The national government is strengthening the participation of women in peacebuilding and security.

This, as the Philippine Conference on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) officially kicked off at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

The three-day event carries the theme “Empowering Local Women, Peace and Security Champions as Agents in Socioeconomic Transformation.” It aims to amplify the voices of women and boost their capacity to engage in community-driven peacebuilding efforts. It is being led by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and co-organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman emphasized that the conference seeks to localize the WPS Agenda, a national framework that promotes women’s role in peacebuilding and security, so that it is “attuned to realities on the ground.”

“Peace cannot exist without women who mend the social fabric torn by years of conflict through their daily acts of leadership, compassion, and resilience,” she noted.

She said that the WPS agenda will now be intrinsically tied to the national purse. This will be executed through the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget, which mandates all agencies to allocate a minimum of five percent of their annual budgets toward gender-based programs.

The budget secretary further announced the Philippines’ intent to take a leadership role regionally. “As the Philippines prepares to Chair ASEAN 2026, we will ensure that the WPS Agenda stays at the top of ASEAN priorities,” she stated, positioning the country's domestic achievements as a model for regional cooperation.

Meanwhile, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. affirmed the agency’s commitment to the WPS Agenda.

“We will ensure that our country’s women shall be able to continuously and meaningfully participate in governance, security, and peace,” Galvez said. “Let us remember that women, in all their diverse and intersecting identities, rightfully deserve a seat at the table.”

Adding to the focus on implementation, Solicitor General Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, the conference's guest of honor, put the spotlight on the invaluable contributions of women on the ground. She honored Filipina peacebuilders who are “redefining leadership” through empathy and shared decision-making.

In her speech, Berberabe highlighted the need for intergenerational continuity to sustain peace.

“Sustainable peace demands intergenerational leadership. We need ladders, not spotlights, and mentors and leaders who inspire, enable, and uplift,” she said.

She cited tangible results, such as cohorts of women trained in conflict mediation who are successfully resolving community disputes (rido) in the Bangsamoro, proving that local engagement directly translates to community prosperity.

The conference, which builds on the success of the 2024 International Conference on WPS, is structured around the four key pillars of the new National Action Plan on WPS (NAPWPS) 2023-2033, which prioritizes empowerment, protection, promotion, and a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) framework that actively involves civil society organizations (CSOs).

The event runs until Oct. 30, bringing together over 600 delegates, including grassroots women leaders, feminist movements, and international partners, to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration and inclusive policymaking.