The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System held the “Gender and Mining Governance: MGB Focal Point System’s Capacity Enhancement and Finalization of the 2025 GAD Plan and Budget” workshop last October 9-11, 2024 at Ardenhills Suites Quezon City.
To officially open the program, Ms.Diory G. Carr, GAD Focal Person, briefly discussed the objectives of the workshop, which intends to strengthen the capacities of the MGB GAD Focal Point System (GFPS), in the Central and Regional Offices in institutionalizing the GAD perspective within the agency.
During Day 1, each MGB Regional Office presented its GAD Accomplishments, including its upcoming activities. Mr. Pent Elyria Dawn V. Liongson, an Independent GAD Specialist, then discussed and revisited the objectives of the Harmonized GAD Guidelines (HGDG) in preparation for enhancing the programs using the HGDG checklist.
Meanwhile at the afternoon session, Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and concurrent MGB OIC-Director Engr. Michael V. Cabalda delivered his message of support to all the participants.
Day 1 concluded with Ms. Carr’s discussion of the GAD Plan and Budget (GPB) Preparation and reminded the participants of the expenditures allowed by the government.
Mr.Liongson opened Day 2 with a discussion of the Mapping of Potential Programs and Projects for HGDG Attribution (Identification of implementing offices or regional offices and projected annual budget). He let the participants review the programs to see if there were still additional programs that could be added for the 2025 GPB.
Employees' Welfare, Learning and Development, Information Systems Management, Marine Offshore Activities, and Research and Development were among the additional programs that were added in the existing GPB and were enhanced during the workshop. The participants were able to choose which program they wanted to participate in.
Day 2 concluded with the enhancement and finalization of existing program/project concept notes through the incorporation of HGDG Design Elements.
On the last day, the five enhanced programs during the workshop proper were presented by each group during the plenary. The ways forward and agreements were also discussed including the deadline of the finalized GAD programs for the 2025 GPB.
The 3-day workshop concluded with the Closing Remarks delivered by Engr. Marcial H. Mateo, Chief of the Mine Safety, Environment, and Social Development Division of MGB.
There were 54 participants from the central office and regional offices in the workshop, with Ms. Emma Deverala of MGB Regional Office No. 9 as the Master of Ceremonies.
By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division