Gender and Development

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

TESDA Women’s Center stands as a symbol of the Philippine government commitment towards gender equality. Since its establishment, it has focused on activities that promote the economic empowerment of women and gender equality. Gender and Development (GAD) mainstreaming in TVET is focused towards building awareness on gender equality to increase the participation of women in technical-vocational education and training. Training on gender sensitivity, gender-based program/project planning, gender analysis etc. are all addressed through the TVET GAD Initiatives. The TWC, as secretariat to the TESDA GAD Focal Point System (GADFPS) has a pool of GAD Trainers with expertise in conducting Gender Sensitivity Training (GST), gender analysis, and results-based management program monitoring and evaluation. The TWC has significantly contributed to TESDA’s GADtimpla bronze award, naming TESDA as one of the most gender-responsive government agencies during the awarding on March 28, 2014 by the Philippine Commission on Women.

GAD activities

	Conduct of Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) for Trainees, Parents, and Program Partners;
	Conduct of Capacity Building Programs for TESDA-GAD Focal Persons Network at the Central, Regional, Provincial and Training/School Levels;
	Development and publication of GAD-based modules, manuals, toolkit and advocacy guide materials;
	Participation in Women’s Month activities.

National Women's Month Celebration

The National Women’s Month Celebration has its roots in the recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, a historical event stemming from the organizing efforts of women in the early 20th Century. Between 1909 and 1911, working women in the United States, united under the National Women’s Trade Union League and other groups, protested against low wages, lack of protective legislation, and harsh working conditions.

These demonstrations were a response to the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in March 1911 in New York City, claiming the lives of over 140 working girls, primarily Italian and Jewish immigrants. The subsequent observances of IWD invoked the appalling working conditions and unfair labor practices leading up to the disaster.

Legal Mandates

The passage of the following laws serves as the legal bases for the celebration of National Women’s Month:

Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988, “Declaring the First Week of March of Every Year as Women’s Week and March 8, 1988, and Every Year Thereafter as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.” Signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino on March 1, 1988, it affirmed our solidarity with the United Nations and recognized Filipino women’s contribution to the struggle for national independence, civil liberties, equality, and human rights.

Proclamation No, 227 s. 1988, “Providing for the observance of the Month of March as ‘Women’s Role in History Month’” Signed by President Aquino on March 17, 1988, reinforced the earlier proclamation by emphasizing the role of Filipino women in the social, cultural, economic and political development throughout our history. It provided for a month-long nationwide observance with appropriate ceremonies and activities to be spearheaded by the Commission.

R.A. 6949 s. 1990, “An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known as National Women’s Day” was signed by President Aquino on April 10, 1990. The law further strengthened the impetus for the celebration by declaring every March 8 as a special working holiday and enjoining employees from the government and private sector to participate in activities conducted by their offices.

ACTIVITIES

FRC with NWMC Announcement

March 02, 2026 | TESDA Auditorium

18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women

Violence against women (VAW) and girls is not just a major public health problem but also a grave violation of human rights. It manifests gender inequity, targeting women and girls because of their subordinate status in society. The United Nations defines VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.” Violence and the threats of violence can be experienced by every woman of any age, skin color, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disabilities, economic, and social status.

Global estimates by the World Health Organization indicate that about 1 in 3 women (35%) worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner in their lifetime. In the Philippines, the National Demographic Health Survey 2017 released by the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that 1 in 4 Filipino women, aged 15-49, has experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence from their husbands or partners.

Because VAW appears as one of the country’s pervasive social problems, various measures and mechanisms have been employed and implemented to address it. One of which is the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, an advocacy campaign that is observed annually from November 25 to December 12 as mandated by Proclamation 1172 s. 2006

Gender Sensitivity Training for TESDAns
2023 December 6

Gender Sensitivity Training for Parents and Guardians
2023 December 4

TESDA Women's Center Kicks Off End VAW Campaign 2023
2023 December 1

TRANSPARENCY SEAL