Aligned with its commitment and support for sustainable innovation led by women in agriculture, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) participated in the 3rd International Conference on Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture (WELA) held from May 14 to 16, 2025 in Butuan City. This year’s conference was funded by the Council.
Themed, “Women and Innovations for the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) Sector towards Sustainable Development,” WELA convened local and international researchers, faculty members, policymakers, students, and representatives from the local government units. Spearheaded by Caraga State University (CSU), the three-day conference series aimed to address gaps in gender and development advocacy, harness gender and technical knowledge, and create opportunities by leveraging in-person discussions among local and global experts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
CSU President Rolyn C. Daguil reaffirmed the university’s unwavering support for all participants, especially women in agriculture. Also showing his support to women in agriculture, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora highlighted the valuable role of women as the heart of agricultural development. He emphasized that WELA serves as an important platform to discuss and address gender disparities in agriculture, celebrate achievements, and strengthen partnerships toward an inclusive and equitable agricultural sector.
Along with Dr. Ebora, several distinguished keynote speakers also shared their messages of support, including Ms. Kate Turner-Mann, Director of Capacity-Building at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
Organized under the leadership of Dr. Raquel Balanay, CSU Professor and Director of the Caraga Consortium for AANR Research and Development (CCAARRD), WELA 2025 focused on key subthemes, including gender equality, inclusive governance, food security, digital technologies, and climate-resilient agriculture. Plenary sessions and conferences served as central pillars of WELA, fostering collaborative learning and providing participants with the opportunity to present their research studies related to the identified sub-themes.
Ms. Annette M. Tobias, Head of the Gender and Development and Special Projects Unit (GADSPU), who represented DOST-PCAARRD, took on significant roles as session moderator, chair, and rapporteur. Other staff members from the Office of the Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services (OED-ARMSS) and the Socio-Economic Research Division (SERD) also contributed to the three-day conference.
Four DOST-PCAARRD-funded GAD projects were presented in a plenary session under Gender-Responsive Approaches in Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Forestry and Natural Resources Research: Enhancing Equity, Innovation, and Sustainability in the AANR sector. These included the following: “Comprehensive Gender Analysis of R&D Projects in Selected Commodities in the AANR Sector,” led by Dr. Melanie P. Tolentino of Central Luzon State University (CLSU); “Development of a Gender-Responsive Knowledge Transfer Pathway for Potential Adoption of Best Practices in Philippine Vegetable Production Systems,” under Dr. Lilian Nuñez of the Visayas State University (VSU); “Improving Agricultural Productivity and Competitiveness of Women Livelihood Operators through Gender-Responsive S&T Strategies,” headed by Asst. Prof. Lei A. Pangilinan-Jamolin from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), and “Gender Impact Assessment of Forest Conservation Projects Among Indigenous Peoples in Luzon, Philippines,” under the leadership of Dr. Felisa L. Malabayabas also from UPLB.
WELA highlighted the progressive contributions of women towards agriculture through research and development. Moreover, this conference underscored the importance of gender-responsive innovation and women’s pivotal role in championing gender equality and leadership in the AANR sector. The conference also served as a platform to develop partnerships, collaborations, and opportunities for different stakeholders towards inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.
On the third day of the event, Ms. Tobias shared the Council’s GAD R&D framework and Agenda, which serves as a roadmap for integrating gender in research and development and outlines ways to achieve a more gender-inclusive, resilient, and sustainable AANR sector through science, technology, and innovation. It also encourages collaboration and partnerships among WELA participants.
Closing the event was DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director Dr. Melvin B. Carlos of OED-ARMSS, represented by Ms. Sharon P. Batoon, OED-ARMSS Supervising Science Research Specialist and Head Executive Officer, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the successful conduct of WELA 2025 recognizing the vital role of organizers, speakers, and participants of WELA. Ms. Batoon also reaffirmed the importance of research and collaboration, providing a platform for researchers, leaders, and stakeholders to discuss and create meaningful insights for advancing women's empowerment in agriculture. As a call to action, she emphasized the need to address the identified gaps in gender research as well as to continuously strengthen capacity building among researchers towards gender mainstreaming in programs and projects in the AANR sector.
The WELA conference is an annual initiative led by eight Filipinas trained under ACIAR’s Meryl Williams Fellowship (MWF) Program. It is designed to be an effective and engaging platform for convergence towards inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development goals in AANR. Looking ahead, Cavite State University (CvSU) has been announced as the host of the next WELA conference, signaling continued momentum for gender-responsive innovation in the years to come.