DPWH Southern Leyte joins Women’s Month celebration

MAASIN CITY, March 29 (PNA) –- The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) has joined the 2016 National Women’s Month Celebration, advocating women’s rights in support to the government’s Gender and Development (GAD) programs.

On Monday, the DPWH-SLDEO held a kick-off activity through a motorcade around this city and gathered all women employees of the district office at the multi-purpose hall.

The event supports this year’s theme: “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!”

“The theme resonates the call for gender-balance in leadership and decision making positions and inclusion of women’s concerns in leadership platforms and the government’s development agenda,” said DPWH-SLDEO chief Engr. Ma. Margarita C. Junia, the only woman district engineer among the 13 key field officials in Eastern Visayas.

The activity’s guest speaker, Noreen Silot-Buhat, GAD focal person of Saint Joseph College in Maasin discussed about gender equality, women’s rights, gender-related issues and existing GAD programs.

She expounded how the Philippine government has achieved gender-responsive governance through legislation.

Among these is the Magna Carta of Women mandates non-discriminatory and pro-gender equality and equity measures to enable women’s participation in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs for national, regional, and local development.

Junia said the DPWH-SLDEO acknowledges the role of women in infrastructure development, hiring 71 women out of the more than 200 workers.

Three of the six sections of the DPWH Southern Leyte office are headed by women - Letecia Olarte (construction), Datesy Mahusay (financial management), and Lilia Mulaan (administrative).

“Women are superior. Whatever you give to a woman, she will make it greater. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her,” Junia explained. (PR)
LAP/SQM/PR/EGR