The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) successfully concluded its month-long celebration of the 2026 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC), reaffirming its commitment to advancing women’s awareness, empowerment, and leadership in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
Anchored on this year’s subtheme, “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”, the Council highlighted the vital roles of Filipino women in national development, governance, peacebuilding, and community development through leadership grounded in service, inclusivity, and empowerment.
Held from March 1 to March 31, 2026, the celebration featured a series of activities that provided platforms for meaningful discussions on Gender and Development (GAD), with the aim of fostering a more informed and empowered women of agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
During the kickoff ceremony, Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, Deputy Executive Director and Gender Focal Point System (GFPS) Vice-Chairperson, expressed his support by emphasizing that the celebration serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to ensure that DOST-PCAARRD remains a workplace where gender is never a barrier to opportunity, growth, and leadership. He encouraged employees to participate in the advocacy campaign, reaffirming that each one has a role in creating a supportive and empowering environment.
Aligned with the theme, other campaign activities include the NWMC-themed flag ceremonies, participation in national campaign activities, women empowerment and leadership conferences, and in-house seminars aimed at raising awareness and deepening understanding of Gender and Development (GAD) concepts and the status of gender empowerment at the national and international levels.
Women in AANR purple campaign
For the entire month, DOST-PCAARRD staff participated in a purple campaign. To demonstrate collective action and support for the celebration, employees actively participated in the “Purple Wednesday” campaign by wearing purple attire and accessories every Wednesday throughout the month. The activity also symbolized the agency’s commitment to championing women in AANR by promoting female leadership in research and empowering women in the sector. By wearing purple, the Council recognizes the valuable contributions of women to national development and their role as key drivers of innovation and progress.
Other Women’s Month campaign activities included information drives and the “Purple Your Icon” initiative, during which purple-themed decorations were displayed, including its iconic offering statue adorned with a purple armband.
Tokens and prizes are also given to participants in recognition of their active participation in the mini-games and Q&A activities during the seminars. These included NWMC-themed collaterals, such as customized tote bags and hand fans, which served as wearable advocacy materials further reinforcing DOST-PCAARRD’s commitment to gender equality.
Inter-agency National Women’s Month Celebration
The Council’s GFPS members also participated in the inter-agency NWMC Kickoff Ceremony on March 6, 2026, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Malate, Manila. Led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the event was attended by various national government agencies and local government units, showing a collective role in championing women empowerment in the country.
The Kickoff ceremony is a one-day campaign activity that featured various messages, including the presentation of the “Status on Women in the ASEAN’s perspective” reported by the PCW Chairperson, Ms. Ermelita V. Valdeavilla. She highlighted the country’s progress in leading the ASEAN in closing the gender gaps in different sectors, particularly in education, leadership, and technology. The First Lady Liza A. Marcos also attended the celebration, representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who extended the government’s support and appreciation for women’s roles and leadership.
Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources (WELA) 2026
In bridging gender research to practical and evidence-based AANR innovations, the DOST-PCAARRD co-organized the 4th International Conference on Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (WELA) 2026 on March 17-19, 2026, at the Cavite State University (CvSU) in Indang, Cavite. Themed, “Inclusive Leadership and Foresight for Sustainable Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources,” the conference explored gender transformative approaches and forward-looking strategies in the AANR sector.
One of the highlights of the conference is the special session led by DOST-PCAARRD titled, “Mainstreaming Gender in Agricultural Innovation: Institutional Platforms, Assessment Tools, and Inclusive Value Chains.” This session featured the Council’s GAD Research and Development agenda, along with its four GAD projects which highlighted an integrated approach to advancing women’s empowerment and leadership through gender-responsive institutions, innovative tools, and inclusive value chain development. The session was moderated and documented by the Council’s GAD Secretariat.
The three-day conference brought together local and international researchers, faculty members, students, and advocates who share a common commitment to promoting women’s leadership and contributions in the AANR sector. To sustain its momentum in advancing gender-responsive innovations and inclusive development, DOST-PCAARRD remains committed to participating in similar women-centered innovation conferences and activities in the sector.
Basic gender sensitivity orientation
DOST-PCAARRD also conducted a basic gender sensitivity orientation on March 23, 2026, at Elvira O. Tan Hall. Intended for all its new employees hired from January 2025 to March 2026, the orientation aims to strengthen the Council’s gender mainstreaming initiatives by raising awareness and promoting safe spaces and gender-responsive practices in the workplace. It also serves as part of the onboarding process to ensure that all staff have a foundational understanding of gender concepts and workplace inclusivity.
During the opening remarks, Ms. Meliza F. Abeleda, officer-in-charge of the Socio-Economics Research Division, emphasized that the orientation is an important step toward building an inclusive, respectful, and responsive office environment that meets the diverse needs of people. She also expressed hope that the training would serve as a strong foundation for participants to contribute to DOST-PCAARRD’s mission of advancing gender-responsive and inclusive AANR sector.
This was followed by a discussion led by Dr. Blesshe L. Querijero, member of the Philippine Commission on Women’s National Gender Resource Pool (PCW-NGRP), who served as the resource person. Dr. Querijero discussed fundamental GAD concepts, aiming to provide a basic understanding of sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and self-expression. She also highlighted the relevance of gender sensitivity orientation to the Council’s initiatives in gender-responsive research and development and capacity building.
Women’s Wellness: Seminar on women’s health
The campaign concluded with a women’s wellness activity. In partnership with PCAARRD Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC), the Council successfully conducted the Women’s Health Seminar on March 30, 2026. The seminar aims to promote awareness, improve health-related knowledge, and provide practical practices that support women’s well-being.
The seminar was officially opened by PMPC GAD Focal Ms. Susan L. Garcia, who delivered opening remarks highlighting the cooperative's support for the advocacy, particularly in empowering women through equitable services. She also emphasized that women’s health is essential for advancing equity, fostering economic growth, and promoting overall societal well-being.
The seminar continued with a discussion by Dr. Teri-Marie P. Laude, a licensed physician and assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She discussed leading health-related issues faced by women which includes cervical and breast cancer. She also provided practical tips for early prevention and encouraged participants to undergo regular check-ups and prioritize their health and well-being.
Participated in by several DOST-PCAARRD employees, the seminar discussed the importance of awareness of common health issues among women, including reproductive health, maternal care, and nutrition. The session also served as a platform for exchanging dialogues and related stories about the situation of women in the Philippines.
As a way forward, DOST-PCAARRD aims to sustain its gender mainstreaming initiatives and continue to capacitate its employees through GAD-related training and women’s welfare seminars, in compliance with Republic Act No. 9710 - Magna Carta of Women.