Press Release

First Reg’l Gender Congress highlights role of women in agri-fishery development

Department of Agriculture
Koronadal City
Emailed for posting by Jojo Taduran
July 11, 2014



The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Soccsksargen Region   recently gathered over 350   rural   women in the first-ever agency-led Regional Gender Congress.

Amalia Jayag-Datukan,  Regional  Executive  Director of  DA 12,  said  the two-day congress held in Koronadal City on July 3-4  underscored the important  and remarkable contributions  of women on the  development of the agriculture  and fishery sector not only in the  region but  also in the entire country.

Participants are members of cooperatives, farmers and fisherfolks’ associations, rural improvement  clubs  and others  from across Soccsksargen Region.

Director  Datukan said they have been planning  to  conduct such  an  activity  in  cognizance of the fact that women are  a  major force  as partners  of  men in bolstering their farm’s productivity and in managing their  family  affairs.

In her message, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat,  Agriculture Undersecretary  for Special  Concerns  and  Focal Person of DA’s Gender  and  Development program, noted that the Philippines is  among the countries in Asia  that leads in the  provision of opportunities to  the women  sector, especially  pertaining to  health, social  services, education,  and  politics.

Said  congress   focused  on the  gender issues of women in  agriculture and fishery  as well as  gender  equality and empowerment.

It  also highlighted  impact of  climate  change on  fishery and  agriculture as well as  the indigenous ways  that  women  apply to  cushion the effects  of  climate  change.

Participants were also  oriented on the  different  programs  as well as support from that they could  avail from DA, BFAR and other government agencies regarding  organic  farming, agriculture, fisheries and cooperatives.

In the conduct of the Regional  Gender  Congress, DA  12  had help from  the  regional  offices of the Bureau of  Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and  the Cooperative  Development Authority (CDA).

Success stories of outstanding rural women of Region 12 to include Victoria Motril, Tupi; Remia Apostol, Koronadal City; Rocaiya Kasan, Tupi; Luisa Balagot, Makilala; Tiny Tamayo, Antipas; and Rebecca Latog, Bagumbayan were shown via audio-visual presentations to inspire their fellow rural women to join the Search for Outstanding Rural Women.

Noting the success of the first-ever Gender Congress, Fe Ybañez, DA 12 Regional GAD Focal Person announced that a bigger number of participants will be invited for the 2^nd Regional Gender Congress next year. (DA-RAFID 12)