Malay, Aklan - The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Philippines held its 3rd IFAD-Philippines Gender Network Assembly with the theme "Gender and Popular Education" last March 19-23, 2012 at La Carmela de Boracay, Malay, Aklan. The event was funded by IFAD-Philippines and hosted by the Department of Agriculture-Rapid Food Production Enhancement Project (DA-RaFPEP) and the National Irrigation Administration-Irrigated Rice Productivity Enhancement Project (NIA-IRPEP).

The IFAD-Philippines Gender Network Delegates with the Fragante Irrigators Service Association (ISA) at Pandan, Antique. Photo courtesy of IFAD Philippines.

The activities for the 5-day event were divided into four (4) main parts. The first part was a gender visit to a rural community which happened during the first day. Participants visited and had a dialogue on gender issues with the Fragante Irrigators Service Association (ISA) in Fragante, Pandan, Antique.

The second part was a mini-symposium on gender networking which highlighted the presentation of Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) Chairperson and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Regional Director of CARAGA, Atty. Marilyn Pintor, and the sharing of experiences by Evelina Alvarez as a female leader of the Fragante Cooperative.

The third part was a round-table discussion on gender mainstreaming with Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Allie Cortez of the National Economics and Development Authority (NEDA) as speakers for that day. The speakers gave an overview on what DAR and NEDA have been doing to mainstream gender in their respective fields. Cortez also gave an introduction on the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines compiled by NEDA.

The last part of the event was the 3rd IFAD-Philippine Gender Network Assembly. Rebecca Gaddi of E-Net Philippines gave an enlightening lecture on the topic of "Gender and Popular Education". The last part also included the Network Assembly Meeting where a new set of officers was elected for the IFAD-Philippines Gender Network. Susan Perez of DAR was elected as the new chairperson; while Dr. Leo Gallegos of NIA was voted as vice-chairperson. The agenda also included the theme for the next IFAD-Philippines Gender Assembly and discussions on this year's 6th Knowledge and Learning Market (KLM6).

IFAD-Philippines Gender Network Assembly at La Carmela de Boracay, Malay, Aklan. Photo courtesy of IFAD Philippines.

Participants of the event were the gender focal persons of different IFAD-funded projects such as the 2nd Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2) of DA-CAR, Rural Micro-Enterprise Promotion Project (RuMEPP) of the Department of Trade and Agriculture (DTI), Consortium for Unfavorable Environments (CURE) of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and Food Security through Asian Root and Tuber Crops (FoodSTART) of the International Potato Center (CIP). Ailene Florece of the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) attended the event as the RUPES Gender Focal Person. (03/29/2012)