COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), in partnership with the European Union- and AECID Philippines-fundedSupport to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA), conducted a two-day GAD Budget Forum with Mentoring Session at the Pagana Kutawato Grand Hall, Cotabato City, on March 5-6, 2025. The forum gathered GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) members from various ministries, offices, and agencies (MOAs) to strengthen their capacity in gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) and compliance with Joint Memorandum Circular 2023-01 on gender integration in governance.
BWC Chairperson Hadja Bainon Karon emphasized the importance of GRB in ensuring inclusive development, stating: “This forum is a step towards embedding gender perspectives in governance, policies, and services to empower communities and promote inclusive growth.”
Representing the Office of the Chief Minister, Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun recognized the challenges in GRB implementation and called for stronger collaboration among public servants and development partners.
As part of SUBATRA’s broader commitment to strengthening democratic governance and institutional capacity in BARMM, the forum provided technical guidance on integrating gender-responsive approaches into planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation processes. In line with the celebration of the National Women’s Month, this initiative highlights the critical role of inclusive governance in advancing gender equality, reinforcing BARMM’s commitment to empowering women as key drivers of development.
