In commemoration of the 2026 National Women鈥檚 Month, 每日大赛网址首页进入 (CvSU), through its Gender and Development Resource Center (GADRC), officially launched this year鈥檚 celebration through an activity titled 鈥淓mpower to Lead: Championing Gender-Transformative and Inclusive Leadership,鈥� held on March 16, 2026, at S.M. Rolle Hall.
The event gathered student leaders, faculty members, and University officials in a collective effort to promote gender equality, inclusivity, and transformative leadership within the academic community.
The program commenced with an opening message from University President Dr. Ma. Agnes P. Nuestro, where she highlighted the essence of gender-transformative and inclusive leadership through her statement, 鈥淎ng pamumuno ay hindi lamang pribilehiyo ng iilan, kundi karapatan at kakayahan ng lahat.鈥�
Her message emphasized that leadership should be accessible to all, regardless of gender, reaffirming the University鈥檚 alignment with the national theme, 鈥淲E (Women and Everyone) for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society (2023鈥�2028).鈥� This theme highlights the importance of collective action in advancing equality, empowerment, and social inclusion.
The seminar proper featured a series of expert-led discussions that provided participants with a deeper understanding of Gender and Development (GAD).
The first speaker, Asst. Prof. King David J. Agreda, presented an insightful discussion on gender sensitivity as a holistic and evolving framework. He introduced key approaches such as Women in Development (WID), Women and Development (WAD), and Gender and Development (GAD), explaining their distinctions and contributions to development discourse. He emphasized that GAD goes beyond inclusion by addressing structural inequalities and power imbalances among all genders. His remark, 鈥淎ng pagiging emotional ay walang gender na sinabi,鈥� reinforced the idea that human experiences and expressions are not confined by gender stereotypes.
Further strengthening the participants鈥� awareness of rights and protections, Atty. Irene G. Pua, senior legal associate from the University of the Philippines College of Law, discussed the key legal frameworks addressing sexual harassment. She highlighted the provisions of Republic Act No. 7877 and Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the 鈥淏awal Bastos Law.鈥� Her discussion emphasized that sexual harassment may occur in both educational and workplace settings and can be committed by individuals in positions of authority, including teachers, supervisors, and trainers. She also explained the concept of threefold liability鈥攃riminal, civil, and administrative鈥攈ighlighting the accountability of offenders and the protection afforded to victims.
The final speaker, USec. Ma. Arlene S. Borja of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, delivered a discussion on the pressing issue of human trafficking. She elaborated on Republic Act No. 9208, as amended by Republic Act No. 10364, which strengthen the country鈥檚 response to trafficking by expanding its scope to include emerging forms such as cyber-trafficking, fraudulent adoption, and child exploitation. She further emphasized the severe penalties imposed on offenders, underscoring the gravity of such violations and the need for heightened awareness and vigilance.
In addition to the seminar discussions, the GADRC distributed 鈥淲eAreAllGADRC鈥� pins to participants. This initiative served as a symbolic reminder that advancing GAD is a shared responsibility. While the GADRC leads institutional efforts, every member of the CvSU community plays a vital role in promoting gender equality, inclusivity, and empowerment. The message behind #WeAreAllGADRC affirms that the center鈥檚 mission and vision extend to all stakeholders, fostering a collective commitment to inclusive development.
Overall, the activity successfully provided participants with valuable knowledge on gender sensitivity, legal rights, and social responsibility. It reinforced the importance of inclusive and gender-transformative leadership in creating safe, equitable, and empowering environments. Through initiatives such as this, CvSU continues to uphold its commitment to promoting gender equality and building a community where leadership, opportunity, and respect are accessible to all. (by Ms. Ellaine E. Todoc)
