Employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 join the synchronized performance of the One Billion Rising Dance earlier today to drumbeat the National Women’s Month celebration.

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan who is known as a champion of gender responsiveness and equality in the organization and program implementation led the kick-off program at the DENR regional office.

“Kung meron mang pagbabago, kasama ang mga kababaihan dito...Pagbabago para sa kabutihan ng lahat,” Director Bambalan said emphasizing the roles of women in effecting change amidst climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lady director also encouraged the employees to promote gender sensitivity in the workplace by delivering quality, timely and efficient service to all clients of the department.
In the orientation of the newly reconstituted Regional Gender and Development Focal Point System (RGADFPS) yesterday, Director Bambalan who also chairs the RGADFPS emphasized the main goal of the gender and development program which is to promote gender equality between men and women and other marginalized sectors in achieving economic, ecological and political empowerment.

“The word empowerment is important to all of us. Empowering is enabling, capacitating. If we want equality, we should be empowered. You are empowered when you don’t need other sources of power for you to go on with your functions or activities,” she highlighted.

Assistant Regional Executive Directors Marcos Dacanay and Ismael Manaligod, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Mario Ancheta and Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director Nelson Honrado also compose the executive committee of the RGADFPS. They act as the vice chairpersons.

The DENR Region 2 will hold various activities this month which include orientation on gender sensitivity, film viewing of documentaries about successful women, performance of the One Billion Rising dance every Monday, and gift giving at the Women’s Haven and Children’s Orphanage in Solana, Cagayan.
Free certified technical description and seedlings will also be given at the regional office on March 8 in celebration of the International Women’s Day.#