The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA RFO) 02 collaborated with the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) in Cagayan Valley to end gender-based discrimination in the region and encourage them to participate in policy-making through the First Women in Agriculture Congress on March 30, 2023 in Iguig, Cagayan.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ating First Women Congress, nakilala namin ang ating mga kababaihan na sumusuporta at malaki ang contribution sa agriculture and fishery sector ng rehiyon. We want to see you as a big group and hear your voice,” said Dr. Rose Mary Aquino, DA RFU Regional Technical Director and Co-Chairperson of GAD.

With the theme “Women in agriculture breaking ground”, the activity served as a platform for bringing women in agriculture to discuss issues and concerns of the sector and come up with sound policy resolutions and recommendations to address them.

The Congress also recognized nine women organizations and 40 women  in the industry who have made significant contributions and impact in various aspects of their community. Mercy Biala of San Manuel, Isabela was also awarded the 2022 regional winner of the Search for Outstanding Rural Women.

Dr. Aquino mentioned that although there are studies showing women having an increased interest in the industry, it was still noticeable that women have a low percentage in terms of land ownership. 

She further explained that one of the collaterals needed is a land contract with the name of the owner on it. If women don’t have their names on the titles, this means lower access to capital investment. 

She also mentioned that if women are part of the planting activity, this would ease the concern of fewer farmworkers. However, Dr. Aquino noted that this would be possible if machinery and equipment will be available to women and the sector will adopt mechanization and digitalization.

“The DA RFO 2 planned to allocate budget, capacitate and train you to be ready for digitalization. However, as we prepare for this, you need to join discussions and consultations to create a shift in policies in the Department of Agriculture that would benefit women in the agri and fishery industry,” Dr. Aquino added.

PCAF, AFC as a venue for women’s participation in policy and decision-making

Aside from the awarding ceremony, the Congress also featured resource persons from various fields related to agriculture. They talked about youth and women in agri-preneurship, women’s vital role in volunteerism, women empowerment in the legal field, and as advocates of policy-making, participatory governance and engagement through the AFCs.

The goal of the activity is to mainstream gender equality as a fundamental value as part of the development choices and acknowledge them as active agents of development, not just as passive recipients of development.

The participants were encouraged to participate in policy and decision-making in the sector by having a meaningful participation in discussions within their respective communities, or being part of the AFCs to come up with recommendations that would address concerns through sound policy resolutions.

The 26-year old Christiemarie Miguel shared the story of how she started her journey as a young agripreneur when she left the corporate world. 

Hazel Tanchuling, Chairperson of the National Banner Program Committee on Rice and Other Priority Program Committee on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (OPPC on GESI), discussed the advocacies which address gender equality in the agri-fishery sector. 

She talked briefly how OPPC on GESI passed a resolution to make DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture inclusive and easier for farmer women in terms of registration.

On the other hand, Cooperative Development Authority Atty. Nita Doreen Tabbu presented women as reshapers of boundaries and creators of new agricultural road maps. She gave legal advice about land ownership and domestic violence. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) Partnership Development Division Assistant Division Chief Conchita del Rosario shared the agency’s consultative bodies membership process. 

Del Rosario said that the process is divided into four parts, the invitation, submission, validation and approval. The membership is open and granted to interested private sectors or individuals. PCAF, the attached agency of DA which provides technical guidance to the AFCs, may also invite qualified organizations and individuals to join as members of the AFCs. 

Updated templates of the forms will soon be available at the PCAF website at www.pcaf.da.gov.ph.

“This Congress is a good avenue para ma-enhance at ma-enlighten tayo kung anong karapatan natin as a woman. What we have learned here, pwede naming ishare ito sa aming mga respective communities. Napakagaling ng ating mga resource speakers at akmang-akma ang mga topics,” said Loida Basug of DA Quirino Experiment Station and one of the participants.

On the other hand, Nemia Echanes of Provincial AFC Quirino said that they appreciated the resource persons who empowered all the participants by reminding them that women are a big part of the economic development. 

As an expression of their support for this activity, RAFC Cagayan Valley Chairperson Dante Tobias and DA RFO 2 Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo signed a resolution recommending to the DA RFO 2 and the provincial LGUs of Cagayan Valley to institutionalize the annual conduct of the congress as part of the annual women’s month celebration in March. 

“Sa pamamagitan nitong Congress na ito ay lalong nabibigyan ng pagpupugay at pagpapahalaga ang ating mga kababaihan sa sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda,” said Tobias. | JC