Gender and Development

Gender and development is an interdisciplinary field of research and applied study that implements a feminist
approach to understanding and addressing the disparate impact that economic development and globalization
have on people based upon their location, gender, class background, and other socio-political identities. A
strictly economic approach to development views a country's development in quantitative terms such as job
creation, inflation control, and high employment – all of which aim to improve the ‘economic wellbeing’ of a
country and the subsequent quality of life for its people. In terms of economic development, quality of life is
defined as access to necessary rights and resources including but not limited to quality education, medical
facilities, affordable housing, clean environments, and low crime rate. Gender and development consider many
of these same factors; however, gender and development emphasizes efforts towards understanding how
multifaceted these issues are in the entangled context of culture, government, and globalization. Accounting for
this need, gender and development implements ethnographic research, research that studies a specific culture
or group of people by physically immersing the researcher into the environment and daily routine of those
being studied, in order to comprehensively understand how development policy and practices affect the
everyday life of targeted groups or areas.
The history of this field dates back to the 1950s, when studies of economic development first brought women
into its discourse, focusing on women only as subjects of welfare policies – notably those centered on food aid
and family planning. The focus of women in development increased throughout the decade, and by 1962, the
United Nations General Assembly called for the Commission on the Status of Women to collaborate with the
Secretary General and a number of other UN sectors to develop a longstanding program dedicated to women's
advancement in developing countries. A decade later, feminist economist Ester Boserup’s pioneering book
Women’s Role in Economic Development (1970) was published, radically shifting perspectives of development
and contributing to the birth of what eventually became the gender and development field.

Theoretical Approach
The Gender and Development (GAD) approach focuses on the socially constructed differences between men
and women, the need to challenge existing gender roles and relations, and the creation and effects of class
differences on development. This approach was majorly influenced by the writings of academic scholars such
as Oakley (1972) and Rubin (1975), who argue the social relationship between men and women have
systematically subordinated women, along with economist scholars Lourdes Benería and Amartya Sen (1981),
who assess the impact of colonialism on development and gender inequality. They state that colonialism
imposed more than a 'value system' upon developing nations, it introduced a system of economics 'designed
to promote capital accumulation which caused class differentiation'.

GAD departs from WID, which discussed women's subordination and lack of inclusion in discussions of
international development without examining broader systems of gender relations. Influenced by this work, by
the late 1970s, some practitioners working in the development field questioned focusing on women in isolation.
GAD challenged the WID focus on women as an important ‘target group’ and ‘untapped resources’ for
development. GAD marked a shift in thinking about the need to understand how women and men are socially
constructed and how ‘those constructions are powerfully reinforced by the social activities that both define and
are defined by them.’ GAD focuses primarily on the gendered division of labor and gender as a relation of
power embedded in institutions. Consequently, two major frameworks, ‘Gender roles’ and ‘social relations
analysis’, are used in this approach. 'Gender roles' focuses on the social construction of identities within the
household; it also reveals the expectations from ‘maleness and femaleness’ in their relative access to
resources. 'Social relations analysis' exposes the social dimensions of hierarchical power relations embedded
in social institutions, as well as its determining influence on ‘the relative position of men and women in society.’
This relative positioning tends to discriminate against women.

Unlike WID, the GAD approach is not concerned specifically with women, but with the way in which a society
assigns roles, responsibilities and expectations to both women and men. GAD applies gender analysis to
uncover the ways in which men and women work together, presenting results in neutral terms of economics
and efficiency. In an attempt to create gender equality (denoting women having the same opportunities as
men, including ability to participate in the public sphere), GAD policies aim to redefine traditional gender role
expectations. Women are expected to fulfill household management tasks, home-based production as well as
bearing and raising children and caring for family members. The role of a wife is largely interpreted as 'the
responsibilities of motherhood.' Men, however, are expected to be breadwinners, associated with paid work
and market production. In the labor market, women tend to earn less than men. For instance, 'a study by the
Equality and Human Rights Commission found massive pay inequities in some United Kingdom's top finance
companies, women received around 80 percent less performance-related pay than their male colleagues.' In
response to pervasive gender inequalities, Beijing Platform for Action established gender mainstreaming in
1995 as a strategy across all policy areas at all levels of governance for achieving gender equality.

