GENDER RESPONSIVENESS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT

OF SAN ILDEFONSO ILOCOS SUR

A Research Proposal
Presented to the
Faculty of the College of Political Science
University of Northern Philippines
Tamag, Vigan City

In Partial of Fulfillment
Of the Requirements in the
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Political Data
for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Enrico John T. Ballesca

Introduction

The Local Government Units (LGU) of San Ildefonso are duty-bound to implement laws
and carry out their mandates according to what the law prescribes. The fundamental law of the land
– the 1987 Constitution – says that “the state recognizes the role of women in nation building, and
shall ensure the fundamental equality before law of women and men”. Further “the state shall
protect working women by providing safe and healthy working conditions, taking into account
their material functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and
enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. The LGUs lay out
developmental goals that will make gender equity innate in government programs and policies.

These provisions have been made operational through various executive actions and
legislation. Republic Act (RA) 7192, directs all government agencies to institute measures that
would eliminate gender biases in government policies, programs and projects, and to ensure that
women are given means to participate fully in the development and nation building. It also requires
the allocation of substantial portion of all Official Development Assistance (ODA) to women and
development projects starting with at least 5% in the 1st year of the implementation of the law, and
gradually increasing in subsequent years.

The Philippine Government with the help of the society groups also formulated the plans
for Gender Responsive Development (PPGD) (1995-2025), a 30-year perspective plan for
integrating women in the development process. Adopted through Executive Order No. 273, the
PPGD gives substance to RA 7192 and other laws for the advancement of women and gender
equality in public service and governance.

Local Government Code, also puts emphasis in the role of women in the community
development. It has a provision for women’s representation in local policy making in the provincial,
city, and municipal councils. Sections 16 and 17 require LGUs to promote general welfare and to
provide basic services and facilities for their constituents, including the discharge of devolved
responsibilities pursuant to the Code. To make this operational, the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) has joined the National Commission on the role of Filipino women
(NCRFW) and the Department of Budget Management (DBM) in ensuring a joint Memorandum
Circular 2001-01 giving guidelines on how the GAD approach can be
incorporated into the local planning and budgeting system through formulating GAD Plans.
Recently, a time-slice of the PPGT was devised into a Framework Plan for Women (2001-2004).
The plan gives flesh to the policy of women and development and guides Government agencies
and Local Government Unit in preparation of their GAD Plans and budgets.

The performance of LGUs is measured in terms of how they practice good governance.
Furthermore, LGU cannot achieve good local governance without being transparent,
participatory, and equitable and gender responsive. The following are the reasons why gender –
responsiveness can contribute to the practice of good local governance,

First, gender-responsiveness makes the LGU more effective by enabling it to identify the
particular needs of its constituents and address them accordingly; second, being gender responsive
makes the LGU more efficient in that it encourages the mobilization and involvement of women
in decision-making processes and implementation of LGUs programs and projects and finally,
only gender-responsive governance will make LGU operations equitable, in that it provides women
and men equal opportunity to benefit from the fruits of development in the locality.

However, despite of the existing mandates in the implementation of GAD, there are gender
concerns and issues in local governance work which are often overlooked, simply because the
officials and leaders think that their work has nothing to do with gender. Often, the argument is
that the policies they introduce apply to men and women, and that their work relates to the
economic or technical aspects of governance and not to women in particular.

On the contrary, every program, activity, or intervention has potential gender concerns
and issues:

1. All development work eventually aims at serving people, women and men.

2. Each activity of a development project or plan can affect women and men differently
because the roles in the community differ.

3. Development interventions can change gender relations by creating (the same or

different) opportunities and conditions for women and men.
4. Projects that ignore 50% of the economically active population will not lead to
development, much less equitable development.

A gender-responsive LGU therefore, takes into consideration how its programs, policies
and other development initiatives affect both women and men. It consciously generates support
and involves women and men in this development process and specifically identifying their roles
in these undertakings. This is the essence of being gender-responsive.

