The Philippine Center of Excellence in Defense, Development, and Security (PCEDS)—the extension service arm of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP)—spearheaded the launching ceremony of the NDCP Gender and Development (GAD) Resource Handbook on 30 September 2022 at the NDCP Honor Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.

The handbook, as part of the collaboration between the Center and GAD Technical Working Group, bolsters the College’s efforts to promote gender equality through the application of the gender perspective into policies, programs, projects, and research.

Ms. Maria Kristine Josefina G. Balmes, Deputy Executive Director for Operations of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), served as the keynote speaker during the launching ceremony, wherein she delved into the NDCP’s efforts when it comes to the institutionalization of gender mainstreaming.

“We believe that the handbook will serve as a comprehensive reference and guide to support and sustain the GAD-related efforts of the NDCP to ensure that our work towards gender equality and women empowerment is institutionalized,” Ms. Balmes said.

In his closing remarks, Lieutenant General Ferdinand M. Cartujano PAF(Ret), President of the NDCP, emphasized that as an educational institution under the Department of National Defense, the College is expected to create, store, share, and use the knowledge and expertise on gender mainstreaming in the defense sector.

“With this, the NDCP GAD Resource Handbook is indeed deemed valuable in utilizing and sharing information specifically on GAD terms and concepts which will set the standards, protocols, and procedures to raise awareness and understanding,” LtGen Cartujano added.

Copies of the handbook, which comes in English and Filipino, were distributed to the employees of the NDCP, as well as the Department of National Defense and its bureaus.