LMB JOINS THE CELEBRATION OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH 2021: “JUANA, LABAN SA PANDEMYA; KAYA!”

The month of March has been designated as National Women’s Month as part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day (IWD) to highlight the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claimholders of development. This year’s celebration is different from the previous ones because it is set in the COVID-19 pandemic backdrop, which posed both challenges and opportunities for women. Hence, this year’s observance highlights women’s participation in battling the pandemic as well as discusses gender issues exacerbated by the pandemic.

The Land Management Bureau – Gender and Development Focal Point System (LMB-GADFPS) joined the nation in celebrating this year’s National Women’s Month with the national Theme: “We Make Change, Work for Women” with a sub-theme: “Juana Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya!” serves as a tribute, a platform, and a call to action that highlights the extraordinary roles of ordinary Juanas in the society as trailblazers and harbingers of change.

This month long celebration is also a venue to discuss and address the issues that women continue to face so empowerment can be fully achieved. There were activities organized and spearheaded by the LMB GADFPS that promoted the equality of rights and opportunities for women, gender equality, empowering women as active contributors to development, and their roles during this time of pandemic.

KICK-OFF ACTIVITY

The LMB kicks off the celebration last March 8, 2021 with an inspirational message from the Chairperson of the DENR National GADFPS and Undersecretary for Finance and Information Systems Atty. Analiza R. Teh, she highlights the roles of women in conquering challenges amidst pandemic and climate crisis. Usec. Teh, shown a presentation that includes challenges, data and existing activities that the Department is implementing on climate crisis and pandemic and also the Mainstreaming of GAD in Land Management which includes; (1) implement land tenure reforms that reduce gender barriers; (2) support women’s equal access to land; (3) promote equal land tenure policies; and (4) improve women’s land rights. Usec Teh ended her message with gratitude and honoring the women who are at the forefront in fighting the pandemic, and encouraging everyone to continuously become an agent of change to achieve equality.

Making sure that the community is helping one another in building the nation due to Covid-19 Pandemic, the LMB GADFPS partner LGU Barangay Upper Bicutan headed by Chairperson Alexander S. Penolio shared their initiatives in helping their community to #HealAsOne. Chairperson Penolio gladly shared the Barangay programs and activities like Livelihood program for the resident who lost their jobs during the pandemic, ayuda program for all the residents of Upper Bicutan, and disinfection of streets, facilities, and areas of the whole Barangay to maintain a clean and safe place for everyone. He said that a big number of women in their barangay were at the forefront in implementing these activities that created an impact that the women are really empowered. Chairperson Penolio ended his message saying “Patuloy po namin na gagampanan ang aiming tungkulin at pagbibigay ng maayos na serbisyo para sa ating mga kababayan. Sabay-sabay tayong babangon at lalabana ang pandemyang ito. Makakaasa po kayo na kaisa nyo po ang Barangay Upper Bicutan sa pagkamit ng equality”.

Moreover, the GADFPS Chairpeson, Ms. Maria Gina F. Pascua presented the “LMB GADFPS Milestones” where she presented the accomplishment and initiatives of the LMB GADFPS in mainstreaming GAD activities for the past years with four (4) of eight (8) LGU Barangays in Taguig City. These milestones are the results of the LMB GADFPS dedication and passion in promoting LMB GAD ideals.

One of the highlights of the Kick-Off activity was the lecture on “The Role of ICT as a Tool in Empowering People During the Covid-19 Pandemic”, the LMB GADFPS invited Ms. Emmy Lou Verzosa-Delfin as the Resource Person for this topic. Ms. Verzosa-Delfin is the Director of the ICT Industry Development Bureau of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. The pandemic has brought many challenges, and one those is adjusting and adapting to the new normal ways like conducting virtual meetings using the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), online class for the students, and online transactions.

Director Delfin, presented the number of percentage on the use of different social media platforms, virtual meeting apps and the women who rise up and took advantage of the pandemic to become an agent of change. She highlighted that being literate on the use of social media and different technology platforms is part of surviving to the new normal ways caused by the pandemic. She ended her lecture showing some of the Filipino women who took a big step to become successful using technology platforms.

