Faculty and students of the Ilocos Sur Community College (ISCC) are the recipients of a Gender Sensitivity Training spearheaded by the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Gender and Development on April 5, 2024.

The said activity is part of the “Tubay ken Muli—The Sophist’s Journey: To Love and Care for the Hope of Our Future,” DSSP’s flagship extension project.

This activity is the start of a series of sessions on gender and development for the students and faculty of ISCC. This is a platform for them to be equipped with knowledge about gender concepts and issues as well as the legal aspect of GAD.

“Our institution is immensely grateful to the University of Northern Philippines for considering us as the recipient of this wonderful extension program,” Dr. Arnel Doctolero, College Administrator, stated.

He also added that the collaboration has opened doors of opportunity and learning that the institution deeply values. He looks forward to fostering more collaborative programs in the future.

Dr. Eleanor Belizar focused on basic gender and development concepts alongside gender issues in education. Dr. Ma. Jesusa Unciano shared insights on gender and development as well as gender mainstreaming. Meanwhile, Atty. Christian Casildo explained the legal framework of gender and development. Closing the session, Atty. Katrynn Louise R. Eder addressed the significance of creating gender-friendly spaces and campus environments.

“If there is no gender and development advocacies, the abuses and rights of women may not have been recognized as human crisis,” Atty. Casildo pointed out.

Dr. Belizar and Dr. Unciano are members of National GAD Pool of the Philippine Commission on Women. Atty. Casildo is a faculty member of the DSSP, while Atty. Eder is CGAD’s coordinator for training. With them are Dr. Chase Mark Suyat (head, DSSP) and Dr. Vonnavic Agad (CGAD director).

Article by Edzel Pablico and Daren Dawn Avila.