RDC includes Muslim Commission as member

By Marissa Cabato

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Regional Development Council has included the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos - North Luzon (NCMF-NL) as its newest member.
    In its first quarter meeting on Jan. 28 held virtually the RDC’s regional gender and development committee (RGADC) formally welcomed the NCMF-NL as new member in a resolution
    The NCMF is a government agency tasked to provide assistance in the formulation, coordination, implementation and monitoring of policies, plans and projects affecting Muslim Filipino communities.
It has nine regional offices which includes one for North Luzon located in Baguio City.
    The NCMF-NL earlier expressed its interest to become a member of the Cordillera RGADC.
    The RGADC found merit in NCMF GAD initiatives ranging from participation in regular GAD advocacy activities and social services for women.
    The membership of the NCMF to the RGADC will strengthen the committee’s advocacy on gender programs particularly in Muslim communities in the region.
    CSC-CAR Public Assistance and Liaison Division Chief Adoraline B. Marigza expressed hopes in NCMF participating and forging partnerships not only with the RGADC but also with other regional line agencies.
    Lawyer Nor-ainah Daragangan of the NCMF also expressed the agency’s interest in joining the RDC and its committees.
    In the same forum, PCW GAD specialist Nharleen Santos-Millar gave an orientation on gender and development local learning hub program and certification guidelines.
    The GAD LLH program is a venue where local government units can share and replicate GAD-related innovations of other LGUs to strengthen their own GAD programs.
    Currently, 12 LGUs nationwide have certified GAD LLHs.
    Population Commission regional director Magdalena G. Abellera bared “responsible parenthood and family planning (RPFP) program.
    The program assists couples achieve their desired number and spacing of children and attain zero unmet need for modern family planning.
    She said that the male plays a big part in family planning and in ensuring responsible parenthood.
    The regional PopCom adapted a strategy called “Men Tako,” where men talk to other men about reproductive health and responsible parenthood.
    According to Abellera, men tend to share and relate more if they talk to other men. 
    The regional PopCom and its partners have reached a total of 105,621 men from 2019 to 2021 in Cordillera in this endeavor.
    The Cordillera RGADC, is a support committee of the RDC that recommends and coordinates policies and programs on gender mainstreaming and equality in the region for the implementation of national laws and program on GAD.
    The National Economic Development Authority Cordillera provides secretariat services.