DBM’s Pangandaman calls for ‘mainstreaming’ of women, gender dev’t in nat’l budget

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has called on government agencies to put a premium on or “mainstream” women and gender development initiatives in formulating their respective budgets.

At a press conference Wednesday following the Philippine-hosted two-day ministerial International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in Pasay City, Pangandaman told reporters that during the thematic session on financing strategies for Women, Peace and Security (WPS) she mentioned that “we should mainstream women in our budget.”

“Maybe when agencies, when our leaders in the national government and even LGU (local government units) and our GOCCs (government-owned and controlled corporations)… when they prepare the budget, I think we should mainstream everything, women into this already,” she said.

“It's like when you prepare the budget, the primary purpose is to give jobs, so when you propose your budget, make sure that women are already included in your proposal,” she added.

The Budget chief noted that Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women mandates a minimum of 5% allocation in the national budget for gender and development (GAD) programs, projects, and activities. 

However, she said that GAD allocation has been increasing.

“To date it's 16.6% [of the budget], according to last data,” the Budget chief said

In her remarks during the thematic session, Pangandaman said that agencies have to “ensure that the women’s budget or women empowerment programs and projects are the goal of that budget.“

The Budget chief also shared the government-funded WPS initiatives that promote women empowerment and lasting peace and security in the country.  

The initiatives include social protection programs, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which also covers additional grants for pregnant and lactating mothers, and programs geared towards women’s economic empowerment such as the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Program.  

Pangandaman also cited the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) that addresses women’s needs during climate crisis and disasters, as well as the PAMANA or the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn Program which strengthens peacebuilding initiatives, reconstruction, and development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.  

“As you know, women empowerment leads to equality; equality leads to peace; peace leads to economic development; and economic development leads to prosperity,” said the Budget chief.

For her part, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla bared the challenge in the implementation of GAD budget in the country.

During the press conference, Valdeavilla said that 62% of the budget went to protection and prosecution last year.

“For empowerment and participation, [utilization] is low, only 3%… We really have to examine where the money is going to… We should be investing in women’s capacity building,” Valdeavilla said.

The PCW chief added that introducing results-based budgeting “will enable us to see the impact [of programs and projects] in the lives of women.”

“Let us do everything we can to further empower our women, especially the future generations of women who, like us, will stand up for peace and ensure not only the security but also the prosperity of nations,” said Pangandaman. —AOL, GMA Integrated News