QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) proudly joins the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in receiving high honors from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) for the Department's exemplary performance in Gender and Development (GAD) budget allocation and utilization for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.

This prestigious acknowledgment is a collaborative effort of the entire department and its line agencies, including the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). It validates the DENR's strong commitment to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment through gender-responsive programs that strengthen accountability and transparency in governance. The recognition was part of a ceremony held in Quezon City on September 25, 2025, where the PCW honored 123 government entities for their performance.

The DENR's success in integrating GAD principles into its budget is reflected in the following high rankings:

• Rank 5 among Line Agencies with Highest Org-Focused Expenditures.
• Rank 6 among Line Agencies with Highest Client-Focused Expenditures.
• Rank 6 among Line Agencies with Highest Attributed Expenditures.
• Rank 7 among Line Agencies with Highest Client-Focused Allocation.
• Rank 8 among Line Agencies with Highest GAD Budget Allocation, Attributed Allocation, and GAD Budget Expenditures.
• Rank 10 among National Government Agencies (NGAs) with Highest Client-Focused Expenditures.

To ensure sustained excellence and strategically build on this achievement, the MGB recently reinforced its commitment to gender mainstreaming by actively participating in the three-day capacity building event for the DENR GAD Focal Point System (GFPS).

The MGB was represented by Ms. Patricia R. Lim, GAD Specialist I of the MGB GFPS. She joined colleagues from across the DENR family at Ardenhills, Quezon City, from August 27 to 29, 2025, for the vital planning session.

The training was designed to equip GFPS members with the necessary tools to finalize the FY 2026 GAD Plan and Budget (GPB) and prepare the FY 2025 GAD Annual Report (AR). Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, Undersecretary and GAD Focal Point System Chairperson, set the strategic direction, emphasizing the essential role of informed planning for effective GAD outcomes.

The intensive training covered several critical areas designed to enhance compliance and strategic impact:

• Financial Accountability: Workshops focused on developing the GPB 2026 based on national standards and requirements, alongside sessions on resolving audit questions previously raised by the Commission on Audit (COA).
• Strategic Vision: Participants reviewed and updated the DENR’s GAD Agenda and Strategic Plan 2022-2027, ensuring the Department's gender goals remain aligned with national priorities.
• Reporting Excellence: The training provided guidance on crafting the AR 2025 to meet the precise requirements of the PCW.

By investing in the technical proficiency of its GAD personnel, the MGB ensures that gender equality principles are robustly integrated into the Bureau's operations, particularly in its core mandates of geohazard mitigation and mineral resource governance. This commitment reinforces the Department’s goal to create meaningful impact for women, communities, and the environment.

• Opening session of the Capacity Building for the GAD Focal Point System, highlighting the rationale and objectives of GAD Planning and Budgeting, with participants attentively listening to the discussions. 

• Participants engage in group work during the Capacity Building for GAD Focal Point System, collaborating on exercises related to GAD Planning, Budgeting, and Accomplishment Reporting.

The photos capture the participants of the Capacity Building for GAD Focal Point System on GAD Planning and Budgeting, Preparation of Accomplishment Reports, and Initial Updating of the GAD Strategic Plan (2022–2027). The seminar brought together GAD Focal Point System members and representatives from various regions to enhance their knowledge and technical capacities in mainstreaming gender and development in institutional plans and programs. Through lectures, workshops, and group activities, participants were able to strengthen their skills in preparing GAD Plans and Budgets, crafting accomplishment reports, and updating their respective GAD Strategic Plans in line with organizational goals. This activity not only reinforced the importance of integrating gender perspectives in governance but also fostered collaboration and commitment among participants.