The National Tobacco Administration concluded the celebration of the 2022 National Women’s Month with a culminating program spearheaded by the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System on March 21.
All the Branch Offices joined the Central Office via Microsoft Teams teleconferencing in the activities, which include launching of GAD Corners in the offices, announcement of winners in the photo contest and GAD corner competition, and Tiktok Zumba exercise.
In his message, NTA Administrator/CEO Roberto Victor G. Seares Jr. said that the agency recognizes the important role that women play in agriculture, particularly in the tobacco industry, and “we are doing our part to support them within the scope of our mandate.”
“We recognize distinct skills and abilities that women bring to our organization…We have been conducting capacity building for every employee, believing that everyone deserves to be given a chance to realize their full potential regardless of gender,” he said.
Corporate Planning Department Manager and GAD Focal Person Fortuna C. Benosa presented updates on GAD activities, which include the continuous registration of men/women tobacco farmers in RSBSA; maintenance of sex-disaggregated data across all agency programs/projects; and review of project implementing guidelines to be more gender-sensitive.
Deputy Administrator for Support Services Benedicto M. Savellano said that the celebration is more than just an annual event in which everyone shows support by wearing a purple shirt every Tuesday. “We celebrate every Juana for her story – standing up for their rights, challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and serving as pioneers of change,” he added.
The photo entry of Bryanne Marke William R. Simeon of NTA Cagayan was adjudged Best Photo in the 2022 National Women’s Month Photo contest. The entries of Mark Joseph R. Forges of NTA La Union and Gay Ann B. Ronduen of the Farm Technology and Services Department, won second and third places, respectively.
The GAD Corner of the Central Office who First Prize in the GAD Corner Contest, besting the GAD corners of the eight provincial branch offices. NTA Pangasinan and NTA Isabela won second and third places, respectively, for their GAD corner.
[Photos: Melanie R. Parel / Kathleen Bulquerin / Branch Offices]