CY 2009 PPA-GAD ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The dynamism of the Philippine Ports Authority’s Gender and Development (PPA-GAD)
as an active force in bringing
improvements to the lives of both the Agency’s employees and its port
community beneficiaries does not stop at the successful delivery of livelihood programs and other
support systems. PPA-GAD has also its hands full in pursuing projects, on a regional scale, with
particular focus on both
the organization and the clientele it serves. These programs
do not only
benefit women but also enable them to
participate in decision-making processes. The following
programs/projects that specifically cover Organizational Development; Security, Safety, Health and
Environment; Port Operations and Services; and Corporate Social
Responsibility, which the PPA-
GAD accomplished in CY 2009
speak well of its resolute desire to make a difference in
the lives of its
beneficiaries:
1. Organization-Focused
1.1 Organizational Development
 1.1.1 Operation and Management of the PPA Educational and
Sports Complex
The establishment of the Complex is in consonance with the
mandate of the Philippine
Ports Authority to provide
training and sports facilities for its personnel and
clientele. Aside
from said facilities, it also offers comfortable and affordable temporary lodging
amenities to PPA personnel and valued customers. The Complex, renamed PPA
GAD
Center during the 11th National Annual GAD Planning Conference held on 17-18
September 2009, was inaugurated on
20 May 2009, followed by its soft opening.
1.1.2 Planning and Monitoring of GAD Activities
To address the need for a gender-responsive PPA Plans and
Programs, three
GAD Planning Conferences/Workshops were attended by members/ representatives
of the different PPA
GAD Focal Points, namely: (1) 11th Head Office Annual GAD
Planning
and Assessment Conference held on 10-11 September
2009 at the PPA GAD Center; (2)
11th National Annual GAD Planning Conference convened on 17-18 September 2009,
also
at the PPA GAD Center; and (3) DOTC GAD Planning Workshop conducted on
25-26 November 2009 at the Waterfront Hotel,
Lahug, Cebu City.
1.1.3 Conduct of Training for Women
The Head Office GAD Focal Point (HO GAD FP) consolidated and
evaluated results culled from surveys administered to PPA
employees. The goal
was to determine the
entrepreneurial/livelihood skills that the employees might want to
acquire to help them uplift their economic situation for a much brighter future. Based on
survey results, the PPA
facilitated the conduct of 16 seminars/workshops held within
the
period of August to September 2009 at the different PPA-wide training venues. The
training courses offered ranged from Cuisine Cooking, Meat and Fish Processing
to Reflexology. The participants were selected Head Office, Port District Office (PDO),
and Port Management Office (PMO)
personnel.
1.1.4 Conduct of GAD Awareness Campaign
This project is aimed at raising the level of consciousness on gender
issues among PPA employees and their families. The
training and/or awareness
campaign conducted within the period of May to December 2009 focused on topics
concerning
GAD Sensitivity, Responsible Parenthood, and Gift of Abundance. In March
2009, the different PPA GAD FPs also held programs and joined the march in
celebration of Women’s Month. In May 2009, the nationwide march against Human
Trafficking and Violence Against Women was also participated in by the GAD
members of Head Office and of the different
PDOs and PMOs.
1.1.5 Networking, Information Dissemination, and Data Bank
Conversion
The lack of information and materials in PPA on GAD-related
concerns
was appropriately addressed in undertaking this project. The accomplishments on this
regard for 2009 include the ongoing development/enhancement of the GAD Website,
generation of Sex-Disaggregated Data, and the Maintenance of Linkages with
pertinent agencies and entities involved in resolving GAD-related issues, (i.e., DSWD;
DOH; LGUs; law
enforcement agencies; etc.).
1.2. Security, Safety, Health and Environment
1.2.1 Conduct of Seminar, Fora and Continuing Education
The relatively low level of awareness on Occupational Health and Safety
Hazards, and Women on Environmental Protection, prompted the PPA GAD to pursue
this program. Within the
period of July to December 2009, seminars/training/programs
were conducted that cover areas on Health, Stress
Management, First Aid, Proper Diet,
and Physical Fitness. Likewise, on the environmental aspect, nationwide greening
projects
were undertaken such as tree planting, mangrove
propagation, urban gardening and other
related programs on waste segregation, recycling and reuse. The PDOs/PMOs also
did
their share mostly through the conduct of port and
coastal area clean-up activities.
1.2.2 Provision of Needed Facilities and Equipment
The PPA GAD worked towards the provision of sufficient space
to facilitate the conduct of weekly
dance fitness and sports
activities usually scheduled after office hours.
2. Client-Focused
2.1 Port Operations and Services
2.1.1 Assistance in Addressing the Problem on Trafficking of
Women and Children
To ensure the safety and convenience of women and children in the ports,
the PPA GAD facilitated and monitored the continuing establishment and upkeep of the
Bahay Silungan sa Daungan (Halfway House) in the different PPA ports across
the country.
The Halfway House provides temporary shelter to stranded travellers and/or victims of
trafficking in person, usually women and children. Priority lanes, signages, and
other amenities/tools such as family room, breastfeeding
area, diaper-changing area, kids’
play area and child care station, interfaith prayer room, and first aid kits were also
provided particularly at the Passenger Terminal Buildings. The Women’s Desk and the
Passenger Information Desk were designated to raise the
level of awareness on
gender
rights and concerns of travellers, coupled with the provision of pertinent information
materials, including the
PPA GAD Bulletin.
2.2 Corporate Social Responsibility
2.2.1
Information Campaign
To instil awareness on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and Violence Against
Women and Children (VAWC) laws, the PPA GAD pushed for the inclusion of the
Code on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) in the Gender Sensitivity Training (GST)
Module and in the conduct of all port operations training
for port users. Information materials
were also disseminated
to cargo handling operators and shipping companies on topics
relating to Sexism and Stereotyping which limit women’s
opportunities. Efforts to organize
women and raise their consciousness on gender issues were exerted through the
establishment of GAD Focal Points among the cargo handling
operators.
2.2.2
Economic Upliftment Program
Promotion of the economic empowerment of women was given
high priority.
Livelihood training courses such as Reflexology, Beauty Culture and Care, and Smoked
Fish Preparation were conducted at all sectors of the PPA GAD. Medical and dental
missions were likewise organized to
ensure health and wellness of the beneficiaries.
In addition to all these projects, an unprogrammed activity was held from 20 April to 29 May 2009 at
PMO Surigao. This involved the conduct of summer tutorial classes on Writing and Reading
Comprehension, and on Learning Mathematics the Easy Way. Ninety-three (93) students, composed
of children of dockworkers, PPA personnel and port users, benefited from
the program.
|
|