Results of Gender Center 2018 grant studies presented

Two gender and development (GAD) researches of the BIDANI Network Program culminated with the presentation of the results of these studies during the UPLB Gender Center Grant Presentations held last March 28, 2019 at the Obdulia F. Siazon Hall (formerly the Continuing Education Center), UPLB Campus.

The two researches, namely Gender Role and Participation of Program Planning and Implementing Committee (PPIC) in Development Program Management in BIDANI Catchment Areas in Laguna and Assessment of the Current Practices in GAD Planning and Budgeting in Selected BIDANI Catchment Areas, were given grants from the 2018 UPLB Gender Center Faculty and REPS Research Grant.

The research team for both researches are composed of BIDANI Network Program Leader Dr. Angelina Felix, University Research Associates Arnold Abuyog, Ana Castañeda, Guien Eidrefson Garma, Pamela Gonzales, and Charina Maneja, and University Extension Associate Belinda Lalap.

Ms. Castañeda presented the results of the PPIC study, while Mr. Garma presented the GAD planning and budgeting study.

The Program Planning and Implementing Committee (PPIC) is the operating mechanism at the barangay level in the implementation of BIDANI at the barangay local government unit (BLGU). The PPIC is an expanded version of the Barangay Development Council (BDC), which is the body responsible for development planning at the BLGU level, by virtue of the Local Government Code.

The PPIC is composed of the BDC, and community members who are not elected or appointed barangay officials, but are able to share time and expertise in their respective fields and occupations, such as agriculture, health and nutrition, social services, and infrastructure, among others.

This particular study looked into the PPIC structure of 24 barangays in the BIDANI catchment areas of Nagcarlan (12), Calauan (6), and Rizal (6), Laguna.

Socio-demographic data gathered shows that most of the members of the PPIC in the catchment areas studied were mostly aged 51 to 70 (43 percent are aged 51-50, while 21 percent are aged 61-70). Most of them were also high school, vocational, and college graduates.

Sex-disaggregated data showed that in the composition of the PPIC, more males are composing the PPIC of select BIDANI catchment areas, with 58% of the PPIC composition in the 2011-2013 term, 59% in the 2014-2016 term, and 58% in the 2017-2019 term. Females, meanwhile, comprise 42% in 2011-2013, 41% in 2014-2016, and 42% in 2017-2019.

It also showed that the committees on Infrastructure and Peace and Order are dominated by men, while the Health and Nutrition and Social Welfare committees were dominated by women.

Zeroing in on each catchment municipality, more male PPIC chairpersons and members are reported in the catchment areas in Nagcarlan, surpassing the 50 percent mark. In Calauan catchment barangays, up to 80 percent of the composition of the PPIC are males. Meanwhile, in Rizal, up to 63 percent of the PPIC composition in the catchment areas there are males.

The study then concluded that based on the principle of gender equality, both men and women are given the opportunity to participate in local development program management, particularly at the PPIC level. It was thus recommended that a longitudinal study on the PPIC composition be conducted to see further any changes in the composition of the committees in terms of sex.

By virtue of Republic Act 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women, and a Joint Memorandum Circular of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), local governments are required to formulate their respective gender and development (GAD) plans, programs, and activities (PPAs), with corresponding budget. For barangays, the GAD budget should comprise at least five percent of the BLGU’s total annual budget.

This study looked into the GAD plans and budgets of 24 catchment barangay of BIDANI in the municipalities of Nagcarlan, Calauan, and Rizal.

The study showed that on the average, the selected barangays spend PhP 124,327.01 for the GAD programs in 2017; PhP 119,240.15 in 2018; and PhP 136, 596.99 in 2019. The smallest GAD budget recorded was about PhP 60,000, while the largest was approximately PhP 355,000.

It was also revealed through the study that more women comprise the committees on Health and Nutrition and Social Services, surpassing the minimum requirement of the MCW that at least 40 percent of committees in local governments should be composed of women. The study also found out that the composition of the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) of the selected barangays were also in accordance with the law.

Some of the strengths identified by the barangays in their GAD planning and budgeting include the participation of people’s organizations, availability of sex-disaggregated data through the Barangay Management Information System (BMIS), and capacity building activities. However, they were also able to identify hindering factors, such as inadequate budget, lack of participation of community members, communication gaps among barangay officials, and lack of knowledge in GAD planning and budgeting, especially for newly elected and appointed officials.

Given the results of the study, it was recommended that the capacities of barangay officials in GAD planning and budgeting has to be built further.

– Guien Eidrefson Garma