GAD Lab in AANR

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐀𝐍𝐑 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: 𝐀 𝐔𝐏 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐚𝐛–𝐃𝐎𝐫𝐒𝐔 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

𝟭𝟬 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 | The UP Mindanao Gender and Development (GAD) Laboratory in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) Sector engaged Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) in a strategic dialogue to operationalize gender mainstreaming across AANR research and extension.
The exchange underscored concrete entry points for GAD Lab operations—leveraging DOrSU’s strengths in aquatic and fisheries research, native pig and coffee studies, and women-led mangrove initiatives—to embed sex-disaggregated data, gender analysis, and inclusive research design into ongoing and emerging programs.

Discussions identified next steps aligned with the GAD Lab’s mandate: targeted capacity-building, access to curated datasets, and the development of a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize collaboration. The partnership signals a shared commitment to a more inclusive, evidence-based, and impact-oriented AANR research ecosystem.

The GAD Lab sincerely thanks Davao Oriental State University for the warm reception, thoughtful questions, and openness to collaboration. We look forward to working together to build a more inclusive, gender-responsive, and data-driven AANR research ecosystem.

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐀𝐍𝐑 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: 𝐀 𝐔𝐏 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐚𝐛–𝐃𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐂 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 | The UP Mindanao Gender and Development (GAD) Laboratory in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) Sector conducted a courtesy and collaborative engagement with Davao de Oro State College (DDOSC) officials, particularly Mr. Jupite Mark Banyag from the Research and Development Division; Ms. Sarah Cabahit-Aranges from the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal System; Ms. Lady Lee Leyson and Ms. April Rose Dianne Villaro from the Extension Services Division; and Ms. Jennifer Pelegrino from the Production Services Division; to explore a strategic partnership focused on gender-responsive and data-driven AANR research and extension.

Discussions highlighted the integration of gender analysis and sex-disaggregated data (SDD) across priority commodities—cacao, coffee, and native pigs—alongside opportunities for data sharing, joint research, and capacity-building. The meeting concluded with agreement on next steps, including the drafting of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and future training on gender-inclusive research, reinforcing both institutions’ commitment to advancing inclusive and evidence-based AANR development.

The GAD Lab extends its sincere appreciation to Davao de Oro State College for the warm welcome, open dialogue, and shared commitment to advancing inclusive and gender-responsive research in the AANR sector. We look forward to building this partnership in the months ahead.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐚𝐛, 𝐃𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐂, 𝐃𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐂, 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐆𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫

𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦-𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠, 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑜 𝑓𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝐴𝑁𝑅 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

The Gender and Development (GAD) Laboratory in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) Sector convened two strategic engagements with key partners in Davao Region’s cacao industry.

On December 1, 2025, the GAD Lab held an online meeting with the Davao City Cacao Industry Development Council (DCCIDC), represented by Ms. Lizabel Holganza and Ms. Angelie Robin. Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration in gender-responsive cacao programming, community-based capacity building, and formalizing partnership directions through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The team also explored potential collaboration with the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to support women and smallholder farmers through inclusive AANR initiatives.

On December 5, 2025, during the Project Living Income (PLI) Recognition Ceremony, MEDA invited the GAD Lab to join the event alongside DCCIDC, partner LGUs, and the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council (DRCIDC) headed by Basilio Adlawan, Jr. Following the event, the GAD Lab was also invited to join a post-event meeting. This meeting allowed partners to reconnect, reflect on ongoing initiatives showcased during the ceremony, and identify areas where GAD integration, data sharing, and community engagement could be strengthened across the cacao value chain.

Through these engagements, the GAD Lab reaffirms its commitment to fostering meaningful, sustainable, and gender-responsive partnerships that empower cacao-producing communities in Davao Region.

💜 𝟭𝟴-𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 (𝗩𝗔𝗪)

𝟏𝟖 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐖𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐀𝐖 — 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑/𝟑

In the final part of our series, we highlight the crucial roles of the private sector and the academe in strengthening prevention, protection, and support systems that help end VAW.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫
13. Support the anti-VAW efforts of the government and your immediate community.
14. Establish your own Action Desks where employees and clients can go to in case VAW happens.
15. Develop internal rules to proactively ensure that your workplace is VAW-free.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐞/𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
16. Include concepts of VAW and women’s human rights in lesson plans/lesson guides of your teaching staff
17. Continually conduct/spearhead anti-VAW advocacies in your campus, and if possible, to your immediate community through extension programs.
18. Set up a Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) where students and employees can seek help.