GAD has been largely utilized in debates regarding development but this trend is not seen in the actual
practice of developmental agencies and plans for development. Caroline Moser claims WID persists due to the
challenging nature of GAD, but Shirin M. Rai counters this claim noting that the real issue lies in the tendency
to overlap WID and GAD in policy. Therefore, it would only be possible if development agencies fully adopted
GAD language exclusively. Caroline Moser developed the Moser Gender Planning Framework for GAD-
oriented development planning in the 1980s while working at the Development Planning Unit of the University
of London. Working with Caren Levy, she expanded it into a methodology for gender policy and planning. The
Moser framework follows the Gender and Development approach in emphasizing the importance of gender
relations. As with the WID-based Harvard Analytical Framework, it includes a collection of quantitative
empirical facts. Going further, it investigates the reasons and processes that lead to conventions of access and
control. The Moser Framework includes gender roles identification, gender needs assessment, disaggregating
control of resources and decision making within the household, planning for balancing work and household
responsibilities, distinguishing between different aims in interventions and involving women and gender-aware
organizations in planning.

The Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710) defines Gender and Development Program (GAD)
as the development perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free
from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human
potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be reflected in development
choices and contends that women are active agents of development, not just passive recipients of
development.

GAD focuses on Gender Mainstreaming or a strategy for:

 Making women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design,
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies, programs and projects in all social, political,
civil, and economic spheres so that women and men benefit equally.
 Assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or
programs in all areas and at all levels

Background and Pertinent Laws

Executive Order No. 273 – Approving and Adopting the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive
Development (PPGD) 1995-2025

Executive Order (EO) 273, issued on September 9, 1995 and signed by President Fidel V. Ramos, adopted the
Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development IPPGD) 1995-2025. The PPGD 1995-2025 is a 30 year
perspective plan that outlines the policies, strategies, programs and projects that the government must adopt
to enable women to participate in and benefit from national development while EO 273 directs all government
agencies, departments, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities, including government owned and controlled
corporations, at the national level, sub-national and local levels to:

1. To take appropriate steps to ensure the full implementation of the policies/strategies and programs/projects
outlined in the Plan;
2. To institutionalize Gender and Development (GAD) efforts in government by incorporaing GAD concens, as
spelled out in the Plan, in their planning, programming and budgetting processes, but specifically to:
Include/incorporate GAD concerns in the :

 formulation, assessment and updating of their annual agency plans;

 formulation, assessment and updating of their inputs to the medium/long-term
develipment plans, and
 preparation of their inputs to sectoral performance assessment reports, public
investment plans and other similar documents.

Incorporate and reflect GAD concerns in their:

 agency performance commitments contracts indicating key result areas for GAD as well as in their
annual performance report to the President, and
 annual Agency Budget Proposals and work and financial plans

Republic Act No. 8760 – General Appropriations Act (GAA) On Programs/Projects Related to Gender
and Development (GAD)

Section 27:
“All concerned government entities shall submit their GAD plan to the National Commission on Women for
review. They shall likewise submit annual reports to Congress, the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM), National Commission on Women (NCW), indicating the accomplishments and amounts utilized to
implement programs/projects/activities addressing gendere issues and women empowerment. The evaluaton
of agencies utilization of the GAD budget shall be performance based.”
Republic Act No. 9710 – An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women

Section 36: Gender Mainstreaming as a Strategy for Implementing the Magna Carta of Women

“All government departments, including their attached agencies, offices, bureaus, state universities and
colleges, government owned and controlled coporations, local government units and all other government
instrumentalities shall adopt gender mainstreaming as a strategy to promote women’s human rights and
eliminate gender discrimination in their systems, structures, policies, programs, processes and procedures.

Section 36-B: Creation and/or Strengthening of the GAD Focal Points (GFP)
“All concerned government agencies and instrumentalities mentioned above shall establish or strengthen their
GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) or a similar GAD mechanism to catalyze and accelerate gender
mainstreaming within the agency.”

