by Vency D. Bulayungan

HUNGDUAN, Ifugao, March 28  - Acknowledging and respecting the time  honored democratic tenet that men and women in a civil society are equal, the local government unit here adopted the Gender and Development Code for Hungduan, Ifugao and provided funds thereof.

The municipal government here recognizes the various needs of its diverse and ethnic population hence it is gender sensitive and gender fair.

The significant initiative is aimed at mainstreaming women’s concern, ensure the fundamental equality before the law of men and women, open a wider arena for their active participatory role in development process, and provide women rights and opportunities equal to that of men.

The code is not only substantially supported by legal basis but it is likewise backed up by biblical and moral bases. The LGU believes that the book of Genesis says that God created woman not from the head of man so as not to prevail upon him, neither from the feet so as not to be subordinated by him but from one of the ribs so as to be equal with him.

In the light of gender biases and inequalities, the municipal government formulated programs and strategies such as mainstream gender concerns in sectoral development plan, policies, and programs; intensify awareness campaign on gender issues and concerns, and strengthen GO-PO-NGO partnership to maximize the effectiveness of programs and services addressing Gender and Development (GAD) concerns among others.


The LGU also identified some inequalities happening to women such as battering; commodification of women; discrimination against women; feminization of poverty among others.

The municipal government here further showed its support to women in this town by creating the municipal integrated population, gender and development office to realize the provisions of this code. It shall be the coordinating, regulating, and monitoring office of the municipal government of Hungduan which shall focus on gender sensitive projects and activities. *(PIA CAR./ Ifugao)