DILG to LGUs: Localize Magna Carta of Women

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government has urged all local government units to localize the implementation of the Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.

DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero said all LGUs must create an environment that will promote women’s empowerment, gender equality, and ensure gender responsive governance at the local level.

The DILG, Philippine Commission on Women, Department of Budget and Management, and National Economic and Development Authority recently issued a joint Memorandum Circular to all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, members of the local sanggunians, DILG Regional Directors, and all other concerned on the guidelines on the localization of the Magna Carta of Women.

"The MCW provides that local governments are tasked to promote and ensure that GAD is mainstreamed in the local policy-making, planning, programming, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation," said Panadero, also concurrent Gender and Development Focal Point chairperson.

Under the joint memo circular, the local chief executives are directed to ensure that their GAD Focal Point System or similar GAD mechanisms are in place, fully-functional and its members have the capacity to promote gender mainstreaming in line with Sec. 37 of the MCW Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Panadero said the DILG, through its Bureau of Local Government Development, will conduct a series of training programs on gender mainstreaming for DILG Provincial GAD coordinators and Provincial Grassroot Budgeting Focal Persons all over the country from April to May, this year.