SUGAR REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION

SRA-GAD CONDUCTS SEMINAR IN LAREC, PAMPANGA

One day Seminar / Forum advocating gender and development was conducted by the SRA-GAD Focal Point under the stewardship of its Chairperson. Dir. M. Dina Padilla-Fernandez, held at the SRA-LAREC Conference Hall, Floridablanca, Pampanga, last December 10, 2008.

The activity is one of the identified continuing programs included under the SRA approved GAD Plan and Budget for FY 2009. Selected participants were farmer/planters, farm workers accompanied by their repective wives within the inclusion of 17 SRA employees based at LAREC.

The occasion was hosted by Mr. Marcelino P. Guevarra, Chief, Science Research Specialist who rendered the opening remarks, conveying thanks and gratitude to SRA-GAD Focal Point for reaching out farmers, farm workers and their wives in Pampanga to achieve deeper understanding on the women empowerment.

An eye opener discussion on the "Introduction to Gender and Development" was rendered by Ms. Charesse Pabatao of the Extension Division, SRA RD & E Office, emphasizing on its mandates, basic theories and concepts. Important matters dealing with Family Relationship wa discussed by Ms. Corazon D. Boyero, followed by Dolores R. Dela Cruz, who tackled the mechanics and approach on "Family Budgeting".

Aspects on "Gender and the Millenium Development Goals" was discussed by Mr. John Paul Antes while "Statistics on Violence Against Women and Child" was thoroughly presented by Ms. Emilia R. Chu. Her discussions were corroborated by corresponding number of victims tallied with National Statistics Office (NSO).

A very interesting topic on "Laws Affecting Marriage, Family and Property Rights" was intensively expounded by Ms. Tita R. Garcia. Discussion also include the provisions of the New Family Code of the Philippines.

A short film showing on "Environment and Climate Change" was presented and explained by Mr. Rafael Henri Mundo, while a short Case Analysis entitled "Si Farida, Isang Tausug na Asawa" was discussed by Mr. Ervin Salsalida. The paper was an excerpt from the "Participatory Action Research on Sexual Violence in Customary Practices among Muslim Ethnic Women from 2003-2004" of the Coalition Against Traficking in Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP).

Highlight of the seminar was the short animated film about a typical Filipino family set-up depicting women's and men's behaviior inside and outside the family home, on their multiple burdens, marginalization and women's subordinate position. Audience can relay easily on gender stereotyping and men's role in the society.

Open forum ensued. Participants were given sufficient opportunity to inject inquiries question and clarifications on the different issues and concerns including money matters, property rights, family problems and marriage and family relationship.

        SRA GAD FOCAL POINT JOINS THE 2008 RURAL’S WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION

The awarding of winners for the 2008 search for Outstanding Rural Women was held last October 20, 2008 at the BSWM Convention Hall, Quezon City, coinciding with the celebration of the World Rural Women’s Day.  

The celebration was highlighted by the awarding of winners for the “Outstanding Rural Women”. Two (2) first prize winners emerged, Ms. Victoria A. Montril of Tupi, South Cotobato  (Region II) and Ms. Olive M. Gamboa of Valencia City, Bukidnon, (Region X) receiving the amount of P 75,000 each.  Ms. Bernadette B.delos Santos of Baao, Camarines Sur (Region V) bagged the second prize carting away the cash prize of P 50,000.

DA Secretary Arthur C. Yap, assisted by Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Chair, GAD Focal System led the presentation of Certificate of Commendation, Special Citation and cash prizes to the awardees and six (6)  finalists.
   
Secretary Yap, in his keynote address, took cognizance of the invaluable contributions of women in the upliftment of the socio-economic condition in the rural areas. He stressed that rural women play a very significant role in addressing the issues and concerns, more importantly, in the field of farming and family obligations.  He described rural women as hardworking, patient, consistently showing dedication in their selected field of endeavor. Underscoring their competence as workers both in government and private sectors, rural women are considered as valuable partners of men in nation building.  

The search was a long month undertakings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) headed by Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and National Technical Committee (NTC) headed by Ms. Flordeliza Cablar, of DA-PMED. Ms. Rosita R. Garcia, of the Sugar Regulatory Administration is one of the designated  NTC members with Ms. Wilhelmina Guliman, of BFAR, as Chairperson for Visayas.

The Committee for the DA Gender and Development (GAD) Focal System “Search for 2008 Search for Outstanding Rural Women” was created under Special Order no. 147 dated February 21, 2008 duly signed by Secretary Yap.

  SRA CONDUCTS GENDER SENSITIVITY TRAINING

SRA-Gender and Development Chairperson, Dr. M. Dina Padilla-Fernandez, spearheaded a two-day workshop/seminar on Gender Sensitivity (GST) last March 31 – April 1, 2008.  This was conducted by the University of the Philippines Center for Women Studies Foundation, Inc. (UPCWSFI), headed by Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea., with Ms. Wilma Rojas and Ms. Gina Chan as facilitators.

On the first day of the seminar, the participants were introduced to the basic concepts of sex and gender, and manifestations of gender biases.  A film showing was held to further demonstrate the subject matter.  It was aimed to be a personal journey for discovering oneself in relation to gender-related issues.  Five gender issues were identified namely, (1) Multiple Burden, when women do both reproductive and productive work simultaneously, (2) Marginalization, when women’s income appear to be lesser than that of men, (3) Stereotyping, (4) Discrimination and (5) Violence Against Women.

The open-forum was very successful as participants eagerly shared their personal experiences on gender issue.  It was a lively discussion as there were spontaneous exchanges of insights and ideas between the speakers and the participants.

The topic on Gender Dimensions of Climate Change and Food Security, discussed by Dr. Sobritchea became an eye-opener for the participants.  Dr. Sobritchea was able to illustrate clearly the effects of climate change to women.  It turned out that during disasters and calamities, there were more women casualties than men.  Dr. Sobritchea mentioned two strategies namely, Adaptation Strategy and Mitigation Strategy, in dealing with this serious problem of the society as a whole.

Legal mandates and state obligations were the focus on the second day.  This time, the participants moved up from the personal level to the organizational level.  Along with this, the SRA-GAD Plans and Programs for 2008 were also reviewed.  A workshop was conducted where the participants were divided according to their departments.  They were asked to identify gender issues within their department and its possible solutions.

Some issues identified were the dominancy of male employees not just in SRA but within the sugar industry (i.e. there were more male workers than female workers), the need to study the physical space of the SRA building to make it more biased-free (i.e., ensure clear signage on male and female CR’s, identify emergency exits, implement a no smoking compound, etc) and counseling that should be available to employees in crisis (e.g. wife beating, rape, infidelity, etc)

The seminar was attended by thirty-two participants, including four participants from LAREC.  It is expected that a second batch of GST will be held sometime in May.