23/03/2026
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧—𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙.
𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈 | The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 5 conducted the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺: 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 on March 16, 2026 at RD Zen Hall, DOLE Building, Legazpi City.
The activity aimed to strengthen awareness among DOLE personnel on gender equality, workplace safety, and women empowerment. The forum provided a venue for discussing practical approaches to integrating gender-responsive perspectives into DOLE programs, workplace culture, and field engagements. It featured three learning sessions that discussed key dimensions of gender-responsive workplace practices and empowerment.
The first discussion, “From Workplace to Worksite: Making Every DOLE Engagement a Safe Space,” was delivered by Atty. Arlene Q. Alangco, Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Regional Office 5, who presented the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.
Atty. Alangco articulated the scope and coverage of the law, emphasizing its application not only within traditional workplaces but also in public spaces and work-related environments. She further distinguished the Safe Spaces Act from Republic Act No. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, particularly in terms of coverage, persons liable, and the broader range of punishable acts under RA 11313. The discussion also outlined the various forms of sexual harassment, including verbal, non-verbal, physical, and online acts, as well as corresponding penalties for offenders. Participants were guided on recognizing prohibited behaviors and understanding the legal mechanisms available to address and prevent such incidents.
Complementing this, the second presentation, “Beyond the Office: Applying ILO C190 in DOLE Programs and Community Worksites,” was delivered by Ms. Honelet S. Bertis, JD, who discussed the application of international labor standards in addressing violence and harassment in various work-related environments. The presentation featured the applicability of international labor standards in addressing violence and harassment across various work-related settings, including the implementation of programs such as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD), DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), Labor Inspection, and the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP).
The discussant also identified key risk factors contributing to workplace violence and harassment, including power imbalances, economic dependence, and psychosocial hazards that may arise in both formal and informal work arrangements. Emphasis was also placed on preventive and responsive measures before, during, and after program implementation, including risk assessment, establishment of reporting mechanisms, and provision of support to affected individuals.
Moving from discussions of rights and laws, the third presentation imparted practical knowledge in the financial context. The discussion entitled, “Financial Empowerment for Women: Building Security, Independence, and Resilience,” was delivered by Ms. Rochelle Ann A. Bataller, who emphasized the importance of financial literacy and economic empowerment as key elements of women’s independence and long-term security. She introduced ways on how to expand financial assets and to identify personal risk tolerance. Government securities were also shared as well as ways of investments.
The activity ender witt the participants assessed their learning through a trivia game that explored the key concepts discussed in the said sessions. /CMS
Photos: DOLE LIU