IN PHOTO (From left to right): Mr. Earl Joseph Maralit; OIC Chief, Land Management Division and Head, Administrative Support Staff, Mr. Alex C. Pascua; LMB Assistant Director, Engr. Romeo P. Verzosa; LMB Director, Atty. Emelyne V. Talabis; Chief, Legal Division, Atty. Marlou P. Alutaya; LMB GADFPS Chairperson, Ms. Maria Gina F. Pascua; and LMB GADFPS Coordinator, Mr. Yves Balerio

Wrapping up this activity, the LMB Director, Atty. Emelyne V. Talabis gave her closing message in which she mentioned that while Women’s Month strongly recognizes women’s rights, she also wants everyone to understand that it is so much more than this. It is about the rights of all genders. It is a call to recognize equity and fairness in a world where discrimination and violence thrive. We emphasize women’s role in nation building, but we also call on the men to be fellow advocates for the cause of gender equity. She ended her message by saying “Pandemic will not stop us in doing our reason of existence as GAD advocates to achieve Gender Equality and Women empowerment. We are all in this together, and indeed, that is the only way forward. Let us continue to become agents of change and become the change which we envision to see! Muli, Isang Maligaya’t Makabuluhang Pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Kababaihan! Maraming Salamat po.”

RESILIENCE TRAINING

The COVID-19 Pandemic has its gendered impacts that we cannot neglect. We saw women bearing the brunt of intensive domestic work, women and girls striving to adjust to the new normal like online classes, women being in the frontlines battling the pandemic, women entrepreneurs losing their businesses, women workers facing pay cuts or entirely losing their job, women experiencing different forms of violence during the implementation of quarantine measures. All these also take a toll on their mental health. It is thus an opportune time for us to make use of this observance to discuss gender issues that the pandemic has exacerbated. This is a call to action to ensure that women’s needs are responded to and integrated in COVID-19 response and recovery programs.

The Training on Resilience entitled “Resilience: Developing the Power to Empower Others” was conducted last March 25, 2021 and facilitated by Ms. Weena Christine “Tinette” Cortes, the CEO of the ConsultAsia Global, Inc. She shared some important tips in becoming more resilient especially during this time of pandemic. This training helps the participants to understand that resiliency is more than being strong and empowered, Ms. Tinette said that it is all about sharing strength with people and empower other people to become more resilient.

To highlight what the LMB Director, Atty. Emelyne V. Talabis said “we celebrate women’s strength and resilience. We thrive, we innovate, and we are even able to give hope to others despite the present circumstances. With the appropriate mechanisms and absent the barriers to empowerment, we can see more #WonderJuanas conquering inequities and creating opportunities. With this, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our health workers and front liners or we also call our “Modern Heroes” who sacrifices and gave their full efforts to fight this Pandemic.”

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

After all the delays happened, the nation has undergone another Enhanced Community Quarantine for two (2) weeks, the rise of the Covid19 cases and other conflicting events. Finally, the conduct of the Culminating Activity happened last April 15, 2021, as LMB finished the celebration of the National Women’s Month 2021.

Part of this Culminating Activity is the “LMB Tiktok Challenge” a time to have fun, enjoy and showcase the talents of the LMB Employees. The contest is composed of five (5) contestants from different Divisions in LMB; Administrative Support Staff represented by Ms. Mylene Salas; Land Policy and Planning Divison represented by Ms. Angeline Samillano and Ms. Lei Krixia Quini-Quini; Land Management Division represented by Ms. Sarah Mirandilla and Ms. Reggielyn Daet; Center for Land Administration and Management – Philippines represented by Ms. Jane Vanezza Segovia and Ms. April Rose Marzo; and Geodetic Surveys Division represented by Ms. Olga Coloma.

The board of judges for this competition are Director Melinda Capistrano of DENR Policy and Planning Services, the Senior Policy Consultant from Foundation for Economic Freedom, Atty. George Katigbak, Kag. Gemma Espejon of Barangay Upper Bicutan, LMB Director Atty. Emelyne Talabis and Assistant Director Engr. Romeo P. Verzosa. The tiktok video entries were presented during the activity showcasing the talents of LMB Employees in line with the theme of the National Women’s Month “Juana, Laban sa Pandemya; Kaya!” where all the contestants show their creativity, talents, and skills to make this competition a successful one. After the deliberation of the judges scores and audience votes, the representatives from the Land Management Division bagged the victory being the Champion of the Tiktok contest.

Engr. Romeo P. Verzosa, officially closed the celebration of the National Women’s Month as he gave his closing message expressing his gratitude to all the participants who took time to be part of the this month long celebration of the National Women’s Month 2021, Assistant Director Verzosa ended his message saying “With renewed vigor and commitment, LMB will continue making change work for women by strengthening the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women with gender equality as the goal, and gender mainstreaming as a strategy. Women are not only the target beneficiaries of GAD programs but they are also active participants to implement LMB’s gender-responsive changes.”