In addition to Joint Circular 99-4 issued by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the
DBM and NCRFW, additional sets of guidelines, as deemed necessary, shall be formulated, for the
implementation of GAD-related programs/projects/activities.

The Philippine Commission on Women defined Gender and Development (GAD) as the development
perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence,
respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials.

In order to strengthen efforts in mainstreaming gender and development concerns in all DOLE programs,
projects, and activities as provided for in Republic Act No. 9710 (Magna Carta of Women), the DOLE GAD
Focal Point System (GFPS) was reconstituted in 2017, with the DOLE-Bureau of Local Employment as
member of the GFP Technical Working Group.

While members of the GFP Technical Working Group shall facilitate the gender mainstreaming efforts of DOLE
through GAD planning, budgeting, and implementation process, the DOLE-Bureau of Local Employment shall
facilitate and ensure inclusion of gender perspective in support to policy development and improvement in
employment facilitation and labor market information monitoring and interventions.

Moreover, the Bureau shall continue to raise the awareness of its employees on gender-related issues and
develop GAD and Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (Anti-VAWC) initiatives pursuant to the Magna
Carta of Women and Republic Act No. 9262, mandating the Inter-Agency Council on VAWC to formulate
programs and projects to eliminate VAW. Various activities will also be developed to promote economic
empowerment and work-life balance in the workplace.

What is Gender and Development

Philippine Commission on Women defined Gender and Development as the development perspective and
process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human
rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials.

How Gender and Development started?

Gender and Development was developed in the 1980’s as an alternative to the Women in Development (WID)
approach.
Unlike WID, the GAD approach is not concerned specifically with women, but with the way in which a society
assigns roles, responsibilities, and expectations to both men and women.
GAD applies gender analysis to uncover the ways in which men and women work together, presenting results
in neutral terms of economics and competence.
GAD focus primarily on two major frameworks, Gender Roles and Social Relations Analysis. Gender role focus
on social construction of identities within the household, it also reveals the expectations from ‘maleness and
femaleness’ in their relative access to resources. Social relations analysis exposes the social dimensions of
hierarchical power relations imbedded in social institutions; also it’s determining influence on ‘the relative
position of men and women in society. In an attempt to create gender equality, (denoting women having same
opportunities as men, including ability to participate in the public sphere) GAD policies aim to redefine
traditional gender role expectations.

Gender and Development in the Philippines

Philippine Plan for Gender and Development, 1995-2025, is a National Plan that addresses, provides and
pursues full equality and development for men and women. Approved and adopted by former President Fidel
V. Ramos as Executive No. 273, on September 8, 1995, it is the successor of the Philippine Development Plan
for Women, 1989-1992 adopted by Executive No. 348 of February 17, 1989.

Three years after, DENR Administrative Order No. 98 – 15 dated May 27, 1998 came up as the Revised
Guidelines on the Implementation of Gender and Development (GAD) Activities in the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in order to strengthen the DENR GAD Focal Point System and
accomplishing the GAD vision “Partnership of Empowered Men and Women for Sustainable Development”.

Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women was approved on August 14, 2009
which mandates non-discriminatory and pro-gender equality and equity measures to enable women’s
participation in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies and plan for national, regional and
local development.

A Memorandum Circular No. 2011 – 01 dated October 21, 2011 was released addressing to all Government
Departments including their attached agencies, offices, bureaus, State Universalities and Colleges (SUCs),
Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and all other government instrumentalities as their
guidelines and procedures for the establishment, strengthening and institutionalization of the GAD Focal Point
System (GFPS).

Society before the Gender and Development

Gender stereotypes are generalizations about the roles of each gender. Gender roles are generally neither
positive nor negative, they are simply inaccurate generalizations of the male and female attributes. Since each
person has individual desires, thoughts, and feelings, regardless of their gender, these stereotypes are
incredibly simplistic and do not at all describe the attributes of every person of each gender.

