02/10/2024
On a significant afternoon, Gordon College took another bold step toward inclusivity by hosting the "Paving the Path to Gender Equality: Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) Training for Leadership." Spearheaded by the Institutional Planning, Development, and External Affairs (IPDEA) and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Unit, the event brought together passionate advocates of gender equality to strengthen leadership in fostering an inclusive environment.
The orientation and training workshop, held on September 30, 2024, at the Gordon College Function Hall, focused on the use of the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) for the institution’s Management Council. The workshop aimed to enhance participants' understanding of gender mainstreaming and analysis within college programs and projects.
The HGDG, developed by the Philippine Commission on Women and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), serves as a tool to ensure that government initiatives are gender-responsive. To align with this goal, the Gender and Development (GAD) Office organized the event, recognizing the importance of embedding gender perspectives into all institutional activities.
The event featured inspiring opening remarks from College President Dr. Imelda D.P. Soriano and an engaging training session led by DILG's John Carlo Vergara, who emphasized that implementing GAD is not merely about fulfilling a legal mandate but is a crucial step toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), which supports the realization of other UN Sustainable Development Goals.
DILG Vergara also elaborated on the HGDG checklist, a tool used to assess whether a program, project, or research initiative is gender-sensitive. He stressed its importance in ensuring the proper allocation and utilization of GAD resources.
Following the lecture, participants engaged in a dynamic open forum, sharing their observations and raising questions about the guidelines. Departments later split into smaller groups to evaluate project proposals, applying the HGDG checklist and receiving constructive feedback on their assessments.
The open forum saw participants share insights, and Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the speaker.
This event is a testament to Gordon College’s unwavering commitment to equity, ensuring that leadership is rooted in the principles of gender sensitivity and inclusion. Together, we continue to pave the way toward a future defined by equal opportunity for all.
