)
IECs on “Ligtas na paggamit ng Gas or “Safe LPG” were also conducted in selected localities in Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, La Union, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Batangas, and in Metro Manila. The lecture session focused on consumer tips on the proper and safe handling of LPG to empower housewives and househelpers who are the target advocates in their respective barangays to ensure safety of the community and prevent any untoward incidents as a result of mishandling and storing LPG tanks.
The Profiling Study on Bote-Bote Gasoline and Dieseloine Retail Selling was conducted by the DOE-GAD through the Development Academy of the Philippines to establish baseline data on the extent that the “bote-bote’ operation has penetrated selected areas. As men, women, children and adults are equally exposed to hazards due to this unscrupulous practice, strategies have to be developed to curtail the proliferation of “bote-bote” type of retailing.
In addition to these, Consumer’s Forum on Energy Conservation and Downstream Oil Deregulation was also conducted in Misamis Oriental and Davao Oriental to increase the knowledge and consciousness of the participants on various energy conservation and LPP/LPG safety measures. Such forum also provides a valuable vehicle for disseminating technical references pertinent to crafting local ordinances, issuances and granting of permits and licenses to LPP and LPG dealers.
Another client-focused program by the DOE- Mindanao Field Office involved the conduct of the Seminar-workshop and Hands-on Training on a Six-cubic meter Biogas to promote livestock development, biogas technology application and to actually demonstrate a biogas digester which will fuel household cooking and lighting needs. Participants were also trained on the design, construction and operation of the biogas digester.
Gender programs were not only limited to DOE external clients. On the lighter side, the DOE employees also got to enjoy skills enhancement programs such as reflexology and Chinese dimsum cooking which were held in two batches at the DOE-Audio Visual Room. Healthwise, employees were also given the opportunity to join health and wellness programs to keep them fit, alert and energetic.
While progress is being made in raising awareness on gender and development among internal and external stakeholders, still the DOE-GAD FPS has to hurdle a lot of formidable challenges, among which are: expending its cadre of GAD resource persons to create a pool of GAD advocates; fully mainstreaming GAD in its projects and programs; developing more project proposals to fully utilize the allocated budget.