Core Gender and Development Indicators

In May 2021, the Updated Philippine Core Gender and Development (GAD) Indicators were approved and
adopted by the PSA Board through PSA Board Resolution No. 08, Series of 2021. The Core GAD indicators
framework serves as the basis in the generation and analysis of gender and development indicators in the
country. The updating of the Philippine Core GAD indicators took into consideration the various GAD indicators
systems such as the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) Minimum Core Set of Gender Indicators, UN
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Regional Core Set of Gender Indicators
and Ministerial Declaration, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) Women and Economy Dashboard, and the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE)
Indicators.

The main considerations for the indicators to be included in the updated list of Philippine Core GAD are: (1)
regular availability of data or there are current and concrete efforts being done to make them available; and (2)
relevance of the indicators, either as part of the original Core GAD Indicators Framework approved in 2001, or
is included in at least four of the gender indicator systems mentioned above. Furthermore, the PSA shall
regularly monitor the updated list of Core GAD indicators through the annual updating of the Factsheet on
Women and Men, and the Statistical Handbook on Women and Men in the Philippines. Moreover, all
concerned government agencies are enjoined to provide the necessary data support to monitor these
indicators.

2023 Fact Sheet on Women and Men in the Philippines

Reference No.: 2023-147 Release Date: 26 April 2023
Revisions were made on the 2023 Factsheet on Women and Men in the Philippines posted in the PSA website
on 28 March 2023, specifically on page 3, Table 8. Violence Against Women on the Number of Cases Reported
to the Philippine National Police (PNP) through the Crime Incidence Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS):
2021 and 2022. The updated figures were reflected as follows:

Original Estimate Revised Estimate

No. of Cases Reported to PNP CIRAS
i/(as of 31 January 2023) Inc. / Dec Inc. /
2021 2022 2021 2022
(%) Dec (%)
Total 13, 831 4, 282 -69.0 13, 830 11, 307 -18.2

Violation of RA 9262 i1/ 9, 386 136 -98.6 9, 385 7, 161 -23.7

Rape 1, 818 1, 667 -8.3 2, 311 2, 103 -9.0

 Acts of Lasciviousness 1, 625 1, 612 -0.8 1, 625 1, 612 -0.8

Others i2/ 750 867 15.6 509 431 -15.3

Revisions were made as a result of the corrections provided by the PNP on the figures they submitted in
January 2023.
Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Plan

The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Plan 2019-2025 covers four years of the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, and the remaining years of the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive
Development (PPGD) 1995-2025. The GEWE Plan contains strategic actions that:

Concretize President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitments to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) or
Republic Act (RA) 9710;

Contribute to the inclusive human development goal of the PDP 2017-2022, and the collective vision of
AmBisyon Natin 2040;

Move the country closer to the achievement of the long-term vision of gender equality and women’s
empowerment as articulated in the PPGD 1995-2025;

Facilitate the implementation of the country’s international commitments to gender equality and women’s
empowerment, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA); the UN Security Council Resolutions
(UNSCR) on Women, Peace and Security, the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development or the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 5 on Gender Equality, and relevant Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declarations and action plans.

The GEWE Plan 2019-2025 is the government’s guide and key reference in formulating Gender and
Development (GAD) plans and budgets. It is the third time-slice framework plan that government has
formulated in support of the long-term perspective plan, the PPGD 1995-2025.

By prioritizing the strategic actions contained in the Plan, government agencies and instrumentalities ensure
that their collective efforts result in more meaningful and strategic outcomes that will significantly contribute to
the desired positive changes in the status and condition of Filipino women, particularly the poor and
marginalized among them.

