Kalinga: Women in the province of Kalinga are assured of protection with the local government ensuring that budget is allotted for initiatives that push the advancement of the sector.

According to Philippines News Agency, under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, government agencies, including national government agencies and local government units, are required to have a Gender and Development (GAD) budget, which is at least 5 percent of their annual budget.

In an interview on Thursday, Flordeliza Moldero, Provincial Planning and Development Officer of Kalinga, stated that their budget for women inclusivity exceeds the law-mandated 5 percent. "While the GAD budget is 5 percent, which is being audited by the Commission on Audit (COA), we do not limit ourselves to that because that is the minimum we spend for women inclusivity," Moldero said.

She mentioned that during the annual preparation of the budget by the departments, programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) aimed at women empowerment are immediately identified to ensure that the vision of long-term plans is achieved. Moldero emphasized that financial limitations do not prevent the completion of the PPAs under the five-year Gender Responsive Development Plan (GRDP).

"We will implement by phases because of our limited funds, but we will never say it cannot be done," she added. As an example of a GAD-responsive project, Moldero cited the separate wards and comfort rooms for men and women in the hospital and rural health units, which incurred significant costs.

Moldero indicated that there would be an annual assessment of the project to evaluate its responsiveness to sectoral needs. "If so, it will be continued with the other structures, to complete putting in place GAD-responsive projects," she added. "Before the expiration of the five-year plan, there will be a planning and assessment again to look into the initiatives and their effects on the sector and see if it is responding to the women's needs based on the issues raised."

Moldero also highlighted that every LGU department has GAD-focused mandates and other programs addressing gender issues, planned with staggered implementation. The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has certified Kalinga as a GAD local learning hub for 2024-2027, and the province received a Seal of Good Local Government where compliance with GAD is an indicator.

She noted that the proactive and responsive stance of the provincial government to women GAD initiatives has extended to the municipalities and even to the barangay level. "We do not just involve the barangay officials but also the people in the villages, the women. And with their involvement in the planning and assessment, we are able to gauge the effectivity and responsiveness of specific programs," she stated.

Meanwhile, Edna Tabanda, co-chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera region, emphasized the need to "develop women in politics." She pointed out that women politicians in the provincial level make up only 12.5 percent, 16 percent in the city, 15.9 percent in the municipalities, and 24.9 percent in the barangay level. Tabanda believes that increasing the number of women politicians would ensure that GAD policies and agenda at the local level will be responsive to the women sector.