QUEZON CITY, PH – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) successfully concluded its Capacity Enhancement Workshop for the MGB Focal Point System and Finalization of the 2026 Gender and Development (GAD) Plan and Budget from October 21–24, 2025, at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel. This four-day event secured the MGB's strategic roadmap and funding commitment for gender mainstreaming for the upcoming fiscal year.
The activity gathered participants from the MGB Central and all Regional Offices to strengthen the capabilities of the MGB GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) in planning and implementing gender-responsive programs.
In her opening message, Ms. Diory G. Carr, MGB GAD Focal Person, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing the GAD perspective across the agency, ensuring gender considerations effectively integrate into all MGB policies, programs, and operations.
The workshop actively addressed gender issues specific to the extractive industry:
- Ms. Meggy Katigbak discussed the status of gender mainstreaming in small-scale mining.
- Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo shared insights on the national outlook for gender mainstreaming in the extractive industry.
These presentations equipped participants with valuable strategies to enhance sector responsiveness.
Furthermore, each MGB Regional Office showcased their GAD accomplishments and upcoming activities, demonstrating continuous efforts to promote gender equality and women's empowerment across their respective regions.
The intensive sessions guided participants in developing and finalizing program documents that strictly meet the requirements of the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG). These documents mandate that programs are truly gender-responsive and serve as official attachments to the annual GAD Plan and Budget.
As a major output, participants collaboratively drafted, consolidated, and finalized the MGB GAD Plan and Budget for 2026, ensuring its full alignment with national gender mainstreaming priorities and agency commitments.
Engr. Romualdo D. Aguilos, Head Executive Assistant and Chief of the Mineral Economics Information and Publication Division, concluded the workshop by commending the participants' active engagement and reaffirming MGB’s strong commitment to advancing gender equality both within the agency and throughout the mining sector.
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MGB GAD Focal Person, Ms. Diory G. Carr, delivers her message during the opening session of the Capacity Enhancement Workshop |
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Regional Best Practices Shared.Representativesfrom all MGB Regional Office present their GAD accomplishments and scheduled activities.This segment highlighted continuous, localized efforts toward promoting gender equality and women's empowerment across the regions.
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Participants from the MGB GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) collaboratively draft and consolidate program documents during the intensive workshop |
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Members of the MGB GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) from Central and Regional Offices actively collaborate in breakout sessions to draft and consolidate program documents. |
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GFPS participants work intently during the finalization sessions, focusing on developing comprehensive program notes. Their efforts were crucial in ensuring strict compliance with the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) for the MGB’s annual budget. |
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Resource speakers, including Ms. Meggy Katigbak and Ms. Mary Ann Rodolfo, share critical insights on the status of gender mainstreaming in small-scale mining and the extractive industry. |
