GFPS MEETING
The GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) was established on June 20, 2022 and reconstituted on June 23, 2023 to be comprised of the following members:
Executive Committee
Chairperson: President, PTA
Alternate Chairperson: Chancellor II, LGFI
Members: Chancellor II, CI
Chancellor II, CI
Director IV, RMG
Attorney V, LSD
Planning Officer V, PCQAD
Chief Education Program Specialist, LDD
Technical Working Group
Chairperson: Chief Education Program Specialist, REID
Members: Chief Personnel Specialist, HRMD
Development Management Officer III, PCQAD
Administrative Officer V, GSD
Meetings were conducted for the GFPS to discuss the plans and updates on the implementation of the programs, activities, and projects of the PTA. During the first GFPS meeting, the focal persons of the Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS) were introduced. The identified focal persons are responsible for the coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and encoding of the GAD Plan and Budget (GPB) as well as the GAD Accomplishment Report of the agency.
Another point of discussion during the first meeting was the PTA GAD Fund which was 5.51% of the PTA Corporate Operating Budget (COB). The Magna Carta of Women (MCW) prescribes that this be not lower than 5%. The PTA GAD Fund totals to 5,435,460.00.
The budget will be allocated and attributed to GAD-related trainings, research, and programs.
The second GFPS meeting focused mostly on general updates and the programs that have been conducted; the Gender-Fair Language Training and the Gender Sensitivity Training being a couple of those.
Future activities in accordance with the PTA GPB were also discussed especially the Community Extension for Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy Programs for selected women of selected barangays/barrios for it may also serve as part of the PTA’s CSR.
The conclusion of the second meeting is that the PTA needs a consultant who is an expert in GAD. The target is onboard a consultant by the end of September throughout the remaining months of the year.
The PTA GFPS is determined to ensure, advocate for, guide, coordinate, and monitor the PTA GAD plans and GAD-related programs, activities, and projects.
GENDER-FAIR LANGUAGE TRAINING
A training on gender-fair language was conducted by the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) on March 8, 2023, at the Armada Hotel, Malate, Manila. It was attended by 42 PTA and Department of Finance (DOF) officials and employees.
Gender and Development is an identified core competency of the Philippine Tax Academy, in aiming for the holistic presentation of the advocacy, the Gender-Fair Language (GFL) Training was integrated into the Completed Staff Work Training.
The training focused on the types of sexism, the deep integration of sexism in the language, kinds of sexist language, communication strategies and language used in the workplace, and non-sexist writing strategies.
It was received with a healthy mix of support from the existing gender equality advocates in the room as well as initial skepticism from those for whom this topic was still a foreign concept. Spirited discussions ensued on the meaning of gender equality and who it is truly for. These questions and clarifications enabled the participants to reflect deeper into the topic which led to everyone’s enlightenment on the fight for equality; that feminism is not misandry.
As one of the participants stated: “The law is simply correcting the errors of society”.
18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women
Manila, December 05, 2023 — The Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) took a step towards fostering awareness and advocating for the end of violence against women (VAW) with the kickoff ceremony of the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW. The campaign, themed “United VAW Free Philippines” #VAWFreePH, aims to address the crucial issue of violence against women and promote a society that is free from such harm. Mandated by Proclamation 1172 s. 2006, the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW is an advocacy campaign that is observed annually in the country from November 25 to December 12.
The kickoff event, held at the Function Room of the Department of Finance, centered around the discussion on the strength of collaborative efforts for “United VAW Free Philippines” and women empowerment for “Women and Power.” Chancellor II of the Local Government Finance Institute of the PTA, Ma. Teresa S. Habitan, played a pivotal role in leading the activities. Her talk, titled “Witches, Saints, and Barbie: Violence Against Women, Where Do We Begin, and How Does It End,” delved into the deep-rooted stigmas surrounding women and the gender issues associated with them.
Chancellor Habitan emphasized the need to challenge societal expectations and stereotypes about women. She highlighted the importance of creating safe spaces at homes, in schools, and communities that recognize and nurture the potential of each child, irrespective of sex and gender. Her talk magnified the significance of empowering little girls to make active choices about their lives and fostering emotional intelligence in little boys.
In a poignant excerpt from her talk, Chancellor Habitan stated, “Our little boys must be allowed to cry when they need to, because human beings cry when they are hurt – our little boys are little human beings, too. Shedding tears does not make them less of a man when they grow up; it only shows their humanity.” (emphasis added)
The kickoff ceremony saw the active participation of PTA officials and employees, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to gender sensitivity as one of its core competencies. PTA President, Gil S. Beltran, echoed support for the 18-day campaign and emphasized the role of financial inclusion in empowering women.
As the chairperson of the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System of the PTA, Pres. Beltran expressed the institution’s dedication to ongoing efforts in promoting gender equality and women empowerment. Plans for establishing training programs for PTA employees and stakeholders to further advance these initiatives were also announced.
The 18-day campaign initiated by the Philippine Tax Academy not only seeks to raise awareness about violence against women but also underscores the agency’s proactive role in advocating for a more inclusive and gender-sensitive society. The PTA’s commitment to fostering positive change echoes the sentiment that ending violence against women is a collective effort, one that can be achieved “one little boy and one little girl at a time.”
The kickoff event, held at the Function Room of the Department of Finance, centered around the discussion on the strength of collaborative efforts for “United VAW Free Philippines” and women empowerment for “Women and Power.” Chancellor II of the Local Government Finance Institute of the PTA, Ma. Teresa S. Habitan, played a pivotal role in leading the activities. Her talk, titled “Witches, Saints, and Barbie: Violence Against Women, Where Do We Begin, and How Does It End,” delved into the deep-rooted stigmas surrounding women and the gender issues associated with them.
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