The integration of gender concerns in developments and creation of a gender responsive

enabling environment has increased at the national level. However, many LGUs have yet to fully
understand and apply GAD principle at their level. Now, does LGU San Ildefonso gender
responsiveness consider its remarkable achievements in the delivery of basic services?
Therefore, it is then the main purpose of this study to determine the Gender-Responsiveness of
the Municipality of San Ildefonso.
Significance of the Study

The study is part of the development pursuit towards achieving the city’s vision of
becoming a genuinely “Gender Responsive Municipality” by measuring how its component
barangays practice gender responsive governance. This study will be of great value to the field of
Political Science in its endeavors to promote good governance. Also, this study tries to show how
the grassroots of our government operate on achieving a gender responsive society

Statement of the Problem

General Problem:

Do the Local Government Unit of San Ildefonso, address issues and problems involving
gender among its constituents and workforce?

Specific Problems:

Are the programs, projects and activities of the Municipality of San Ildefonso current
Gender and Development (GAD) Council responsive to the gender needs of its
constituents?

Are the funds allocated on these programs, projects and activities utilized efficiently?

How do the constituents of Local Government of San Ildefonso respond to their

respective barangay’s gender responsive projects?
Conceptual Framework

This research will use the systems theory by David Easton. The adaptation of
systems theory to political science was conceived by Easton in 1953. Easton published
his books on political models in there volumes namely, “The Political System” (1964),
“A Framework for Political Analysis” (1965) and “A Systems Analysis of Political Life”
(1979). It illustrates the political system as a never-ending cycle. The systems theory
model aims to represent how the political system interacts with the environment within
and outside the society.

According to this concept, it can be observed that input produces demands and
expectations. These will approach the political system; hence, processes will happen to
respond to the demands. These processes will result to an output. Afterwards, this output
will create reactions within and outside the society and therefore create a feedback.
Thus, new demands and expectations will occur and the cycle goes on again. If the
system functions as portrayed, it means that the political system is stable. However, if
this breaks down, dysfunctional political system arises
Operational Definition of Terms

GENDER - refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women, men, girls, and boys. This
covers the standards, behaviors, and roles that come with being a woman, man, girl, or boy, as well
as interpersonal interactions. Gender as a social construct varies by civilization and may change over
time.

RESPONSIVENESS - being able to react quickly

LOCAL GOVERNMENT - The authority to select and carry out measures within a constrained
territory within a state that is smaller than the whole state. Every nation has some kind of local
government, but to a lesser extent. Local self-government is significant because it places a premium
on the locality's ability to decide and act.

CONSTITUTION - is a collection of basic ideas or established precedents that serve as the legal
foundation for a polity, organization, or other form of institution and often dictate how that entity
should be governed.

DEVELOPMENT - is a process that results in the growth, advancement, or positive transformation

of physical, economic, environmental, social, or demographic components. The objective of
development is to improve the standard of living and the quality of life of the people, as well as to
create or expand local regional income and job possibilities, while minimizing damage to the
environment's resources.

FAMILY - is a group of individuals who are linked by consanguinity (known birth) or affinity (by
marriage or other relationship). Families exist to promote the well-being of its members and of
society as a whole.

EQUALITY - a desired level of consistency in treatment or status among people in positions to

influence either. Recognition of the right to equality is often extracted from the privileged by the
disadvantaged.

CONSTITUENTS - is a resident of a certain constituency, particularly one who is eligible to vote

in elections.

AGENCIES - An agency is a corporation, firm, or organization that specializes in providing a

certain kind of service. Agencies often, but not always, operate on behalf of another organisation,
corporation, or individual. Additionally, we use the phrase to refer to an intervention or activity that
has a certain consequence.

DEPARTMENT - a section of a larger organization, such as a government, institution, corporation,

or retail establishment, that focuses on a particular topic, item, or area of activity.