With the support of educational institutions and the private sector, we can build safer spaces, empower communities, and ensure systems that protect the rights and dignity of all women and girls. 💜

💜 𝟭𝟴-𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 (𝗩𝗔𝗪)

𝟏𝟖 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐖𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐀𝐖 — 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐/𝟑

For the second part of our series, we highlight the essential role of government agencies and barangays in creating safer, more responsive, and more empowering communities for women and girls.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲
7. Equip yourselves with apt training and capacity development sessions to improve service delivery for your clients.
8. Develop a monitoring and evaluation strategy to assess the service to your clients’ supporters.
9. Let people know that you provide the services! We need to inform the public that there are government offices that they can turn to and trust to assist them in healing and seeking justice.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲
10. Ensure that your Barangay VAW Desk is functional. You can use the Barangay VAW Desk Handbook developed by PCW and DILG with partner agencies to guide you on what to do.
11. Establish linkages with local and national government agencies, as well as other organizations near your barangay where you can refer victim-survivors of VAW for needed assistance which the barangay is not able to provide.
12. Promote harmonious family and community relationships in your barangay which is grounded on mutual respect for human rights, and take proactive steps to attain a VAW-free community.

Local institutions play a crucial part in ensuring that support, protection, and justice are accessible to all. 💜
Stay tuned for 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑, featuring the role of the 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 and 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐞.

Honored to meet with MSU-Main Campus for our courtesy visit and exploratory discussion on strengthening gender-responsive research in the AANR sector.

The conversation opened promising opportunities for collaboration in GAD, agriculture, and community-centered initiatives. Excited for the next steps ahead!

𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐠: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧

𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. The UP Mindanao GAD Lab team visited Kakaw Meranaw in Bayang, Lanao del Sur, for a courtesy meeting with Ms. Sittie Aisah Balt.

Kakaw Meranaw has long championed community-based cacao production, processing, and value addition—linking the upland farms of Bayang where women are active players to their processing facility in Marawi. Our discussions centered on shared aspirations for strengthening women’s participation, improving farm productivity, and supporting small enterprises that anchor local livelihoods.

Their journey reflects not only the challenges of operating in conflict-affected and geographically diverse areas, but also the deep resilience, cultural pride, and entrepreneurial spirit that define community-led value-adding initiatives in Lanao del Sur.

Together, we continue moving toward inclusive and gender-responsive growth in Mindanao’s cacao sector—grounded in partnership, cultural understanding, and the empowerment of communities who keep the tradition of cacao alive.

𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬

Our day began with a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR - Lanao del Sur) on November 26, 2025, followed by a meeting with the MSU Main Administration (Msu-Main Campus, Marawi City).

As Mindanao State University continues to stand as a bastion of cultural integration in the region, each engagement reinforces our shared commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive governance, peacebuilding, and community-centered development, especially within the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) sector of Mindanao.

Moving forward together for a more inclusive, resilient, and culturally grounded future for Mindanao’s communities.

💜 𝟏𝟖-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 (𝐕𝐀𝐖)

𝟭𝟴 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗔𝗪 — 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭/𝟯
The UP Mindanao GAD Laboratory joins the Philippine Commission on Women in promoting concrete actions we can take to build a safer, more gender-fair society. Here are the first 1–6 Things We Can Do to Help End VAW, focusing on what women, girls, men, and boys can do:

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬
1️⃣ Empower yourself. Know your rights and available courses of action in case these rights are violated.
2️⃣ Speak out and report to authorities when your rights are violated.
3️⃣ Encourage other women and girls to stand up for their rights.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬
4️⃣ Respect women and girls in your home, school, workplace, and community.
5️⃣ Join male groups promoting anti-VAW efforts and participate in discussions to broaden your awareness on the advocacy.
6️⃣ Enlighten/advise perpetrators to seek help and join the male anti-VAW supporters.

Ending VAW requires everyone’s commitment.
Watch out for 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 featuring actions for 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 and 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲𝐬.

UP Mindanao GAD Lab Stands with

Violence against women limits participation, restricts mobility, and undermines the contributions of women farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-entrepreneurs across the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) sector. As we join the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, the GAD Laboratory stands in solidarity with everyone working toward VAWFreePH.

The GAD Lab reaffirms its commitment to:

📌 Violence-free spaces in farms, coastal communities, post-harvest facilities, markets, and value chain organizations

📌 Strengthening gender-responsive R&D that documents risks, social norms, and inequalities affecting women and youth in AANR;

📌Supporting women’s leadership and voice in agricultural cooperatives, fisherfolk's associations, and barangay decision-making;

📌Integrating GAD principles in AANR, RDE, capacity building - ensuring researchers, extension workers, and local partners are equipped to address VAW risks;

📌Building inclusive value chains where women’s safety, dignity, and agency are protected at every stage;

📌Working with LGUs, agencies and community organizations to enhance local mechanisms that prevent and respond to violence.

A violence-free AANR sector is essential for resilient livelihoods, stronger communities, and sustainable development. Empowering women to participate safely and fully in agriculture and aquaculture strengthens not only households, but the entire value chain.

Together, let us champion a and build AANR communities where every woman and girl can thrive.