BAGUIO CITY – In observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR) organized a Gender Sensitivity Seminar and Orientation on the Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) organization last November 20, 2024 at Guisad, Baguio City.
Male employees from the DA-CAR, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources participated in an orientation on the MOVE initiative, led by Arnold Bodong, the Treasurer of MOVE and a representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Bodong began the session by explaining what constitutes violence against women, highlighting the four main types of abuse under this category: physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. He then presented a sobering overview of the VAW situation in the region.
According to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey, CAR ranks 5th in reported cases of emotional abuse, 12th in physical abuse, and 6th in sexual abuse. This data underscored the urgency of addressing these issues and the critical role that men can play in supporting efforts to combat VAW.
Bodong then went on to explain the purpose of MOVE and emphasized that men from various sectors—including government, private organizations, the academe, and non-governmental organizations—are welcome to join the movement. He also shared the core values upheld by MOVE, which include moral uprightness, obligation conscious, vow to never commit, condone, or be silent about VAW, equality, respect for human rights, and sustained commitment (MOVERS).
Meanwhile, Dr. Ferdinand Gonzalez of the Regional Gender and Development Council–Cordillera provided an overview of key gender and development (GAD) mandates. He discussed the different GAD mandates such as the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208), and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262), highlighting their significance in addressing gender-based violence and promoting the rights of women and children.
Gonzalez also explained the distinction between “sex” and “gender.” He described sex as the biological aspect of a person, related to reproduction, while gender is socially constructed, representing learned behaviors that evolve over time, across different places, and within various cultures. He emphasized that gender encompasses the social roles, behaviors, intellectual, emotional, and social characteristics that a particular culture attributes to women and men, which can differ widely across societies.
He further elaborated on the gender roles assigned to men and women, highlighting that men are typically expected to take on productive roles, which are often paid, widely recognized, and valued in society. In contrast, women are usually assigned reproductive roles, which are often seen as less important because they are unpaid. He pointed out that these gender role expectations and societal perceptions can limit both women and men, confining them to roles that restrict their potential for a fulfilling and successful life. However, he emphasized that gender roles are not fixed and can change over time.
The seminar and orientation served as an important reminder of the need to challenge traditional gender roles and actively work toward a society where both men and women are equally recognized and valued. By Alyssa Dawn Alalag
