The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) reinforces the importance of gender in research and development (R&D) through a training-workshop for R&D practitioners held recently at the Council’s complex.
Held for three days, the training-workshop had the theme, Engendering R&D Programs and Projects in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources sectors.
Dr. Ernesto O. Brown, Officer-in-Charge of the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD), DOST-PCAARRD, said that the training would increase awareness on how to mainstream gender in the whole project cycle – from proposal packaging to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Three speakers facilitated the conduct of the training-workshop.
Dr. Blesshe L. Querijero, an assistant professor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), talked about basic concepts on gender, legal basis for integrating gender, and paradigms of gender studies. She also discussed the tools and frameworks for gender analysis.
Jeanne Frances I. Illo, a Filipino veteran international consultant on gender and the primary author of the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG), discussed HGDG as a tool for integrating gender in the project cycle. The HGDG seeks to help achieve gender equality and empower women through projects and programs.
Dr. Thelma R. Paris, a gender specialist-consultant and a former senior scientist-socio-economist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), discussed the importance of gender in agriculture. She cited gender issues in agriculture and results of presumptions on women in agriculture both in the Philippines and in Asian countries.
The training was attended by DOST-PCAARRD staff and researchers from the Basilan State College, Biodiversity, Coastal Wetlands, and EcoTourism Research Center (BCWERC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6, Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST), University of Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao University, College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, DOST- Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB), Los Baños LGU, and DENR- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (DENR-PENRO).
According to Beata B. Orillo, a planning officer at Basilan State College, the training provided her deeper understanding on gender and development. It has also made her realize the need to apply gender sensitivity in future projects of her agency. This is not only for male and female beneficiaries, but also for other sectors, which may also be underprivileged, such as persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
