Published: 9 March 2023
The Commission on Audit (COA) joins the nation in the observance of the 2023 National Women’s Month celebration (NWM) with the theme, “WE for gender equality and inclusive society.” The month-long celebration, which honors women and their contributions to nation-building, is part of the worldwide commemoration of International Women’s Day and National Women’s Day on 8 March 2023.
The Philippine Commission on Women launched the new recurring theme from 2023 to 2028 to highlight the renewed commitment towards gender equality and an inclusive society. The theme “banks on the gains achieved during the 2016-2022 theme, WE Make CHANGE Work for Women, which emphasized the need for compassionate and harmonized networks towards gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE).”
COA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba said that COA is a women-empowered institution with women comprising 62% of the total workforce as of 31 December 2022. “The women of COA are indeed a formidable force, capable and provided with the opportunity to participate in leadership and decision-making,” he observed.
Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc noted that the Commission has performed well its responsibilities under the GEWE Plan 2019-2025. “We continuously implement various Gender and Development (GAD) programs, especially in strengthening audit of GAD funds and building capacity of auditors in that area as well as enhancing health and well-being of our personnel and improving work-life balance,” he said.
Commissioner Mario G. Lipana, Chair of the Executive Committee of the COA GAD Focal Point System (GFPS), called on everyone to give their wholehearted collective effort and participation in advancing GAD. “Let us help promote a society that ensures no one is left behind by reason of their gender or sexual orientation,” he said.
For her part, Assistant Commissioner Fortunata M. Rubico, Chairperson of the Technical Working Group of the COA GFPS, expressed her gratitude for the full support of Chairperson Cordoba and Commissioners Pondoc and Lipana as well as all COA officials and staff in the Central and Regional Offices in all of the Commission’s GAD efforts. “I am confident that with all your cooperation, we will reach even higher level of gender mainstreaming,” she added.
The Commission will be conducting various GAD online and face-to-face activities for the month-long celebration. These activities aim to spark a renewed commitment towards gender equality and women empowerment as well as enable COAns with knowledge and skills to help them with their personal and career growth so that they can fully participate in an innovative and globally competitive economy.
COA hosted the National Convention of Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere on 28 February to 01 March 2023 at the Tagaytay International Training Center as the preliminary activity to the formal opening of NWM celebration on 1 March 2023. Also conducted were livelihood programs on pasta and cake making in coordination with the Quezon City Lingkod Bayan Skills Development Center, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Quezon City-National Capital Region on 02 March, and Updates on Persons and Family Relations seminar on 08 March.
Under COA Memorandum No. 2022-018 dated 15 August 2022, Training on the Audit of GAD Funds and Programs (AGFP), and Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) have become mandatory beginning 2023. Four online sessions for Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Central Office/National Capital Region auditors and employees will be held for the training on AGFPs and GST. Likewise, a Mid-Term Assessment of the COA GAD Agenda 2020-2025 will also be conducted to evaluate its implementation on 07, 14 and 21 March.
Other activities to be conducted are Symposium on First Aid on 09 March, PhilSys National ID registration and ID Distribution on 14-15 March, Pre-retirement Process and Life After Retirement Options webinar, Updates on Grievance Machinery on 15 March, Screening Test for Kidney Stones on 22 and 23 March, and Showing of Indie Film Bagahe on 28 March.
Happy 2023 National Women’s Month celebration everyone! #