In a pivotal step toward institutionalizing gender-responsive governance in the fisheries sector, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), through its Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project, conducted a national training workshop titled “Understanding Gender Sensitivity and Inclusiveness in the Fisheries Sector Through Gender Analysis.” The three-day activity, held from October 28 to 30, 2025 in Quezon City, convened BFAR’s Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System and FishCoRe Project’s national and regional units.
The workshop aimed to mainstream gender sensitivity across FishCoRe’s planning, implementation, and monitoring processes, in line with the mandates of Republic Act No. 9710 (Magna Carta of Women), Executive Order No. 273, and Joint Circular 2012-01. It focused on deepening participants’ understanding of gender concepts, legal frameworks, and practical tools for gender analysis in fisheries programs.
The leadership of BFAR’s GAD focal system led by Assistant Director and FishCoRe Project Manager Zaldy P. Perez and Administrative Division Chief, Mildred M. Buazon fully supported the activity with their valuable inputs underscoring the strategic importance of gender mainstreaming in FishCoRe and a call to embed gender inclusion and sensitivity into everyday work.
The workshop was facilitated by BFAR’s GAD Focal system with speakers from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), May Angelica A. Saludez, Senior GAD Specialist; and Dr. Nomer C. Esmero, Monitoring & Evaluation specialist of the FishCORe Project. The training featured modules on gender theories, legal mandates, sex-disaggregated data, and integration of gender perspectives in regional planning.
Participants engaged in workshops and group presentations in filling out the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) Assessment Tool. By using the Checklist, HGDG examines the gender-responsiveness of a certain project or activity. Furthermore, the trainees had a session on accomplishing the Project Implementation and Management, and Monitoring and Evaluation (PIMME) Checklist. PIMME is used to review whether the mitigating strategies or interventions to enhance the GAD rating of the major program or project have been implemented. This culminated in the drafting of gender-responsive action plans tailored to their respective units. This activity marks a significant milestone for FishCoRe, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive development and positioning it as a model for gender mainstreaming in government-led fisheries initiatives. Through this training, BFAR continues to build a sector where equity is not just a principle—but a practice
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