ISUFST holds gender, anti-harassment awareness forum

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The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) conducted a gender and anti-sexual harassment awareness seminar on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Grand Xing Imperial Hotel in Iloilo City.

The activity aimed to empower faculty and staff with essential knowledge on gender sensitivity and Republic Act 7877, also known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.

Organized by the university’s Gender and Development (GAD) Office, the event—titled “Know Your Rights: Empowering Employees through GAD and Anti-Sexual Harassment Awareness”—was part of ISUFST’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusive, respectful, and safe working environments.

It also aligns with ISUFST’s core values and its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5: Gender Equality.

“We are building a university where dignity, equity, and safety are non-negotiables,” said ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr.

“Gender and development are not just compliance matters—they are integral to how we form professionals and lead communities.”

The event opened with remarks from Dr. Johnny Dolor, vice president for administration and finance, followed by a rationale presentation from Dr. Lenirose Mondero, ISUFST GAD director.

Participants were welcomed into a day of critical discourse and reflection on rights, boundaries, and responsibilities within academic and workplace contexts.

The first session focused on gender sensitivity and was led by Ms. Alma Ravena, co-chair of the Provincial Gender and Development Council and member of the National Gender Resource Pool of the Philippine Commission on Women.

Drawing on a decade of grassroots advocacy, Ravena emphasized the power of education in shifting mindsets and breaking gender stereotypes.

“When we understand gender beyond biology, we begin to unlearn bias, challenge inequality, and create safer spaces for everyone,” Ravena said.

She added that policies only matter if people truly believe in the dignity they protect.

In the second session, Atty. Doni June Almio, managing partner of Oso Pueblo Hiponia Almio & Associates and law faculty member at the University of San Agustin, delivered a lecture on the legal framework of RA 7877 and related jurisprudence.

Almio clarified the obligations of institutions to prevent and address sexual harassment and the mechanisms for redress available to victims.

“Sexual harassment thrives in silence and inaction,” Almio said.

“RA 7877 mandates not only punishment for offenders but also accountability for institutions that fail to protect.”

The forum also covered how sexual harassment is committed in both workplace and educational settings and discussed the responsibility of employers to establish a Committee on Decorum and Investigation.

Speakers highlighted the need for clear internal policies, proper decorum, and awareness of both administrative and legal remedies.

Closing the program, Dr. Joan Belga, vice president for academic affairs, reiterated ISUFST’s institutional stance.

“We are not just here to comply with mandates,” she said.

“We are here to shape a university culture where no one feels unsafe, unheard, or unseen.”

The activity is part of a series of gender mainstreaming initiatives under ISUFST’s GAD Program, reflecting the university’s broader institutional mission of nurturing competent and values-oriented professionals across its five campuses.

Founded in 1957, ISUFST is the country’s premier fisheries university, offering 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs.

It has consistently earned accolades, including the 2025 CHED Awards for Excellence in Indigenous Peoples Education, Internationalization Initiatives, Peace Education, and Community Extension and Linkages.

The university is also globally recognized through its inclusion in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, particularly in SDG 14: Life Below Water. (Photos by Ricky Ramos and Herman Lagon / Text by Herman Lagon / PAMMCO)