The Land Management Bureau (LMB), through the initiative of the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System, led the Regional Training on Gender Mainstreaming in Land Titling last August 15-17, 2016 at the Lohas Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. It is attended by the Luzon group comprised of Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, CAR and NCR. The training is the first batch of the two-cluster training for Regional GAD Focal Points, Land Investigators, and Land Management Officers. Engr. Rolando R. Pablo, Chief of LMB Land Management Division, and Ms. Gemma Ifurung, LMB Technical Adviser for GAD, were the Resource Persons.
The participants were tasked to determine possible existing gender issues in public land titling, specifically on four (4) modes of dispositions, namely: agricultural and residential free patent, sales patent, and foreshore lease. The three-day activity is pursuant to the DENR Administrative Order No. 7, Series of 1995 and the Magna Carta of Women 2009 which calls for the integration of GAD activities in the programs and projects of agencies and to ensure that all personnel are oriented with the concept of GAD.
The event served as an orientation to first-time GAD participants and also drew a clear line between “gender sensitive” and the expected outcome of “gender responsive” governance. Some issues raised include the persisting discrimination against women in land titling, paraphernal property, inheritance and the prevalent customary laws in minority groups, all of which play as external forces in the process of public land titling.
In his closing remarks, OIC-Assistant Director Engr. Henry P. Pacis commended the attendance of the Regional participants that breaks the stereotype of GAD and gender mainstreaming trainings geared only towards the promotion of women empowerment. The Luzon first batch training is proof of the mutual interest between men and women to avoid gender prejudices and work injustices.