Over a hundred women and peace advocates joined the Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) in the conduct of the 2024 Women in Peacebuilding Forum: Championing Women’s Empowerment for Peace and Inclusive Local Governance on November 28, 2024, at Ardenhills Suites, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City.
Spearheaded by the Local Government Capability Development Division – Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development Program (LGCDD-CUCPD), this year’s forum was designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of NCR local government units (LGUs) in addressing inequalities within local communities in pursuit of sustainable peace.
To officially commence, DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III recognized the steadfast dedication of various stakeholders in addressing gender inequality, urging them to intensify collaborative efforts towards advancing women’s empowerment and inclusive governance.
“By providing them with a space in decision-making processes at the local level, women and other marginalized genders are afforded the opportunity to ensure the formulation of gender-responsive programs and policies that address underlying issues,” RD Agustin mentioned.
In his message of support, BGEN Eric A Macaambac PN(M), Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) – NCR, reiterated the agency’s commitment to actively pushing forward women’s participation in peace and nation-building, recognizing the vital role of the women sector in the peace and development process.
For the first lecture, Project Development Officer V Rene A. Gandeza, Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) provided an overview of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (2023-2033). He also elaborated on the role of gender equality in state stability, stressing the need to maximize the nexus of women, peace, and security and gender and development.
Building on this, Senior Program Director of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) Dr. Jasmin Nario-Galace discussed the concept of peace and explained how armed conflict, poverty and inequality, discrimination, and environmental degradation serve as persistent threats to the pursuit of peace, justice, and inclusive governance.
Additionally, she presented key recommendations on championing women’s empowerment at the local level, such as the implementation of gender responsive policies, cultivating peace education, designing inclusive disaster risk reduction plans, and institutionalizing inclusive mechanisms.
Following this, Hon. Zohria Bansil-Guro, Mayor of the Municipality of Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte, shared the transformative journey of Matanog women in the context of armed conflict. Specifically, she emphasized how the formation of the Women of War (WOW) Matanog has been pivotal not only in advancing peacebuilding efforts, but also in elevating women’s roles in local governance, economic development, and social cohesion.
Similarly, representatives from the Kabutehan sa Siyudad Women’s Group of Barangay Palatiw, City of Pasig narrated their own stories of hope and resilience in a brief fireside chat moderated by broadcaster and women’s advocate Gretchen Ho. In particular, President Edna C. Antinero, Vice President Jennifer C. Tuico, and Secretary Connie E. Gamboa explained how urban farming has served as a platform to build a strong network of women that collectively strive to address issues of economic insecurity within their community.
In a separate panel discussion, Prof. Iona Ofelia B. Zanoria, Director of the Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office under the Philippine Normal University, MSgt Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” L Marquez PN(M) of the Philippine Navy – Marines, and Mayor Bansil-Guro shared their insights on the vital role of women in peacebuilding, in line with their respective fields of expertise.
During the discussion, Mayor Guro emphasized the need for women, as influential figures within families and communities, to actively participate in initiatives aimed at breaking cycles of violence. MSgt Marquez also highlighted the power of media platforms in promoting stories of multifaceted women to challenge the norm and ignite change, especially among the youth. Prof. Zanoria, on the other hand, underscored the importance of collaborating with academic institutions in educating local communities and empowering women with skills in conflict resolution and leadership.
Towards the end, Ho expanded the conversation by sharing how sports and play can serve as innovative tools for fostering inclusivity and creating safe spaces for dialogue and shared experiences, allowing individuals and groups to bridge divides and build trust.
In her closing remarks, LGCDD Assistant Chief Maria Jasmin D. Diaz urged the participants to leverage newly-gained insights from the forum to advance women’s empowerment and contribute to broader peacebuilding efforts.
“Let us continue to champion women’s empowerment, foster inclusive communities, and work towards a future where peace and equality are the cornerstones of our society,” ADC Diaz stated.
The Women in Peacebuilding Forum 2024 forms part of the Department’s initiatives under the CUCPD Program, in line with its mandate to facilitate the active participation of women in the process of implementing development-oriented and context-sensitive peacebuilding programs aimed at resolving their primary issues and concerns. This program is aligned with the recently launched Fourth Generation National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS), a policy instrument which adopts a whole-of-nation approach in upholding the rights of women in conflict situations and advancing their role in the nation’s peace processes.