Agri-10 supports for a VAW-free Philippines and honors the outstanding rural women across Northern Mindanao.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-NorMin) is one with the government in its campaign for unity toward Violence Against Women-Free (VAW-free) Philippines.

In a symposium organized for the observance of the annual 18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) in this city, on Wednesday, November 29, DA-NorMin Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado affirmed the agency’s stand in supporting causes creating safe spaces for the vulnerable segment of the community, the women and children, in particular.

To rally advocacies on the prevention and response to gender-based violence, the youth and women groups in CdeO City were apprised on the salient provisions of the Anti Violence Against Women and their Children Act (RA 9262), and the prevention of early, child and forced marriage among children.

Apart from criminalizing violence on women and children, the symposium highlighted the importance of communicating government programs in education, economy and health as strategic approach to curtail gender-based violence.

To recognize the role and contribution of women in agricultural development, the DA-NorMin’s Gender and Development (GAD) Unit together with the Department of Agriculture Women Employees’ Association (DAWEA) honored NorMin’s Outstanding Rural Women to highlight the 2023 anti-VAWC symposium.

Mylin V. Tayapad of Lagonglong town, in Misamis Oriental was hailed as NorMin’s Outstanding Rural Woman this year.

Tayapad’s awe-inspiring story spread across her triumph in outfighting cancer to founding and leading a women’s livelihood organization in her community, and how she upturned her family’s life with agriculture.

Fe Q. Sangco of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, and Francis B. Malatamban from Malaybalay City, also in Bukidnon, were lauded as the second and third placer, respectively of the search for 2023 NorMin’s Outstanding Rural Woman.

The winners received cash prize worth P50k, P30k and P20k, respectively, a plaque of recognition and token from DA-NorMin.

As the search’s regional winner, Tayapad will represent NorMin in the national leg of the competition, the “Gawad Parangal sa Katangi-Tanging Kababaihan sa Kanayunan” of DA.

“We support the endeavors that uplift women with inclusivity in providing equal opportunity and equipping them with skills to innovate and participate in the development of the (agriculture) sector,” Dir. Collado remarked.

Member agencies of the DA-NorMin Regional Management Committee (RMC) – the ATI, PCC, NFA, NMIS, NIA and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC-10) also participated in the symposium.# (ATT)