Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, with its Xavier Ateneo-Gender and Development (XA-GaD) Office, held a Basic Orientation on Gender and Development on 14 November 2023 at Xavier University, Macasandig. This event was organized in collaboration with the Ignatian Leadership Enhancement and Development (ILEAD) and the Human Relations Office. The orientation aimed to comply with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) requirement for all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to implement the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No 01, Series of 2015, which establishes the Policies and Guidelines on Gender and Development.
Ms Shaunelle Mary J Sayson of Bukidnon State University, a certified member of the inaugural Gender and Development Research Pool for Region X, gave the orientation. Her focus is on empowering parents in the workplace through policies promoting work-life balance and active caregiving roles, irrespective of gender. Ms Sayson covered various GAD concepts including sex and gender, areas and agents of socialization, manifestations of gender bias, and gender sensitivity. Dennise S Gonzales discussed briefly what XA-GaD is and some of the activities it must implement.
Xavier University is fully committed to implementing the XA-GaD program aiming to integrated and institutionalize gender development at Xavier Ateneo. Its goals include promoting gender equality, raising awareness about gender issues, and fostering inclusivity, and cultivating a culture of empathy, respect, and social responsibility within the Xavier Ateneo community. Additionally, the program seeks to facilitate curriculum development, research, extension, and educational programs addressing gender issues.
The orientation was attended by thirty-four (34) Administrators from various levels of the university. According to CHED’s directive, “xxx external campuses or branches of private HEIs shall act as the external or satellite GAD units of their main campus and shall ensure that the GAD policies and guidelines, programs, projects, and activities of their institutions are fully implemented within their jurisdictions.” The administrators pledged their support for the Gender and Development program committing to lead initiatives in promoting gender equality, gender responsiveness, and sensitivity at Xavier University.
