Various representatives from national government agencies and civil society organizations in the Bicol region gathered to localize action plans and strategies prioritizing the needs and support for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). This effort aligns with the Philippine National Action Plan on WPS.
This lineup of advocacies and integration of WPS plans collaborate with the regional launch of the G-PACT Project, implemented by VSO and WAND Women Organization, Inc.
Ma. Lisa Dioneda-Moalong, Project Manager from VSO Philippines, said that the G-PACT Project aims to strengthen the capacities and participation of key stakeholders in communities, enabling them to institutionalize their own action plans on WPS. In Bicol, at least 64 groups are targeted for mapping, dialogue engagement, capacity-building, and monitoring.
Susana Guadalupe Marcaida, Executive Director of the Office of Peace Sustainability under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), discussed the remarkable efforts of the Philippine government in placing WPS at the center of its mandates.
Florencia Casanova Dorotan, national coordinator of WAND, led a workshop on establishing local mechanisms and frameworks for WPS, which can be recommended to the Regional Development Council.
Gender and development focal persons, agency heads, and CSO representatives also signed the statement of support.
Three CSOs in the region participated in the activity: the Coalition for Bicol Development, Malayang Lapian ng mga Kababaihan, and Lingap Para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan, Inc.
Source: PIA Bicol Region