September 1–3, 2025 | Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City
As the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) commemorates its 50th founding anniversary and its 30th year of implementing the Gender and Development (GAD) mandate, the 5th National Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) Convention has emerged as a powerful forum to reflect on accomplishments, showcase institutional innovations, and reinvigorate commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Held from September 1–3, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, this three-day convention brings together approximately 600 GFPS members, including representatives from national government agencies, bureaus, state universities and colleges, government-owned or controlled corporations, constitutional bodies, and members of the judiciary, legislative branches, and ministries in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Philippine News Agency.
A Platform for Collective Progress
Under the theme “Reaping Gains, Celebrating Milestones, and Strengthening the Roles of GFPS for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,” the convention serves as a dynamic space for:
- Presenting recent GAD-related policies, issuances, and national and international commitments;
- Showcasing agency-level good practices and institutional innovations in gender mainstreaming;
- Honoring milestones and contributions of agencies and GFPS members in advancing GEWE Philippine News Agency.
PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla captured the energy of the gathering by describing the GFPS as “the pillar that holds our strategies together… the engine that ignites the creativity to translate policies into actions… the surgical team that extracts the cancer cells of women’s oppression” Philippine News Agency. Her remarks underscored the critical role GFPS members play in shaping transformative, gender-responsive governance.
DebesMSCAT’s Impactful Participation
DebesMSCAT honored the occasion by sending a distinguished delegation of key leaders in research, development, gender and development services, and finance:
- Dr. Rodolfo B. Burac Jr., Vice President for Research, Development, Extension, Innovation, Creative Works, and Knowledge Management
- Dr. Joey Pardeno, Director, Gender and Development Services
- Ms. Cherry Cervantes, Budget Officer
Their participation brought interdisciplinary perspectives to the convention’s discussions, bridging gender advocacy with institutional research, innovation, service delivery, and financial stewardship.
Convention Highlights
- Policy Insights & Strategic Dialogue
Participating agencies dove into sessions exploring the Magna Carta of Women, sector-specific gender concerns, and how evolving Program activities align with emerging priorities Philippine News Agency. - Showcasing Best Practices
Breakout discussions illuminated reforms and creative institutional approaches, offering replicable models from various sectors within government, academia, and public institutions—resonating deeply with GFPS objectives. - Institutional Empowerment
Workshops and plenary sessions equipped GFPS members with tools to enhance their capacities as frontline advocates, empowering them to drive gender-responsive initiatives that uplift women and marginalized communities Philippine News Agency.
Looking Forward
The 5th National GFPS Convention stands as a HERstoric milestone—a landmark converging PCW’s longstanding leadership in gender advocacy with the on-the-ground contributions of GFPS members. DebesMSCAT’s involvement embodies the spirit of institutional collaboration, reinforcing the synergy between research, policy implementation, gender responsiveness, and fiscal accountability.
As the PCW continues to spearhead nationwide efforts toward gender equality and women’s empowerment, this convention offered both a moment to celebrate achievements and a call to action—inviting all stakeholders to continue building on the gains made and fortify the role of GFPS in shaping an equitable future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
