The Institute for Labor Studies, through its Gender and Development (GAD) Committee, conducted a comprehensive workshop on GAD Analysis select ILS employees last September 13 to 14, at the ILS Conference Room, Intramuros, Manila.

Atty. Judie Rose Tugado-Dimayuga of the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) National Gender and Development Resource Pool (NGRP) served as the resource person.

In her opening remarks, Deputy Executive Director Atty. Mary Grace L. Riguer-Teodosio underscored the pivotal role of gender mainstreaming within ILS projects and activities. She also expressed her gratitude to Atty. Tugado-Dimayuga for her unwavering support of ILS initiatives.

"We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Atty. Judie for her consistent support of our GAD activities here at ILS. We hope that this workshop will provide the GAD Committee members and ILS personnel with a deeper understanding of GAD and its significance in the Institute," Atty. Mary Grace remarked.

During the two-day workshop, the participants engaged in activities that allowed them to have a critical review and evaluation of ILS programs and activities using the GAD Checklists and Tools, including the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF), Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG), and Project Implementation and Management, and Monitoring and Evaluation (PIMME).

“This will not be our last engagement with Atty. Judie and PCW, as the institute is eager and dedicated to enhancing our GAD efforts and initiatives. We aspire that in the coming years, our improvements will position us as recipient of the GADTimpala Awards or the Gender and Development Transformation & Institutionalization through Mainstreaming of Programs, Agenda, Linkages & Advocacies," Executive Director Jeannette Damo expressed during her closing remarks.

The workshop aims to capacitate the GAD Committee members and select ILS employees with knowledge and skills necessary for formulating the Institute's six-year GAD Agenda. This strategic framework in gender mainstreaming equips government agencies with the ability to identify and formulate projects, activities, and programs that address priority gender issues. Furthermore, it serves as the foundation for the annual formulation and submission of government agencies' GAD Plans and Budgets.

The ILS GAD Committee will take the lead in crafting the Institute's GAD Agenda for FY 2024 to 2029.