Guimaras marks Women’s Month with eco-driven GAD workshop

In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Guimaras, led by Officer-in-Charge PENR Officer Julieta Gabayeron, recently conducted a Gender and Development sensitivity training workshop at the Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park. The Philippines observes National Women’s Month every March, led by the Philippine Commission on Women.

The event brought together 45 participants, including GAD officers and members of local people’s organizations such as the La Paz Fisherfolks, Aquatic Resources and Mangrove Management Association and the San Roque Coastal Environment Program Association, for discussions on gender stereotypes and ways to build a more inclusive environment through lectures and interactive activities.

The activity also included a shoreline cleanup and mangrove planting at Piagau Island, where participants removed 20 sacks of plastic waste and planted 40 Avicennia marina, locally known as bungalon.

The environmental component of the activity also aligned with World Water Day 2026, which is observed every March 22 and this year carries the theme “Water and Gender,” underscoring the close connection between water resource management and social equity.

Participants later joined interactive lectures led by GAD Chairperson and OIC Chief of the Management Services Division Engr. Rita A. Colacion, along with games designed to highlight the real-world effects of gender-based social norms.

By engaging both men and women in conservation efforts, the activity emphasized that protecting water systems is a shared responsibility regardless of gender.

The workshop also equipped community members with tools to promote inclusivity while helping restore the island’s vital ecosystems, reflecting a broader push to link environmental stewardship with gender-responsive community development. (DENR-6)