The Gender and Development Focal Point System (FPAGADFPS) continues to implement various activities to promote gender sensitivity and empowerment in the workplace.

During the month-long celebration of the 2021 Women’s Month, a Mobile Photo Contest was organized for all FPA employees from the Central and Regional Office. The activity centered on the theme ‘Juana: Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya!” which aimed to highlight the role of women during the time of COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 40 entries were submitted which were judged based on relevance to the theme (30%), composition and creativity (30%), image quality (20 %), photo caption (10%) and overall impact (10%).

The winners were Rowena Billig, Provincial Officer of FPA CAR (Champion); Darwin Narvadez, Laboratory Technician (1st Runnner-up); Rustom Gain Tanduyan, Provincial Officer of FPA Region 11 (2nd Runner-up); Dennis Mallari (3rd Runner-up) and Shanelle Napoles (Most Influential Social Media Award).

“My photo is about a grandmother who perseveres to sell rice cakes at the foot bridge to provide for her family. It showcased the resilience of women and their role during this pandemic,” explained Billig in her winning entry.

The panel of judges were composed of Abner Go, Freelance Wedding Photographer; Michelle Omana, Freelance Photographer; Sarah Joy Villareal, Creative Artist at the UP Film Institute; Efraim Mallare, Winner of the FPA Photography Contest in 2017; and Ivan Layag, FPA’s Information Officer.

The virtual awarding ceremony was held on April 7, 2021.

Other GAD activities conducted included information campaign in social media, Serbisyo Para Kay Juana, and #ToGADer Forever Season 2 held last February 14.