BUTUAN CITY – The Regional Development Council-Regional Gender and Development Committee (RDC-RGDC) in Caraga region said there is a need to strengthen the gender equality issues and population program in an effort to prioritize policy development and actions based on gender issues, localization of gender-related laws, and institutionalizing enabling structures.
Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano cited that the policy and guidelines must be strengthened to understand the significance of its implementation.
Director Makinano, also the chairperson of the RDC-RGADC, also made a point to mention that the LGUs play a “key role,” with the CSO’s involvement so that the population and development program could be thoroughly implemented.
“To further strengthen the program, the LGUs must be involved in all the population and development activities in order for them to understand the significance of its implementation and to assimilate it,” stressed the region’s top CPD official.
“We really need their close participation,” stressed the Caraga region’s top CPD official in an interview with The Manila Bulletin on Monday, July 3.
To give more teeth on the population program, Director Makinano cited various measures adopted by RDC-Caraga, a measure advancing the thrusts and direction of the Philippine Population and Development Program for 2023-2028.
These various RDC measures were adopted during the 114th (2nd quarter) Full Council meeting at D.O. Plaza Complex Covered Court, in Patin-ay , Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur last week, June 27.
One of these measures is the Social Development Committee (SDC) Resolution No. 24 series of 2023 endorsing the Resources for Awareness on Population Impact on Development (RAPID) of the CPD as among the tools for planning and programming at the regional and local levels.
The RDC Inter-Agency Committee on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (IACCRVS) through its Resolution No, 4 endorsed RAPID as among the tools for planning and programming by local government units (LGUs).
The RDC Full Council Meeting also adopted the integration of population factors in development initiatives, planning, and programming as among the ways forwarded in the Regional Development Plan (RDP).
Meanwhile, the CPD also strengthened policy development and actions based on observed gender issues, localization of gender-related laws, and institutionalizing enabling structures.
“Compliance with the gender-related rules and strengthened population and development program must be regularly monitored and evaluated,” Regional Director Makinano emphasized.
The RDC Full Council meeting warmly congratulated its RGADC as represented by its CPD Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano, for bagging three major awards in the RGADC National Summit on June 7-9, 2023 at Manila Prince Hotel.