The Department of Agriculture (DA) family joins the rest of the country in celebrating the 2021 National Women’s Month with the theme, “Juana Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya!”
“Our celebration’s theme magnifies women’s role in building an industrialized and globally competitive agriculture to fuel our economic recovery from the ongoing pandemic,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said during the kick-off ceremony on March 8, which is also observed as the International Women’s Day.
Recognizing the various contributions of women for development, Secretary Dar highlighted the most recent efforts of the “OneDA” family that will help fulfill the paradigm shift in the agriculture and fisheries sector.
He said the Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s (ACPC) “Financial Assistance for Women in Agriculture and Fisheries” or “AgriPinay” offers women greater access to credit for their agribusiness undertakings. The country’s first-ever Agro-industrial Business Corridor (ABC) to be established in New Clark City will also serve as the first gender and socially inclusive seed technology park.
The agri chief added that the DA’s gender-inclusive programs and policies address the systemic issues that discourage women’s participation in agriculture and agribusiness such as deprived access to farm inputs, credit, market know-how, and land ownership.
“Let us acknowledge that the Philippine economy as with our agriculture sector is predominantly women. I call on the passion of GAD (Gender and Development) and GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) offices to continue influencing other relevant agents in society on the need to capacitate women not just as participants in enhancing the agri-fishery sector but as leaders,” Secretary Dar said.
He added that the successes of the GAD and GESI offices are only the beginning and this year’s celebration would hopefully widen the understanding that women are important partners in achieving development even after the pandemic.
He also encouraged every Filipino to get engaged in food production in line with the DA’s Plant Plant Plant umbrella program.
“Nawa’y magkaron tayo ng pagdiriwang na magtutungo sa konkretong pagbabago para sa pantay na oportunidad sa bawat magsasaka, mangingisda, at agripreneur na Pilipino. Let us fight this Covid-19 pandemic by producing not only enough food but also nutritious and affordable food,” the secretary said.
DA High-Value Crops and Rural Credit Undersecretary and GAD Focal Point System Chairperson Evelyn Laviña and GESI Office Director Annray Rivera joined the agri chief along with other DA officials during the event, which was attended by ambassadors from the diplomatic corps.
In line with the Women’s Month celebration, DA offices will hold a series of webinars disseminating information on the various programs and projects aimed at increasing female engagements in the agriculture sector. Female-led enterprises will also be featured in every Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketplace nationwide. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
