BAGUIO CITY – To celebrate women empowerment and their contributions to society, the Department of Agriculture–Cordillera (DA-CAR) and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry-CAR officially kicked-off the National Women’s Month on March 6th during the Flag Raising Ceremony at the BPI Compound, Guisad, Baguio City.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, the new theme for the year 2023-2028 “WE for gender equality and inclusive society” marks a juncture in the advancement of women’s rights. It sparks a renewed commitment to advocacy and 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).
The division chiefs shared their messages of support for women and underscored the importance of women’s contributions to making society, “Let us take this month to recognize the power and potential of every woman to support their dreams and aspirations and to continue advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion. Together we create a better more and just world for everyone,” said OIC-Chief Administrative Officer Frederick Balanza.
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Susan Balanza, meanwhile, pointed out that women are not really fighting for equality but for equity, “We will come to a point where there will always be equity, especially with the benefits of everything. Fighting for equality is long-term, but I hope that we will achieve equity on the short term,” she stated.
Further, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey said that the roles of the Cordillera women in the society where he grew up in and the present society now barely have a difference as he shared the accounts of his ancestors of having women leaders in their village. He iterated that women can achieve leadership status and that women always take over when problems happen.
He also shared that during Martial Law, women were the ones who faced the mining companies accompanied by soldiers who came to their area for mining exploration, as they discovered the area’s mining potential. “Women played co-equal roles in as far as the defense of the community, matters that affect the community, and whatnot. We can look back and relate to our own grandmothers and their experiences and respond with such values that indeed women are respected and their opinions are important,” he added.
In line with the month-long celebration, a seed exchange program dubbed, “Women seed keeper: Preserving indigenous seeds and planting material for sustainable food production”, was also launched in support of the role of women in seed-keeping which is being done even long before and is rooted in the Cordilleran culture. In the traditional farming community before harvesting season, women are the ones who choose and ensure good quality seeds, mostly heirloom rice varieties.
The seed exchange is an ancient practice where the saved seeds and indigenous knowledge are being shared within the community and nearby areas.
Carolina Fanged, a seed-keeping and exchange enthusiast, shared her expertise on the matter and how she is cultivating landrace seeds such as squash that have different shapes and sizes, and exchanging the same with other seed keepers in their community.
This year, the program concept was adopted by the Department’s Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) for continuous low-cost food production and to make a community from it expand to other communities.
Moreover, the GFPS launched the 2023 Search for Outstanding Rural Women (SORW). SORW aims to give due recognition to rural women who have shown excellence in their fields of endeavor, have made outstanding accomplishments in developing agriculture and fishery sectors, and made a significant impact in the lives of the people in the rural areas. Ms. Gladys Aligo presented the mechanics and qualifications for the National Search.
Other activities to be conducted for the month-long national women’s month celebration are the Brown Bag Sessions every Wednesday, KADIWA Pop-up store, Wellness Program, and Financial Literacy. By CEWaytan
