About Gender and Development
WHAT IS GAD?
Gender and Development
Refers to the development perspective and process that are participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials.
It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be reflected in development choices; seeks to transform society’s social, economic, and political structures and questions the validity of the gender roles they ascribed to women and men; contends that women are active agents of development and not just passive recipients of development assistance; and stresses the need of women to organize themselves and participate in political processes to strengthen their legal rights.
Source: City Ordinance No. 2025-08
bACKGROUND
Philippine Commission on Women
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), originally the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, is a government agency dedicated to promoting and protecting women’s rights in the Philippines. Established on January 7, 1975, through Presidential Decree No. 633, the PCW plays a pivotal role in advancing gender equality and empowering women across the nation. A key legislative achievement was the enactment of the Magna Carta of Women on August 14, 2009, which provided comprehensive legal protection for women and aligned with international human rights standards. This law reinforced the Philippines’ commitment to eliminating gender-based discrimination.
In global rankings, the Philippines performed notably well. The United Nations’ 2009 Human Development Report ranked the country 40th out of 155 nations in the Gender-related Development Index. Additionally, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2009 ranked the Philippines 9th out of about 130 countries, reflecting significant progress in gender equality.
On July 4, 2016, under Executive Order No. 1 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, the PCW was one of 12 agencies reassigned from the Office of the President to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, aimed at enhancing inter-agency coordination on gender-related issues.
Source: PCW Official Website
PCW Gender-Responsive Governance
The Philippines has made significant strides in promoting gender-responsive governance, primarily through the efforts of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). Established in 1975, the PCW has been instrumental in integrating gender perspectives into the formulation and implementation of national policies, plans, and programs.
Magna Carta of Women
A landmark law protecting Filipino women from discrimination and violence, requiring gender perspectives in all government programs and allocating at least 5% of budgets to Gender and Development (GAD).
Gender Mainstreaming
The PCW leads the integration of gender considerations in government by building agency capacity, developing gender-responsive policies, and monitoring compliance through the GAD Plan and Budget.
National Gender and Development Resource Program
The PCW leads the national strategy to integrate gender into all government functions through capacity-building, gender-responsive policies, and GAD Plan and Budget monitoring.
CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2025-08
An Ordinance Promulgating the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Code of 2025 of the
City of San Fernando, La Union
Mandates and Legal Bases
The City Government of San Fernando, La Union affirms the national and international mandates and frameworks on gender equality and empowerment and localizes them, pursuant to, among others, Article 2, Section 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Republic Act (RA) 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, RA 9208/10364 or the (Expanded) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003/2012, RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, the General Appropriations Act, and international commitments, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Declaration of Principles, Policies and Strategies
The City Government of San Fernando, La Union recognizes that gender discrimination overlaps with and is compounded by socio-cultural factors such as age, class, disability, ethnicity, origin, language, religion, health and other status. The City shall ensure substantive equality in protecting, promoting and fulfilling the human rights of women and men, and in pursuing their social, economic and political empowerment. It shall improve the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society, and the process of improving the ability, opportunities, and dignity of those disadvantaged on the basis of their identity.
The City Government shall institute an enabling environment for gender-responsive governance and shall abolish unequal structures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. Towards this end, it shall develop the capacities of City Government departments and human resource, and promote equal participation among its constituents in development agenda-setting, policy-making, planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
