Gender Responsive Local Governance: Upi Experience

Gender Responsive Local Governance: Upi Experience Maria Elena II T. Castro , MPA UWFI Vice President for Operations Upi, Maguindanao

04/05/11 Upi Profile
Area = 74,295 Hectares
23 landlocked barangays
51,650 populace – Teduray lumads 44%, Moro 23%, Illonggo 17%, Tagalog 7%, Cebuano 3%, Ilocano 2%, Other ethnic group 4%
Upi is located in the Province of Maguindanao

Brief History of the UWFI
The Upi Women’s Federation Inc.(UWFI) came into being in the year 2004 which was initiated by the First Lady, Madam Amelita A. Piang, the better half of municipal mayor Hon. Ramon A. Piang Sr. It is located at Barangay Nuro, in the municipality of Upi, Maguindanao. It is a non-sectarian and non-profit organization which focuses on gender and women development. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission bearing no.CN 200930771 and is duly accredited with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Local Government unit of Upi.

It is composed of more or less 4,000 tri-people women (T’durays, Christians and moro people) coming from the 23 landlocked barangays of Upi. These women engage themselves in livelihood programs which aim to increase family income thus reducing poverty. These women also get themselves involved in program planning/decision making, health and health related activities, advocacy on VAW-C, Anti-Trafficking/other forms of exploitation and discrimination, responsible parenthood, responsibilities and liabilities of fathers reproductive health and family planning.
Brief History of UWFI

The women’s organization was purposely organized to serve as the implementing arm of the Local Government Unit in the implementation of the 5% GAD funds of the municipality and as well as the barangays.
The Brief History of UWFI

VISION
We envision an empowered, socially and economically stable women who are free from all forms of violence and exploitation.
MISSION
We will strive to raise the awareness of all Upians on Violence Against Women and their Children, Anti-Trafficking in Persons and all forms of discrimination, exploitation and encourage their active participation on Life Skills Training and Micro-enterprise.

Situational Analysis
Limited awareness of the community on Gender and Development plans and programs
Absence of Gender and Children’s Code
GAD plan is formulated by barangay officials that have not undertaken any gender orientation
5% GAD Budget not properly utilized;
No structure or mechanisms to respond to VAWC and Anti- trafficking in person cases

Situational Analysis
Incidence of VAWC
Incidence of human trafficking
High unemployment rate
Low family income
Lack of access to income generating activities
High Maternal Mortality,
Child morbidity rate due to malnutrition
Limited participation of women

Efforts in GAD Mainstreaming
GAD POLICY, PLANNING AND PROGRAMMINGs
Creation of GAD team and focal person
Enacted the Gender and Women’s Development Code, 2007
Enacted the Children’s Code, 2002
Submission of GAD plan
Implementation of the Gender-Sensitive Executive and Legislative Agenda 2007-2010– 92%
Barangay Women groups form part in the decision making of the barangay budget particularly the 5% GAD funds;

Re/organization of Women’s group in the barangays
Mainstreaming of GAD plan in the formulation of POPDEV
Establishment of children and women’s desk
Utilization of 5% Gender Fund for gender trainings, agri- enterprise/livelihood activities, social services, environment and business development center

GAD ORIENTATION/TRAININGS
Gender Mainstreaming and Planning 2006
Gender Assessment Planning in Feb. 2007
Mainstreaming Gender in Enterprise Development March 2007
Gender Sensitivity Training for 23 barangays
VAWC-AT
Strengthening of the MIACAT as vehicle to promote sessions on VAWC-AT
Executive Order no. 7, 2007 issuance for the creation of IACAT
BIACAT-VAWC Formation in 4 barangays
Attendance to Case Management Conference on VAWC-AT, DSWD, PNP, DOH – Established referral system

ENTERPRISE
Study Tour on” Bahay Kubo” concept, vermiculture, and Philippine Carabao Center, Kabacan, Cotabato
Study tour to Integrated Farm at Bukidnon
Study tour of the STEP-UP students to micro-enterprise
Techno transfer on livestock, poultry raising, tilapia production and vegetable farming, soap-making, corn husk crafts, food processing and preservation
Gender Economic Enterprise Training – Establishment of the Business Development Center
Gender Forum on Enterprise Development
Micro-lending
PARTNERSHIPS
Partnership with the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. and Microsoft Philippines in the operation of the Community Learning and Training Center for the STEP-UP Program. Its primary objective is to raise the awareness of OSY’s about the Anti-trafficking in person by providing them Basic Information Technology Course.

SOCIAL
Support to indigent and mentally ill persons
Enrollment of low income families to Philhealth
Medical Missions and Outreach Programs
Support and participation to Meguyaya Festival and other child development programs
Trained traditional hilots
Support to Day Care Centers
Health information and education through radio programming DXUP
Mother’s Classes Organized
Presence of Children's Park
Establishment of Birthing Clinics (4 barangays)
Establishment of GAD Center- Center for women in crisis
Establishment of the Teen Center

ADVOCACY
Community-based IEC on GAD VAWC-AT, magna carta for women and disaster management in the 23 barangays;
Joint Celebration of International Women’s Month – March 8 (hanging of streamers, conduct of good Morning Monday - information on gender through radio, livelihood and GAD orientation and Gender Mainstreaming, Olympics and women’s congress)
Children’s Congress

Strategies that Worked
Organization Building
Planning
Information and Education Campaign
Barangay Assemblies
Radio plugging and programming
Trainings ( PNP, Women Leaders/groups)
IEC Materials development (billboards and posters and flyers)
Participation on women’s month celebration and festivals
Marketing
Organization of OSYs for enrollment to STEP-UP
Regular monthly meetings
Strong political will

Hindering Factors
Apathetic attitude on GENDER
Traditional/cultural perception on Gender
Limited appreciation of GAD planning and budgeting and how this will be integrated within their system
Officials have limited knowledge on how to implement RA 9262. RA 9208, Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710)

Facilitating Factors
Realization of women on gender rights and role in economic development
Functional structures and systems (Desk, M/BIACAT, BCPC, GAD Focal person and team)
Support of the LGU – policy and counterpart funding for women activities, Women’s Month Celebration and Festivals
Participation of women in the formulation of Barangay GAD AIP
Establishment of BDC as support for women livelihood
Agenda of Mayor for 2007-2010 to focus on economic development
Establishment of “Bahay Kubo"in every barangay to address health, nutrition and economic aspects of every households

Challenges
One barangay –one midwife
Philhealth Accreditation of the Rural Health Unit not renewed
Orientation of barangay officials on issuance of barangay protection orders
Orientation on handling VAWC-AT cases
Mainstreaming and internalization of Gender programming in every LGU departments
Strengthening LGU referral system for VAWC -AT
Limited materials on Gender and Enterprise Development
Operationalization of the Business Development Center to support local enterprises of women
Participation to Upi Agricultural Development Corporation

04/05/11 our greatest challenge While all these programs, projects and initiatives are implemented towards the much needed development of our respective localities. Success still largely depend on the commitment, sincerity and the political will of the Local Chief Executive, Officialdom and leaders of the Local Government Unit

Thank You! FIYO BAGI! MEUYAG!!

Gender Responsive Local Governance: Upi Experience

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