The Department of The Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently issued certification to Valenzuela City for its compliance to the provisions of the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2013-01, otherwise known as the “Localization of the Magna Carta of Women.”

Compliance to this mandate signifies a capacitated local government unit that promotes women empowerment, gender equality, and gender responsive governance.

To obtain the certification, members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS) prudently worked on realigning the GAD Plan and Budget for calendar year 2016. Major city projects were properly qualified in terms of their gender responsiveness by utilizing DILG’s recommended tool – Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG).

For 2016, Valenzuela City government has attributed budget for GAD amounting to Php155,000,000.00 that is 5% of the city’s annual budget. The operative word “attribute” implies that of all the crafted city government’s projects, GAD GFPS has rightfully identified and justified the plans and programs which were worthy to be acknowledged as gender sensitive.