As a culmination of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte’s month-long celebration of Women’s Month, about 300 runners participated in the province-wide “Run for Equity” fun run organized by the Gender and Development Office (GAD) on March 27, 2021.
“The Run for Equity primarily aims to ensure that women and men have equal rights and self-determination in all aspects and stages of their lives, including participation in sports activities and physical fitness,” Population Program Officer Ms. Janet London remarked.
GAD, in cooperation with the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office and the Ilocos Norte Sports and Development Office, conducted an online pre-registration to ensure that only those on the list were allowed to join. Participants have signed a health waiver before the activity and were required to wear a face mask at all times and instructed to maintain physical distance with other runners.
“Aside from the fun run, we had our first Ilocos Region Virtual GAD Convention, too, last March 25-26, 2021. The topics discussed were GAD issues and mandates, Magna Carta on women, and best practices in each organization and local government unit (LGU),” Ms. London added.
Anchored on this year’s theme, “Juana Laban sa Pandemya,” GAD has continued its campaign for women’s welfare through a four-day GAD Fora and five-day Basic Self Defense Training held in various LGUs.
“We are committed to providing platforms for men and women to feel safe and live free from violence as well as sexist discrimination in both private and public (setting). We continue to inculcate in the minds of the populace that women are partners of men in the attainment of development,” Ms. London ended.— Blessing Angel V. Agliam, PGIN-CMO
