The Mabalacat City local government, living up to its vow of being a benchmark for best practices, is currently undergoing the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) recertification procedures for its Gender and Development (GAD) programs.

The assessment, which commenced on Thursday (January 27, 2022), is part of PCW’s evaluation process to the city government’s implementation of gender-responsive programs and services, which are grounds for the recertification of Mabalacat City as a GAD Local Learning Hub, particularly for ECCD.

“The certification of GAD Local Learning Hub (LLH) is designed to institutionalize the sharing and replication of LGUs’ notable experiences and practices on gender mainstreaming,” the PCW said.

The Mabalacat City Government (MCG) will be reprofiled with high regard on the following criteria: [1] Presence of GAD related policies/program; [2] Viability and replicability of GAD efforts; [3] Impact of the GAD efforts to the LGU and its constituents; and [4] Notable GAD efforts’ contribution to national plans, policies, and programs.

Population, Gender and Development (POPGAD) Officer and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Office Charlo Costales said that Mabalacat City is the first and only local government unit in Central Luzon to be certified by the PCW, which was attained in 2019.

“Mabalacat City, being the only LGU in Central Luzon that is duly certified by the PCW, entitles us the privilege to receive various technical assistance from the commission to propel our Gender Responsive Local Governance (GRLG),” said Costales.

“Ang ating certification ay mag-eexpire na ngayong June 2022 kaya hanggat maaga ay sumailalim na tayo sa revalidation process. Ito ay upang patuloy na makatanggap ang Mabalacat City ng iba’t-ibang assistance mula PCW na mapakikinabangan ng mga Mabalaqueño,”

Upon certification, the local government will continue receiving GAD-backing initiatives such as workshops on basic GAD concepts, skills enhancement in GAD Mainstreaming and Gender Analysis, workshops in crafting the GAD Agenda, and more.

Meanwhile, the PCW Assessment Team headed by Chairperson Sandra Montano was warmly welcomed by Mayor Garbo, Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino, and Councilor Noel Castro during their courtesy call at the Mabalacat City Hall.

The city mayor reiterated his administration’s stance in pursuing sustainable and beneficial social service programs for Mabalaqueños with the help of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“Ang recertification ng PCW ay makatutulong sa ating lokal na pamahalaan upang mas epektibong maiabot sa mga Mabalaqueños ang mga programang nakalaan para sa kanila partikular sa usapin ng GAD sa pamamagitan ng iba’t-ibang capacity-building initiatives,” said Mayor Garbo.

“Ang ating siyudad ay patuloy na umaani ng napakaraming parangal lalo na sa larangan ng social services sa nagdaang mga taon. Ngunit higit sa mga pagkilala, patunay sa ating matagumpay na mga programa ay ang mga libu-libong mga Mabalaqueños na nakikinabang sa mga serbisyong ito,” the city mayor added.