What is GAD?

Gender and Development (GAD) is the development perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be reflected in development choices and contends that women are active agents of development, not just passive recipients of development. It is an approach that focuses on the socially constructed basis of differences between men and women and emphasizes the need to challenge existing gender roles and relations.

Gender and Development in the Philippines

In 1981, the Philippines has assumed the role to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment as a vital element in addressing global concerns by joining no less than 180 countries in ratifying the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The CEDAW which has been tagged as the international women’s bill of rights is the first major document that contains a ban on all forms of discrimination and recommends temporary special measures to immediately achieve equality in fact between men and women.

In 1989, RA 6725 was approved which prohibits discrimination from employers against any female employee with respect to terms and conditions of employment solely on account of her sex.

Likewise in 1992, RA 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act was enacted in which the country recognizes the role of women in nation building; gives women the right to enter into contracts without having to seek their husband’s consent. In the same year, the Congress of the Philippines enacted RA 7600 or the Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act which called for the promotion of gender equality in the country in terms of breastfeeding as a vital element to ensure the rights of women in the proper care of their offspring.

Philippine Plan for Gender and Development, 1995-2025, is a National Plan that addresses, provides and pursues full equality and development for men and women. Approved and adopted by former President Fidel V. Ramos as Executive No. 273, on September 8, 1995, it is the successor of the Philippine Development Plan for Women, 1989-1992 adopted by Executive No. 348 of February 17, 1989. In the same year,  RA 7882 was enacted to provide all possible assistance to Filipino women in their pursuit of owning, operating and managing small business enterprises.

By way of addressing various forms of brutalities, atrocities, as well as domestic violence, perpetuated against the women and their children, the Philippine Congress enacted in 2004 the Republic Act No. 9262 entitled An Act Defining Violence Against Women and Their Children, Providing Measures for Victims, Prescribing Penalties therefor, and for Other Purposes.

Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women was approved on August 14, 2009 which mandates non-discriminatory and pro-gender equality and equity measures to enable women’s participation in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies and plan for national, regional and local development. Through its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the government, as a whole, is bound to allocate at least five percent of the General Appropriations Act to gender and development programs.

Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act was signed last March 16, 2010 to support, protect and encourage women who are breastfeeding working moms. Through the law, there were provisions which requires workplaces to to put up lactation stations. The law requires lactation periods for breastfeeding employees, in addition to time-off for meals, to allow them time to express their breast milk.

PCW Memorandum Circular No. 2011 – 01 dated October 21, 2011 was released addressing to all Government Departments including their attached agencies, offices, bureaus, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and all other government instrumentalities as their guidelines and procedures for the establishment, strengthening and institutionalization of the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS).