The provincial government of Negros Occidental launched the Gender and Development (GAD) Awards and Incentives Project Sept. 15 at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
The project aims to search, document, and recognize Negrense women and men, groups and institutions, that have either worked or contributed to gender equality and women empowerment through their advocacy and actions.
The launching was attended by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, GAD advocates and women stakeholders from various departments and offices at Capitol, government agencies, and non-government organizations.
“The GAD Awards and Incentives project is not meant to give power to women, for women are already powerful,” Lacson said.
“Rather, this project is meant to acknowledge such power and to recognize their valuable and consequential contribution to nation building,” he added in a press release from Capitol.
He said that, at present, women are thriving in all sectors of society and are succeeding in careers and endeavors that women from decades past can only imagine.
An awarding ceremony, dubbed “Because Women Count”, was also held in recognition of the speakers, hosts, and moderators of the webinar series on GAD data and issues.
Lacson said the awarding ceremony acknowledges the merit, significance and tenacity of the Negrense women.
He also thanked the speakers, hosts, and moderators of “Because Women Count”, for the continued support to the GAD advocacies of the province, and urged advocates to nominate and help the province look for the outstanding and deserving Negrense women based on different categories.
The activity was attended by Board Member Juvy Pepello, OWWA OIC Regional Director Rizza Joy Moldes, executive assistant to the Governor and PIO OIC Charina Magallanes–Tan, EA IV and Provincial GAD Focal Point System Action Officer, Marie June Castro, EA for the Provincial Environment Management Office Affairs, and Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, among others.*
