BUTUAN CITY– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga through the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program officially started the provincial field validation of the nominees for the Regional Search for Modelong Ama 2017.

Official contenders for the regional search are from the following cities and municipalities: Mangagoy, Surigao del Sur; Placer, Surigao del Norte; Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte; Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur; and Libjo, Dinagat Islands.

The said search aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment pursuant to Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, as it adheres to promoting women’s rights and eliminating gender discrimination in its systems, structures, policies, programs, and processes. It also observes to the DSWD Gender and Development (GAD) mainstreaming framework as embodied in Administrative Order No. 5 series of 2012, which supports the enhancement of internal processes, systems and strategies for GAD mainstreaming, and of mechanism for gender responsive programs and services.

While the program is considered as having a “woman’s face”, with 89% of its cash grantees constituting women, it also recognizes that there is a growing need to partner with men to achieve transformed gender relations among Pantawid Pamilya households.

OIC Regional Director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim said that Pantawid Pamilya should serve as an avenue to achieving gender equality.

“The program believes that men should be made partners in pushing for and achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality by concretely contributing to advocacies against gender-based discrimination and gender-based violence within families and communities,” Lim said.

The search for Modelong Ama of Pantawid Pamilya is one way to rally support from amongst men to champion GAD and women empowerment###(RYAN MALBAS TAPAYAN/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)