To facilitate its use as a key reference for agency GAD planning and budgeting, the Plan is aligned with
existing government planning, implementation, and monitoring structures such as the development planning
and Cabinet clusters. Experience and lessons learned by government agencies in implementing the earlier
framework plans and their own GAD plans informed the identification of priorities and strategies. Agencies
spent more time and effort at the front end of planning to be more specific about the gender issues that need to
be addressed, ensuring that they are matched by appropriate results, indicators, targets and strategies. The
Plan makes it easier for agencies to meaningfully comply with the provisions of the law and contribute to
inclusive growth and development.
Gender Analysis

1. Gender issues

The Philippines has made significant progress in promoting gender equality. It ranks 9th among 134 countries
in the 2010 World Economic Forum gender gaps index in providing equal opportunities and resources for
women.2 Remaining gender issues include (i) the unequal participation of women in the formal labor market;
(ii) the high percentage of female migrant workers employed mostly in low-skilled, low-paid, and unprotected
jobs; (iii) the declining enrollment and completion rates in elementary and secondary education; and (iv) high
maternal mortality ratio and insufficient access of women and men to reproductive and basic health services.

2. Public decision making and politics

The government has sought to increase women’s representation in governance institutions. Around 18% of
elected posts in 2010 were won by female candidates. Of 268 members of Congress, 58 are women (an
increase from 42 women in the previous congress); a 2004 study indicated that 70% of women in Congress
were members of political clans. The judiciary is also male dominated—only 20% of incumbent judges are
women, and to date, 3 of the 15 Supreme Court judges are female. In the civil service, women comprise 57.6%
of the employees, but they are mainly in the rank and file; positions filled predominantly by women are often
classified lower than comparable positions filled predominantly by men, resulting in lower pay in the public
service. Opportunities for women's participation in top decision-making positions in the public sector as well as
in the judiciary, police, and military are limited.

3. Quality of employment

Women’s share of total employment stood at nearly 40% during 2006–2009. Based on the 2009 labor force
survey, the number of employed persons was about 35 million, of whom 61% were males and 39% were
females. Among the employed women, 36% are laborers and unskilled workers; 18.5% are officials of
government, special interest organizations, corporate executives, and managers; 13.6% are service workers,
shop and market sales workers; 11.6% are professionals and technicians; and 8% are clerks. The remainder
(11.8%) work as farmers, machine operators, and in other special occupations and trades. It is noteworthy that
women account for 68% of professionals, and men for 32%. The vulnerable employment rate (proportion of
self-employed and unpaid family workers to total employment) remains high at 45.6% for women compared
with 40.7% for men, although it has declined since 1991, when it was 52.3% for women and 50.4% for men.
The government estimates that nearly 50% of overseas Filipino workers are women, but they contributed only
about 30% of total remittances, indicating that they are mostly in unskilled, low-paying jobs.3

4. Access to education

The enrollment rate for girls is higher than for boys at all levels. The government targets a gender parity index
of 1 in basic education. Among girls aged 7–12, the main reasons for being out of school are the high cost of
education and a lack of interest. As with boys, girls are affected by declining enrollment and completion rates in
education. At the tertiary level, girls continue to train in traditional female courses of study such as teaching,
social work, and nursing.

5. Maternal mortality and access to reproductive and basic health services

The Philippines continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Asia with 95–1635 maternal
deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010; it is currently not on track to meet Millennium Development Goal 5
(reducing maternal mortality and access to reproductive health). Key causes include the high fertility rate, low
average age of first delivery, narrow pregnancy spacing, poor nutritional status of mothers, and poor access to
reproductive and basic health services. Access to quality health care is hampered by high cost, inefficiencies in
health care management, and sociocultural barriers. The government is aiming at universal access to all
approved (medically, ethically, and legally) family planning methods and services to help partners plan their
families, consistent with their plans and decisions. A reproductive health bill is currently being discussed in the
Senate. The bill aims to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal
care. The bill is national in scope, comprehensive, and rights-based and provides adequate funding to the
population program. It is a departure from the present situation, in which the provision for reproductive health
services is devolved to local government units and is inadequately funded.

6. Gender-specific vulnerability to risks

About 45% of Filipinos are vulnerable to falling into poverty if confronted by external shocks such as family
health problems and deaths, loss of employment, natural disasters, civil unrest, and increasing food prices.
Vulnerability to risk varies significantly by gender, and men and women can be affected by the same risk in
different ways. Key areas related to gender that need strengthening within the government’s social protection
initiatives include (i) a better understanding and identification of women’s special needs and the likely gender
impacts of social protection programs, and (ii) better integration of gender equality monitoring indicators in the
program results frameworks.

