Representing CMU were CGAD Chief Dr. Teresita H. Borres, CGAD staff, and Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons from the Offices of Human Resource Management, Public Relations and Information, Student Affairs and Services, and Legal Services. Their participation supports CMU’s continuing efforts to strengthen gender mainstreaming across academic and administrative units. 

Among the summit’s panel discussions, two resonated most with the Center for Gender and Development (CGAD): Gender-Based Violence Prevention pathways and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

During a panel discussion on Gender-Based Violence Prevention, Dr. Borres shared CMU’s best practices for fostering safe and gender-responsive spaces within the University community. Among the initiatives included were the University’s institutionalized gender-based violence prevention pathway through the conduct of mandatory gender sensitivity orientations for all first-year students, along with orientation sessions for newly hired and promoted employees, and its academic council.

She also shared preventive and support mechanisms implemented on campus, including the distribution of gender awareness leaflets, emergency whistles and flashlights, installation of information materials on the Safe Spaces Act in strategic areas, and the designation of a women’s desk officer to assist in addressing gender-related concerns.

Meanwhile, GAD representatives also shared their takeaways during the summit. 

Ms. Sharon E. Abarquez, Guidance Coordinator of the Office of Student Affairs and Services, emphasized the importance of trauma-informed counseling in addressing gender-based violence. She noted that guidance counselors play a vital role in providing support to survivors and strengthening response mechanisms within the University. 

Ms. Abarquez also underscored the need to intensify awareness campaigns on consent and respectful relationships, as well as explore self-defense programs to help empower students.

Moreover, Atty. James M. Violon, member of the GAD Focal Point System from the CMU Legal Office, emphasized the importance of grounding gender advocacy in human rights and lived realities.

“My most meaningful takeaway from the summit is that protecting women must begin with recognizing where women truly are today,” Atty. Violon said, noting that while women continue to contribute significantly to society, many still face violence, discrimination, and barriers to opportunity.

Beyond the summit sessions, the CMU delegation also connected with fellow representatives from other agencies and state universities and colleges (SUCs), exchanging best practices and strengthening partnerships in gender mainstreaming initiatives. These engagements support CMU’s plan to further capacitate its local GAD Resource Pool and contribute to and become part of the National GAD Resource Pool in the future.[Iyren Dalipe Neri]

The ceremony opened with a Holy Mass and was followed by a ribbon-cutting led by University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe, together with CGAD Chief Dr. Teresita B. Borres and Vice President for Administration Prof. Hermie P. Pava.

The establishment of the facility is anchored on the University’s 2025 Sex-Disaggregated Data (SDD), which revealed that nearly 30% of young female employees are parents of children aged three to six years old, while another 25% are caring for children in Grades 1 to 3. Notably, 46% of these working women belong to lower salary grades, many of whom are employed under Job-Order (JO) or Contract-of-Service (COS) arrangements with limited financial security and benefits.

The data underscored the growing challenge faced by working parents, particularly women, in balancing professional responsibilities with childcare duties. The increasing cost and limited availability of reliable household childcare services in the local labor market further amplified the need for institutional intervention.

In his message of support, University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe emphasized that the Child-Minding Facility reflects CMU’s commitment to responsive and compassionate governance.

He further expressed the administration’s intent to explore the expansion of the facility, noting that the SDD results indicate that many more employees have young children who may benefit from accessible and structured childcare support within the campus.

According to Dr. Borres, the Child-Minding Facility is one of the identified organization-focused Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) under the 2025 Gender and Development (GAD) Plan and Budget (GPB), forming part of CMU’s strengthened GAD mainstreaming efforts. Its implementation is subject to monitoring by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and compliance with Commission on Audit (COA) regulations.

The facility provides temporary, structured, and developmentally appropriate childcare services to qualified employees and student-parents. Services are offered free of charge, except for food and personal necessities, which must be provided by the parents.

Dr. Borres stated that operational guidelines are in place to ensure safety, accountability, and quality service delivery. The facility serves children aged three to five years old under specific circumstances, with priority given to solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), members of Indigenous Peoples (IPs), and those with limited alternative childcare options.

Children undergo basic health screening upon arrival, including temperature checks, and only authorized guardians may fetch them. The facility is supervised by two designated caregivers, including one with a background in Early Childhood Education (ECE), ensuring that children participate in age-appropriate activities that foster cognitive, social, emotional, and motor development.

Moreover, the Child-Minding Facility also serves as a learning laboratory for students enrolled in the Bachelor in Early Childhood Education (BECEd) program under the College of Education. It likewise provides field exposure opportunities for selected academic subjects from the College of Nursing and the College of Human Ecology.

Hiedy S. Cañete, a CMU employee, welcomed the initiative and described it as a meaningful support system for working parents.

“This initiative is a 10/10 for me. CMU now has a facility that supports working parents like us. A safe space for little ones where parents can have peace of mind knowing they are close by, well cared for, learning, and socializing while we work. One of my biggest hopes has finally become a reality. What a blessing to the CMU community! Kudos to CMU-CGAD!” she shared.

The Child-Minding Facility advances the University’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 4 (Quality Education). [Iyren Dalipe Neri]