By virtue of Proclamation No. 227 s. of 1998, the month of March is dubbed as the National Women’s Month Celebration. This year, as we celebrate the Month of Women with a theme: “We Make Change for Women” and a slogan “Juana Laban sa Pandemya, Kaya!”, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office II conducted series of activities to serve as a platform and a tribute to the empowered women of Region II.
The celebration started at the last week of February 2021 to March, 2021, the Sectoral Focal Persons of the Community-Based Program headed by Ms. Mylene Attaban, Social Welfare Officer III initiated a combined effort of a yearlong activity.
The unique aspect of this year’s activity is the interlacing and interconnecting the Women’s month celebration by Ms. Marlyn Apalin, Women focal person and Mr. Leon Romano, DSWD – Led Secretariat, the Women with disability celebration by the PWD Focal, Ms. Claudine Amid the Girl-child week celebration of the RSCWC Regional Coordinator, Ms. Maria Josefina Sancho, and the 18 day campaign to end VAW. These activities were melded into just 1 major or mega activity. The Women’s month celebration was treated as a kick-off activity and the 18-day campaign to end VAW will be the culminating activity.
During the month of march, the following activities were conducted:
Changing of the FB banner to Women’s month banner – the Field Office changed its Facebook cover to the Women’s month banner to show its support and celebration of the Women’s month
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Observance of the Purple Monday initiative and kick-off of the Women’s month celebration – the Field Office, through the initiative of the Led Secretariat and the assistance of the RRPTP Focal and Women Focal, issued Memorandum no. 02-225 dated February 24, 2021 enjoining all staff to wear purple every Monday for the entire month of March. A kick-off activity was also conducted where the lined-up activities were presented duringthe virtual Peptalk.
Launching of the Women’s Corner – the Community-based focals conceptualized the establishment of a simple corner with a backdrop cover featuring the women’s month celebration. All internal staff were invited to take pictures and post the same in social media to heighten awareness on the celebration and provide sustained interest of the public on the activities for women. The activity was supported by all the sectoral focals and management. A disinfection protocol was instituted to ensure safety during the use of the women’s corner. Photos taken during the event shall form part of the mosaic to be made by the Social Marketing Unit in coordination with the Sectoral Focals.
The Field Office II through the Social Marketing Unit also published a press release feature write-up on Ms. Lucia Alan, Officer In Charge as an Empowered Woman Social Worker.
##story by: Brendan Tangan