Published: 11 March 2024
Officials and Employees of the Commission on Audit from the Central Office wear purple during the 2024 National Women’s Month opening program after the Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday, 04 March 2024.
The Commission on Audit (COA) set the tone for the National Women’s Month (NWM) celebration with the formal launch held during the flag raising ceremony at the COA Central Office on 04 March 2024. With the 2023-2028 theme “WE for gender equality and inclusive society,” COA is set to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women across the organization, underscoring COA’s commitment to foster gender equality and inclusivity.
On behalf of Commissioner Mario G. Lipana, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the COA Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS), Director Roberto D. Mabagos, Jr.’s inspirational message highlighted the pivotal role of women in the Commission. Director Mabagos emphasized the need for continuous advocacy for women’s rights and the importance of creating a Commission where women can thrive without barriers.
Meanwhile, Director May Linda M. Vegafria, Chairperson of the COA GFPS Secretariat announced the program of activities for the 2024 National Women’s Month. The series of programs and activities aim to promote gender equality and empowerment throughout the organization.
The National Women’s Month is not only a celebration of women’s achievements but also a call to action. It reminds every one of the importance of challenging gender biases, supporting one another, and working collectively towards a society where gender equality and an inclusive society are not just an aspiration but a reality. The “WE” reminds the importance of women and everyone, emphasizing that it does not rest only on women but also everyone.
COA’s NWM celebration is a demonstration of the Commission’s dedication to advancing gender equality and women empowerment in order to foster an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their gender has equal opportunities. The month-long activities aim to enhance personal and work-related skills through mandatory trainings like Gender Sensitivity Training and the Training on the Audit of GAD Programs, and activities that foster camaraderie and equality such as sports exhibition and fun games. The Commission will also hold livelihood seminars on basic appliance servicing, basic first aid, cyber security awareness and updates on recruitment, promotion, leave and other policies related to Human Resources. The Men Opposed to Violence Against Women (MOVE) COA Chapter kick-started the NWM celebration with a planning activity held in Tagaytay. The COA MOVE Chapter will also sponsor a blood-letting activity. Other activities include recognition ceremony of the GAD GFPS on Personnel Welfare, film showing; online briefing on guidelines in the Conduct of Audit Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPS) with Climate change Expenditure Tagging (CCET); activity for children of the COA Day Care Center, roll-out of GAD Survey for Sex disaggragated Data and mobile government services offered by the Land Transportation Office, Commission on Elections, Philippine Statistics Office, Philippine Regulatory Commission, Government Service Insurance System, Home Development and Mutual Funds and Social Security System. As the COA continues to champion the cause of women, it remains a beacon of hope and a model for other institutions striving to make a difference in the lives of women and society as a whole. #