QUEZON CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government – Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR) was conferred the Gold Gender and Development (GAD) Seal for FY 2023 alongside four other Regional Offices during the Department’s GAD Seal Recognition Rites held on May 7, 2025 at Sequoia Hotel in this city.
This recognition is the highest level under the DILG’s GAD Seal Certification Program. It is conferred to DILG Regional Offices that have consistently upheld the principles of Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women by integrating gender and development in their systems, policies, operations, and service delivery.
The GAD Seal Certification Program, initiated by DILG Region XII and adopted through DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-070, aims to institutionalize gender mainstreaming within the Department. The revised guidelines established uniform assessment indicators and introduced a three-tiered recognition system Gold, Silver, and Bronze corresponding to scores of 91–100 points, 81–90 points, and 70–80 points, respectively.
The DILG-CAR earned the Gold Seal by institutionalizing a functional GAD Focal Point System (GFDS) and the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), establishing a GAD Database and GAD corner, conducting GAD-related trainings, providing GAD-related technical assistance to the local government units and other stakeholders, utilizing the 5% GAD budget, establishing necessary facilities and implementing various GAD-related initiatives.
DILG-CAR Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose said that this seal exemplifies the Regional Office’s unwavering commitment to realizing GAD Plans and Budgets and translating these into tangible accomplishments.
“This recognition shows that our commitment to gender and development is not just in documents or plans, but rather these are seen and felt as a hallmark of our organizational culture,” she said.
This is the second GAD Seal for the DILG-CAR since 2022, and RD San Jose vowed to continue championing gender-responsive governance and inclusive public service in all DILG Field Operating Units and local government units across the region.
“We will continue to lead by example in promoting local governments that are inclusive, respectful, and responsive to the needs of our communities,” RD San Jose said. By (FFP/DILG-CAR)