BUDGETS - is a forecast of income and costs for a future period of time that is often produced and
re-evaluated on a quarterly basis. Budgets may be created for an individual, a group of individuals, a
company, a government, or almost anything else that generates and spends money.
PLANS - a collection of choices regarding how to proceed in the future

EQUITABLE - treating everyone fairly and in the same way

PROGRAMS - A system of services, opportunities, or initiatives that are often created to address a
social need.

POLICIES - are norms, principles, standards, or frameworks that an organization adopts or designs
in order to accomplish long-term objectives.

LAWS - the set of norms that a nation or society accepts as governing its members' behavior and
that it may enforce via the enforcement of punishments.

LOCALITY - a location, site, or region, with or without reference to the objects or people included
inside or to events that occurred there: They relocated to another locale. locale is the condition or
reality of being local or having a location: every material item must have locality.
Methodology

a. Population and Sample

Subjects of the Study

The 72 employees of LGU San Ildefonso Ilocos Sur were the Population of the Study. The
sample was derived using the Lynch et. Al as shown in table 2, 60 respondents was the sample
participants in the study.
POPULATION IN LGU OF SAN
ILDEFONSO

Mayors Office 8

Treasury 8

Assessor 5

Budget 4

MPDC 4

RHU 13

Agriculture 5

Engineering 6

MSWD 11

LCR 2

Accounting 6

TOTAL 72

SAMPLE; LYNCH ET AL

Mayors Office 8 7

Treasury 8 7

Assessor 5 4

Budget 4 3

MPDC 4 3

RHU 13 11
 Agriculture 5 4

Engineering 6 5

MSWD 11 9

LCR 2 2

Accounting 6 5

TOTAL 72 60

B. Data Gathering Instrument

The research was undertaken following the Gender-Responsive LGU (GeRL) Self-Assessment
Instrument. The GeRL was answered by 60 respondents. The respondents were Municipal
Councilors, MPDC or the Administrator, Local Health Officer or RHU, Budget Officer, Social
Welfare Officer (MSWD), Agricultural Officer, PNP Representative, Local NGOs, and Other
relevant/key officers/representatives.

C. Data Gathering Procedure

The GeRL Self-Assessment Tool is divided into three (3) parts;

Part I

Basic Information. This part aims to identify GAD-related socio-economic data of the
LGU. Data generated from will serve as background information for the succeeding parts of the
instrument

Part II

LGU Basic Services. This part enumerates gender-responsiveness indicators, which the
respondent is expected to rate. The scores for the indicators will be used to determine the overall
capacity of the LGU to deliver and employ gender-responsive services and strategies. The general
description of the levels in the scale is as follows:

Scale Range Description

1 1.00-1.49 Does not manifest gender responsiveness

2 1.50-2.49 Shows early manifestation of gender-responsiveness
3 1.50-2.49 Have adequate manifestations of gender responsiveness
4 3.50-4.49 Manifest a systematic approach and moving towards advanced
stages of being gender responsiveness

5 4.50-5.00 Has an institutionalized and comprehensive approach in making the LGU

gender responsive
Part III

Other Information. This part asks the respondent to enumerate items relating to the LGU’s
responsiveness to GAD. Answers to these questions will help explain and/or expound on answers
given in previous parts and will also serve as basis for recommendations for capability building of
the LGU. Descriptive statistics was employed particularly mean in order to get the ratings with
regards to the level of gender responsiveness. Frequency counts and percentages were also used in
determining the profile and other programs and activities of LGU San Ildefonso

D. Statistical Treatment

The data were treated by the use of the following statistical treatment:

1. Frequency and Percentage – this was used to described the profile of the respondents.

2. Mean – this was to described and determine the gender responsiveness of the
respondents.
Gender Responsiveness in Local Government Unit of San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur

The questionnaire prepared by the researcher will be given to the members of the Gender
and Development Council in LOCAL GOVERNMENT of SAN ILDEFONSO. This
questionnaire will focus on the development and implementation of gender responsive basic
services, facilities, programs and other relevant factors as indicated below.
SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE

