In keeping with the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Gender and Development Focal Point System of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII held the GAD Summit on December 11, 2019 at Hotel Tavern in Surigao City.
The theme of the said campaign is “VAW-free Community Starts with ME” for year 2016 to 2021. It supports the Philippine government’s goal to protect the rights of women and children and its commitments to address all forms of gender-based violence.
Women employees from Caraga mining firms, together with MGB RO No. XIII employees, took part in the event. On behalf of OIC-Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble, MGB RO No. XIII Chief Geologist Romeo M. Dalodado delivered the Welcome Remarks, followed by the Rationale which was imparted in detail by Ms. Cecilia L. Consuegra, MGB RO No. XIII Laboratory Section Chief and GAD Focal Person.
No less than Atty. Jerefe D. Tubigon-Bacang, Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights-Caraga Region, graced the event. At the summit, Atty. Tubigon-Bacang delivered a very insightful and engaging keynote address in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Regional Development Council-Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) Caraga.
The said event comprised a series of presentations on various topics. For the morning session, Ms. Florian T. Trinidad, GAD Focal Person and Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Center for Women’s Training and Development of Surigao del Norte, presented The Basic Concepts on Gender and Development. Mr. Noel G. Lumague, MGB RO No. XIII Supervising Geologist, gave a lecture on Geohazards. For the afternoon session, a presentation entitled Transformative Mining Development in Agata: Looking at the Hands of Women at Work was given by Mr. Kahlil Pope B. Tabernero, Community Relations Office Superintendent of Agata Mining Ventures, Inc. Atty. Jeffrey P. Galido, MGB RO No. XIII Attorney III, gave a comprehensive presentation on the Salient Features of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. Lastly, Ms. Christie Asumen-Apale, MGB RO No. XIII Environment Section Chief, presented The Role of Women in Environmental Protection. She also shared her immersion in Japan where she attended a Training Course on Mining Pollution Control in October 2019. The said course was made possible through the kind sponsorship of the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).
The summit culminated in the Awarding of Certificates of Participation, followed by the Closing Remarks delivered by Engr. Verlin Marie Mula-Baldapan, Officer-in-Charge of the MGB RO No. XIII Mine Management Division.
followed by the Closing Remarks delivered by Engr. Verlin Marie Mula-Baldapan, Officer-in-Charge of the MGB RO No. XIII Mine Management Division.
The 18-Day Campaign to End VAW supports the Philippine government’s goal of protecting the human rights of women and girls by upholding its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.
As a continuing advocacy, the MGB RO No. XIII GADFPS took the initiative of holding the summit in support of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW which is an annual nationwide observance spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women. On the same note, the summit underscored the role of women, together with men, in the minerals industry as advocates of VAW-free community, women’s empowerment, responsible mining, authentic development and social accountability. Furthermore, the summit served as a venue for women to share inspiring stories and draw support from each other.
