March 2019 marks the annual celebration of Women’s Month which from 2017 until 2022 will focus on the theme We Make Change Work for Women, with the aim of empowering women to be active contributors to development.

The field office, being a social welfare agency catering to the needs of the vulnerable sectors like women, focused on conducting activities to drum up interest in the annual endeavor with a focus on events that will reach the most number of people.

Advocacy Through Radio Broadcast

The very first day of March was welcomed with a radio guesting at the DSWD Dos on Air at DWPE Radyo ng Bayan where the theme was discussed along with its connection to the department’s commitment of Malasakit at Pagbabago, furthering its goal of capacitating women to be dynamic contributors to progress.

A Zumba for the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) staff promptly commenced later that day. The activity was designed to impart to participants the idea that for real development to happen, they must be physically fit to do so while also hammering home the idea of camaraderie and solidarity.

An invitation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on March 6, 2019 at their radio program Ikaw at ang Gobyerno Lokal: LGRRC2 on Air was also taken as an opportunity to share knowledge on the celebration as well as to reach out to the agency’s clients and stakeholders for support to the endeavor.

Another radio guesting was done two days later at DSWD Dos on Air at DWPE Radyo ng Bayan where Attorney Ed Arman Ventolero of the field office’s Legal Service discussed the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parent Welfare Act of 2000, including the rights afforded to solo parents.

Strengthening Partnership and Linkages

The field office also participated in the activities conducted by partner agencies and local government units throughout the month with the field office joining the City Government of Tuguegarao in its commemoration of Women’s Month from March 8 to 9 and even fielded a group of women staff from the field office to join the former’s dance competition.

The field office also took part in the launching of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2018 Statistical Handbook on Women and Men in Cagayan Valley last March 13, 2019 which was participated by other government agencies.

Staff Capability Building

An orientation was also conducted by the field office for its solo parent staff last March 15, 2019 where Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso discussed the Situationer of Women in the region while Atty. Ventolero held a discussion on laws centered around women like the Solo Parent Welfare Act and the Magna Carta for Women.

Another part of the orientation was capacitating the participants with needed skills to be able to nurture and develop their children despite the absence of a partner, making sure that the former reaches their full potential as they grow and mature.

Simultaneous Celebration

The celebration of Women’s Month was also done in the 5 satellite offices through the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams in the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya as well as its centers and institutions, giving their staff, clients and residents the opportunity to strengthen their bond and spend quality time.

As part of the above-mentioned endeavor, a Symposium on Women’s Rights and Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as The Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 was conducted for Regional Haven for Women and Girls’ clients.

The activities mentioned provide hope that the yearly conduct of the Women’s Month Celebration will provide an avenue in order to pursue continued empowerment of women in our society. ### Written by: Mylene E. Attaban, Social Welfare Officer III, Focal Person for Women