DepEd RO1 empowers personnel; learn worth of Teamwork

Through teamwork, mutual respect and cooperation, and by combining the skills and talents of personnel without discrimination as to sex or gender, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region I can achieve its goal – safe and violence – free workplace and child-friendly school system.
This was learned and concluded by the participants after joining a three-day training seminar workshop on the prevention of Violence against Women and Children (VAWC), which was conducted by the DepEd at the Metro Vigan Fiesta Garden Hotel, Guimod, Bantay, Ilocos Sur on December 7 – 9, 2016.

The program was organized to enhance the knowledge of the non-teaching personnel about the provisions of the law on VAWC and some aspects of gender sensitivity, gender issues, and women empowerment. The DepEd aims that the trainees will help in the dissemination of information against violence, and how to handle and manage victims of violence.

In her part, Education Program Supervisor (EPS) and Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Person, Dr. Arlene A. Niro, lectured about the premises of GAD orientation such as, GAD is not a war of sexes; women and men are both victims of gender inequality; and, both have a stake in the struggle.

On the other hand, Deborah Beltran Castillo, consultant of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, stressed that gender sensitivity is not about pitting women against men and not anti-male or a battle of sexes, but it is the ability to recognize gender issue arising from unique gender roles and a means of understanding socio-cultural functions.

The speakers emphasized that in order to achieve the goal of the DepEd, teamwork, and mutual respect is essential. A high regard to every individual should be accorded regardless of age, physical or mental ability, belief or religion, educational attainment, race or ethnicity, status in the society, region of origin, gender, and sexual orientation. They accentuated that the object of development is to enable everyone to attain a better quality of life and enjoy a satisfying and productive work.