Championing Gender Equality and Sensitivity. As part of this year’s National Women’s Month Celebration 2021, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), through the PFDA - Gender and Development Focal Point System (PFDA-GDFPS) and the Human Resource Division - Administrative Services Department (HRD-ASD), held an online Gender Sensitivity Orientation with the theme “Dapat Sensitive Ka!” on March 26, 2021.

As part of this year’s National Women’s Month Celebration, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), through the PFDA - Gender and Development Focal Point System (PFDA-GDFPS) and the Human Resource Division - Administrative Services Department (HRD-ASD), held an online Gender Sensitivity Orientation with the theme “Dapat Sensitive Ka!” on March 26, 2021.

Mr. Francisco Romeo Escandor Jr., PFDA GAD - Technical Working Group (TWG) Overall Head, welcomed all the participants in today’s virtual event. He said that this is in line with the Philippine Commission on Women's call for every government agency to have a mainstreaming effort to discuss and become duty-bearers to promote gender sensitivity.

“This activity shows the commitment of PFDA to be more GAD-responsible. We are here to recognize the rights of every gender orientation. We are calling for everyone to be an advocate of gender sensitivity,” Mr. Escandor said.

Mr. Mc Christian Julius Macaranas II, PFDA Public Information Division Officer-In-Charge, served as the resource speaker for the event. He discussed basic introduction and ways around Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC). He said that this orientation is one way to contribute to the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality. 

 “We do not have to change our ideologies right away, but this orientation will give us a better understanding and a bigger glimpse about gender sensitivity,” Mr. Macaranas said.

Staff and personnel from PFDA Legal Division, Operations Service Department, Technical Services Department, Corporate Planning and MIS Department, Finance Services Department, Internal Audit Department, Administrative Services Department, Bids and Awards Committee, Public Information Division, Sual Fish Port, and General Santos Fish Port Complex participated in the online discussion about gender sensitivity.

Mr. Emilio Paul Candelaria from the Office of the General Manager and Ms. Mary Anne Kristine Ramos from HRD-ASD served as the moderators and hosts for the said activity.

(Mark Angelo N. Perez – Public Information Division)