5 – has institutionalized and comprehensive approach in making the LGU gender

responsive
4 – manifest a systematic approach and moving towards advanced stages of being gender
responsive
3 – has adequate manifestation of gender-responsiveness
2 – shows early manifestation of gender-responsive
1 – does not manifest gender responsiveness

QUESTIONS 5 4 3 2 1

1. Health and Social Services

• Availability of Day Care Center

• Access to Safe Drinking Water

• Presence of Garbage Disposal System

• Availability of Multi-Purpose Hall

• Availability of Barangay Health Center

• Availability of Maternal Care Services

• Accessibility of Family Planning Service using the

Reproductive Health Framework

• Accessibility of Disease Control Program for Sexually

Transmitted Diseases or HIV AIDS (could be an
information dissemination program)

• Accessibility of Pap Smear Services for Women

2. Public Safety and Security Services

 • Availability of Separate Toilets for Men and Women in
Barangay – managed/ owned facilities by the
barangay (barangay hall, multipurpose hall, health
center, covered court)

• Presence of Women and Children’s Desk

• Availability of Services Related to the Prevention of

Domestic Violence

3. Economic Development Services

• Presence of Credit Programs Accessible to Women and

Men

• Formation of Cooperatives/Form of Credit Facilities

• Presence of Product Development and Marketing

Assistance

4. Human Resource Development Services

• Conduct of Livelihood Skills Trainings Programs

• Conduct of Gender Sensitivity Training/Orientation for

the Constituents

• Conduct of Orientation Program on Domestic Violence

for the Constituents

5. Development of Barangay Officials and Personnel

in Relation to Being a Gender Responsive Barangay

• Conduct of Gender Sensitivity Training/Orientation for

Barangay Officials and Personnel

• • Conduct of Orientation Program on Domestic

Violence for Barangay Officials and
Personnel
 • Conduct of Gender Mainstreaming Seminar for
Barangay Officials and Personnel

6. Presence of Organized Committees/Working Groups

• Presence of Organized Barangay Council for the

Protection of Children (BCPC)

• Presence of Women, Children and Family Committee in

the Sangguniang Barangay

• Presence of Organized Katarungang Pambarangay

• Presence of Functional Barangay GAD Council

7. Development and Implementation of Plans, Strategies and Resources

• Development and Use of Sex Disaggregated Data

• Development and Implementation of GAD Plan

• Allocation and Utilization of GAD Budget

• Mobilization of Additional Resources

• Involvement of Women and Men in Barangay

Development Programs

• Implementation of Information, Education and

Communication (IEC) strategies (flyers,
leaflets,
posters, etc.)

8. Presence and Implementation of Local Ordinances/Barangay Resolutions and Policies

• Presence and Implementation of Barangay Council

Resolutions/Ordinances Related to GAD
 • Presence and Implementation of Local Code for
Children

• Presence and Implementation of Domestic Violence

Related Laws

WORKSHEET | CODING
Gender Responsiveness in the Local Government of San Ildefonso

RES A CI G ITEM NO 1 ITE ITE ITE ITE ITE ITEM ITE

PO G VI E M M M M M NO 7 M
ND E L N NO NO NO NO NO NO
EN S D 2 3 4 5 6 8
T T E
A R
T
U
S
LEGEND GENDER

CIVIL STATUS 1 - MALE

1 – SINGLE 2 - FEMALE

2 – MARRIED

3 – WIDOWED

4 – SEPERATED

LIKERT SCALE

5 – has institutionalized and comprehensive approach in making the LGU gender

responsive
4 – manifest a systematic approach and moving towards advanced stages of being
gender responsive

3 – has adequate manifestation of gender-responsive

2 – shows early manifestation of gender-responsive

1 – does not manifest gender responsive

DUMMY TABLE

TABLE 1

Distribution of the respondents according to age

AGE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
 TABLE 2

Distribution of the respondents according to gender

GENDER FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

TABLE 3

Distribution of the respondents according to gender

CIVIL STATUS FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE