On 17 March 2025, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) convened the First Quarter Meeting of the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS), Technical Working Group (TWG), and Secretariat at the TPB Banaue Rice Terraces and Tubbataha Reef Activity Rooms.
The meeting began with a refresher on the roles and responsibilities of the reconstituted GFPS-TWG and Secretariat, which serve as the primary body overseeing gender mainstreaming within TPB. The GFPS is responsible for policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring of gender-related programs and activities.
To enhance financial management and optimize GAD budget utilization, the committee discussed key strategies for budget planning and integrating GAD initiatives into the agency’s broader organizational framework. The TWG also reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring and auditing GAD-related efforts within TPB’s Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) to ensure alignment with gender mainstreaming goals.
The meeting also covered the submission of the 2025 GAD Plan and Budget, emphasizing compliance with the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) requirements. Upcoming GAD initiatives include training sessions on GAD tools, gender analysis, executive briefings, gender statistics, gender and tourism, and GAD plan and budget development. Participation in seminars and workshops organized by PCW, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), and the Civil Service Institute (CSI) was also encouraged.
As part of TPB’s commitment to gender-responsive tourism, the meeting highlighted the recent Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiative in Zamboanga and Basilan from 14 to 18 January 2025. This program empowered and supported women’s organizations through capacity-building assistance and community promotion. The discussion also covered documentation guidelines for GAD mainstreaming in TPB PAPs, including interview protocols and event assignments for GAD representatives.
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of TPB’s planned activities for Women’s Month 2025, led by the Personnel and Human Resources Development Division (PHRDD). The lineup includes a visual storytelling feature showcasing the experiences of TPB personnel, a self-defense workshop to equip participants with essential self-protection skills, and a self-care fair promoting wellness and holistic well-being. To encourage health and fitness, dance fitness classes will be conducted alongside TPB’s sponsorship of an all-women’s run. Additionally, a children’s educational excursion will be organized to provide young minds with a meaningful learning experience, and a film screening will feature inspiring stories of women’s achievements and contributions.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of everyone’s commitment to advancing gender and development (GAD) within TPB, ensuring that gender mainstreaming remains a core component of the agency’s initiatives.
