A total of 60 General Administration and Support Services (GASS) personnel of the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) Main Campus attended the Capacity Development on Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight and Spaces Act held at Teacher's Camp, Baguio City on November 28–30, 2023.
The seminar started with a Zumba dance led by Mr. Vincent Tayaben, followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, conducted by Mrs. Imelda A. Dumlao, and a prayer led by Mrs. Rhodora Insigne. It was formally started with a welcome message of Mrs. Mirasol T. Zapata, SAO and Acting Head of Budget Office. During her message, she acknowledged the newly hired non-teaching personnel of the school and extended her warm acceptance. After that, Mr. Elizier B. Lazo, CAO/Acting CBS and Program Proponent highlighted that “We cannot think of the future if we do not know what is happening in the present," which is accurate and in accordance with reality as he delivered the rationale and purpose of the seminar. Subsequently, Atty. Elenita P. Ugay, Chief of the Legal Services Division, CSC-CAR, had control of the whole-day activity for being the resource speaker. She discussed updates relative to Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight and conferred about the R.A. 11313 Safe Spaces Act, also known as the Bawal Bastos Law. The discussion involves GEDSI, or Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion, relative to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), namely: no poverty, zero hunger, good-health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced, inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals. She also added, that even though the notions of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion are related, each of these issues requires its own set of supporting data and intervention techniques where, SDG 4: Ensure equitable quality education and promote opportunities for lifelong learning for all must be achieved through the implementation of gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion programs. These are significant programmatic areas. It was also emphasized that every individual have to comprehend the idea of intersectionality in addition to the inclusion vow.
In the afternoon, another zumba was introduced by Mr. Ronjake Castaneda and Ms. Daisaire Alcalde. After that, Atty. Ugay moved on to discussing GEDSI Laws and Jurisprudence, which consist of seven related laws:
- 1981-CEDAW –Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of discrimination Against Women
- 2004- RA 9262-Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act
- 2009- RA 9710-Magna Carta for Women
- 2019-105-day Expanded Maternity Leave Law
- 1992-2003,2010,2022 Senior Citizens Acts
- RA 8371-Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and,
- 2018-RA 11313-Safe Spaces Act.
It was previously known that the SSA included all types of gender-based sexual harassment that occurred in workplaces, public areas, educational or training facilities, and online. Wolf whistling and catcalling are also included. To ensure that the participants fully understood each law, Atty. Ugay even provided some sample cases. At three o’clock in the afternoon, the presentation came to an end with an open forum in which some of the members addressed questions and received responses from the relevant speaker. Mrs. Ramelda B. Begnalen, Administrative Officer-V/Head HRMO, concluded the seminar with a closing statement. Mrs. Begnalen inquired about the meaning of several words that Atty. Ugay toss at the discussion like: MaPa which means “Malay ko, Pake ko” and 8-5 hanggang mag 65 which means a government employee who comes to work at 8am until 5pm and retires at the age of 65.
The attendees were very thankful of the new learnings the capacity development gave them. Source: Ma. Diane A. Marquez - Administrative Aide VI (Clerk III)
