CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines—Samar State University’s Advocacy on Gender and Women Advancement for National Development (SAGWAN) is hosting a two-day In-Depth Training on Gender Analysis and Gender Tools for Gender-Responsive Research and Development (R&D) Programs today, January 29, until tomorrow, January 30, 2026, at the Convention Center, SSU Main Campus, Catbalogan City. The activity brings together Gender and Development (GAD) Coordinators from various colleges and units of the University.
SSU President Dr. Redentor S. Palencia formally opened the activity with an encouragement to the participants to maximize the learning opportunity and translate new insights into meaningful academic and community outcomes.
“As you dive deep into the new learnings today, embrace the knowledge and take advantage of this opportunity that will make your efforts in research and extension more reliable and relevant, contributing to a progressive, inclusive, and sustainable world for all,” Dr. Palencia said. “Together, let us establish a gender-responsive R&D as we continue to innovate, build, and serve.”
Providing the rationale of the activity, Dr. Nathalie Ann A. Acosta, GAD Coordinator of the Curriculum and Instruction Development Center (CIDC), mentioned the importance of equipping the faculty members and R&E units with tools to ensure that SSU’s R&E programs are inclusive and responsive to diverse gender needs.
The lecture proper is currently facilitated by Asst. Prof. King David J. Agreda of Cavite State University (CvSU), a National GAD Resource Pool member of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and National Chairperson of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee and Education, Training and Capacity Building Committee of Men Opposed to VAW Everywhere (MOVE) Philippines.
“If there is a people component, there is a GAD component,” Asst. Prof. Agreda mentioned during the morning session. His ongoing sessions today focus on gender analysis frameworks and tools essential in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating gender-responsive R&D programs.
Through this initiative, SAGWAN seeks to further strengthen SSU’s institutional capacity to mainstream Gender and Development (GAD) with the long-term goal of achieving advanced levels of gender mainstreaming.