More than 300 women leaders and gender and development advocates gathered at the Event Center of the Ayala Mall Capitol Central yesterday for the first in person mid-year forum of the Provincial Council for Women since the pandemic in 2020.
According to PCW Chair Atty. Andrea Lizares-Si, the event, which was held from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., has the theme of “Kababayen-an: Ipadayon ang Kadalag-an” or “Women Sustaining the Gains”.
Milagros Kilayko, president of Negrense Volunteers for Change, was the guest speaker.
The PCW forum was attended by GAD action officers of LGUs, heads of city and municipal social welfare offices, presidents of local women councils, chairs of the sangguniang bayan/panlungsod committee on women, representatives from the Philippine National Police Women and Children’s Desks, and delegates from civil society groups and various women sectors.
Other speakers in the morning were Provincial Board Member Rita Gatuslao of the 5th District, who gave the opening message; Antonia Sitiota, who discussed the various scholarship programs of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University; and Ellin Grace Andana, Science Research Specialist I of the Negros Occidental Provincial Science and Technology Center of the Department of Science and Technology, who talked about food safety.
For the afternoon session, Daisy Ablig, president of Talisay Association of Pantawid, shared about Sustainability and Support for 4Ps Beneficiaries, the Talisay City Experience.
A panel discussion featuring women entrepreneurs from the Association of Negros Producers, Women’s Day Off and Calatrava town was hosted by Marie June Castro, executive assistant of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and action officer of the Provincial GAD Focal Point System.
Panelists include Nanette Agudo-Thiel of Nanettes Agri and Processed Products, Agnes Ferrer and Women’s Day Off Producer, and Thelma Canillo, producer of native bags from Calatrava.*
