Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
The University, through the Center for Gender and Development (CGAD), is currently conducting a two-day Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF) and Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) Orientation-Workshop on May 22–23, 2025, at the GAD Function Hall.
The orientation workshop aimed to deepen the understanding of the GMEF and HGDG tools among university stakeholders to enhance the gender responsiveness of CMU’s programs and projects. This initiative was in response to the request of the Office of the University Planning and Development.
Participants included key representatives from various offices and units, such as the University Research Director, University Extension Director, staff from the Office of University Planning and Development (OUPD), members of the University Research, Development, and Extension Council (URDEC), College Extension Coordinators, and GAD Focal Persons.
CGAD Director Dr. Hazel Marie R. Boloron facilitated the preliminaries, followed by a session on the Review of GAD Concepts led by Dr. Susie Daza. Other sessions tackled the review of gender analysis and tools, the application of GMEF, and the integration of HGDG in project planning.
Moreover, Day 2 will focus on reviewing the elements of HGDG and PIMME (Project Implementation, Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation). Part of the program is a write-shop on gender-responsive project design and proposal-making, where each group presents their outputs for feedback and critiquing.
Meanwhile, participants shared their impressions on the training:
“At first, I thought GAD was just about women empowerment. But there’s more to it—deeper knowledge that we need to learn and acquire,” Ms. Catherine Joy Paulino, Extension Office
Another participant from OUPD, Architect Jacky Jean C. Vinluan shared on how the training helped broaden their concepts about GAD: “It has helped us consider factors that could help disseminate information and on our planning and implementation. The tool gave us an understanding of the overall considerations for Gender and Development advocacy.”
This capacity-building effort underscores CMU’s commitment to inclusive and gender-responsive education, research, and extension programs. University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe, who issued the memorandum for the said training, affirmed the university’s continuous pursuit of development that respects and integrates gender equality principles. [Iyren Dalipe Neri]
