Army conducts first ever GAD

Senior and staff officers of the Army participated in the briefing with Hon. Remedios I Rikken, Philippine Commission on Women chair, as the resource person and speaker.

"In order to continue on with the momentum, a program on PA-wide Gender mainstreaming was conceptualized and approved by the Commanding General," Aquino said.

As part of the Gender Mainstreaming Program of the Philippine Army, a Dialogue on Gender, Women in Leadership and Empowerment is also being conducted. This activity is participated in by all Army female personnel, both military and civilians alike.

"GAD-related activities had been programmed and implemented in order for PA personnel to understand that GAD concerns everybody; that even if the campaign initially began with women empowerment, the objective is actually people empowerment," Aquino stressed.

In compliance with the government’s program on Gender and Development, the Philippine Army initiated relevant undertakings to make the organization gender responsive.

In October 2010, the Army created the GAD Focal Point Committee and GAD/Female Affairs Section under the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (G1), PA.

The Army also conducted GAD Orientation seminars in order to increase the organization’s awareness and level of appreciation on GAD, especially on promoting gender responsiveness within the Army.

As of October 2013, there are 1,879 female soldiers in the PA, 527 of whom are officers and 1,352 are enlisted women. There are also 1,158 female civilian employees.