Representing DSWD Regional Director, Restituto Macuto, Policy and Plans Division Chief, Yvonne Abonales, emphasized the importance of center staff to have a deep understanding on Gender and Development (GAD). Reading the inspirational message of Director Macuto during a recent two-day Gender Sensitivity Training held at San Juanico Gulf and Country Club Resort in Tacloban, she said,

“As caregivers, Gender and Development or GAD is useful for the way we manage our children and women. The manner we handle them will effect change in their thinking, and this is good especially for the young people. They will learn the right perspectives at a tender age.
Stereotypes about males and females emerge in childhood In fact, the beliefs of children in the early years of childhood can be much more strongly stereotyped than the beliefs of most adults – parents often find that their children have more stereotyped attitudes about gender than they do themselves. Moreover, the children act on these stereotypes. 
So where do these stereotyped beliefs and behaviours come from? The explanation is that children are shaped by the cultural beliefs and practices of the society in which they grow up such as parenting, schooling, media influences. At the same time, children may be influenced not just by other people’s reactions to their behaviour, but also by what they see around them every day. 
On the other hand, women are usually in a disadvantaged position in the workplace compared to men, promotion of gender equality implies explicit attention to women’s needs and perspectives. At the same time, there are also significant negative effects of unequal power relations and expectations on men and boys due to stereotyping about what it means to be a male. Instead, both women and men, and boys and girls, should be free to develop their abilities and make choices – without limitations set by rigid gender roles and prejudices – based on personal interests and capacities. 
Today’s trend is that efforts are being exerted to provide the appropriate services for the continuous development of women through variety of programs, projects and activities that promote gender responsive governance, protect and fulfill a women’s human rights, and promote women’s economic empowerment.
So, let’s help one another and give equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for every person to enjoy, whether he is a male or she is a female. Mabuhay tayong lahat!“