GADvocates gather for the first off-campus event after a pandemic pause; crafts 6-year agenda

The colors purple and orange simply convey the campaign to promote equity and empowerment. After a three-year online and on-campus Gender and Development (GAD) activities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) – Gender Focal Point System (GFPS) organized its first off-campus event titled “Finalization of DHVSU’s GAD Agenda” at the Monarch Hotel in Calasiao, Pangasinan, from October 12 to 14.

The orientation-workshop mainly focused on refining the DHVSU’s GAD agenda and a six-year strategic plan anchored with the university’s vision, mission, and goals paving the way to enhance GAD outcomes, indicators for audit, and targets.

This three-day event comprised the GFPS technical working group led by Dr. Dolores Quiambao, Vice President for Student Affairs and Services (VP-SAS), and the DHVSU’s GFPS focal person, including members of the administrative council headed by the University President Dr. Enrique Baking, GAD focal persons, and GAD technical support representatives from various offices, colleges, and campuses. Over the course of three days, the program unfolded in three distinct parts, each contributing to the university's key GAD objectives.

The first day was highlighted by a discussion led by Matthew Ryan M. Roque, a certified public accountant and a state auditor from the Commission on Audit (COA).

“DHVSU received a positive rating and recommendations from COA during the latest audit held by the agency,” Roque shared in his message.

Moreover, Dr. Roel P. Anicas, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – Region 3 Educational Supervisor and GAD Specialist, also shared the insights of CHED regarding DHVSU’s GAD initiatives. He then commended DHVSU’s different GAD programs and projects is evident as an advocacy from top management up to the stakeholders.

Day two was dedicated to revisiting the GAD Agenda Framework with an emphasis on refining the GAD goal statements of the university. Nharleen Santos-Millar and Regine Carmelli F. Reyes, GAD Specialists from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), guided the participants through the process where the sessions underscored the importance of aligning GAD Goals with the university's overall vision and mission.

Participants were divided into groups led by the university executives, including Dr. Quiambao; Dr. Ranie Canlas, Vice President for Research, Innovation, Training, and Extension (VPRITE); and Engr. Reden Hernandez, OIC-Executive Vice President (EVP), OIC-Vice President for Administration and Finance (VPAF), and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).

Through inclusive discussions, the three groups worked on enhancing their draft GAD Agendas and developing and presenting a comprehensive six-year GAD Strategic Plan.

Furthermore, a lively fellowship night was also held to provide an opportunity for participants to celebrate the success of the event and to showcase their creativity through presentations where the VPRITE cluster emerged as the winner for its adaptation of the popular "Bulagaan" segment from the noontime show Eat Bulaga.

“This is a resounding testimony and statement that Honorians are duly bound to significantly contribute to promote cohesion, fairness, peace, respect, specifically to the least, to the lost, and to the last,” Baking stated in his message to the participants.

Words by Samantha F. Batalla | Information Officer
Photos by Patrick Bryan Porras (The Industrialist) and DHVSU’s Gender and Development Focal Point System Technical Working Group