7. Gender legal and policy framework

The country has a strong legal and policy framework for the protection and promotion of women's rights. In
August 2009, the government passed groundbreaking legislation—the Magna Carta of Women. The Magna
Carta, based on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women framework,
defines gender discrimination, the state’s obligations, substantive equality, and temporary special measures
within the legislation, and outlines provisions for implementing these principles. Other important legislation for
gender equality that has been passed in the Philippines includes Women in Development and Nation
Building,1992; Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act, 1995; Anti Sexual Harassment Act, 1995; Anti Rape
Law, 1997; AntiTrafficking in Persons Act, 2003; and Anti Violence Against Women and Children Act, 2004. In
1992, the government passed the landmark Gender and Development Budget Policy, which provides for the
allocation of at least 5% of the budget of national and local agencies for use in gender and development
programs.

8. Organizational responsibilities and gender action plan

The Philippine Commission on Women serves as the oversight agency in coordinating, implementing, and
reviewing gender mainstreaming efforts in government. The Philippine National Plan for Gender Responsive
Development (1995–2025) consolidates the action commitments made by the Philippines at the Beijing World
Conference on Women and provides a reference for all gender mainstreaming issues. The harmonized gender
and development guidelines for project development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation were
developed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Commission on
Women (formerly National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women) in collaboration with the official
development assistance (ODA) gender and development (GAD) network, with funding assistance from the
United Nations Development Programme and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).7 It serves as a tool for all
development stakeholders to ensure integration of gender in the various stages of the project cycle. NEDA
collects information from development partner agencies to determine the contribution of ODA gender-
responsive programs and projects. The Commission on Audit is also required to audit the implementation of
GAD programs on an annual basis.

9. Gender in the Philippine Development Plan, 2011–2016

In the PDP, gender interests (e.g., health needs, the raising of children, and the prevention of domestic
violence) are seen as issues arising from the unequal division of power between men and women. These
needs and deprivations cannot be addressed without redressing gender inequality. The PDP states that the
government will mainstream GAD concerns in planning, policy formulation, program and project development
and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. It will address the different needs of women and men so
they can equally participate in and benefit from the development process.

10. ADB gender experience

ADB's strategic framework for GAD is consistent with and supports the government’s objectives and initiatives
for gender equality and inclusive growth. ADB has supported gender equality in a range of areas, each of
which has specific gender challenges, and some of which contribute to women’s empowerment in decision-
making roles and leadership positions in community-based organizations, and capacity development of the
local government. The Integrated Coastal Resources Management (ICRM) Project, implemented in 68
municipalities in seven provinces, addressed women’s decision-making roles in sustainable management of
marine and coastal resources through targets for women’s participation in the organization of ICRM, self-reliant
livelihood groups, capacity development initiatives, and incremental staff recruitment for the project. The
Agrarian Reform Communities Project II, implemented in 19 of the poorest provinces in the southern
Philippines, targeted women for microfinance, microenterprise development, and technical training. In the
Microfinance Development Program, gender training is combined with the national financial literacy program to
support women in business development and management. In the Mindanao Urban Basic Services Project,
women have benefited from improved living conditions and livelihood opportunities as a result of improved
access to basic infrastructure and services such as market construction and bus shelters. Gender
considerations are built into the subproject designs to ensure that women benefit equally from microfinance
and employment creation, and that women are represented in community-based organizations. Gender
training is provided to policy makers, local government officials, and nongovernment organizations. The
Governance in the Justice Sector Reform Program is strengthening the rule of law in the Philippines and
supporting capacity development of the judiciary and the police in gender-sensitive handling of gender-based
violence cases. The Technical Education and Skills Development Project supported increased access of poor
and disadvantaged women to skills training through provision of 12,500 scholarship awards and loans to
women.10

11. ADB’s program

Through the country partnership strategy, 2011–2016, ADB will make the following investments in gender
equity in the Philippines.