and evaluation. This ensures that gender issues and concerns affecting the full
development of women are addressed.
18.10 The GAD database is a vital tool for conducting gender analysis within the
LGU. Its primary purpose is to identify gender gaps and disparities between
women and men in terms of access to basic services, control over resources, and
enjoyment of rights, benefits, and opportunities. The data generated from gender
analysis informs the formulation and integration of policies into the LGU GAD
Plan, ensuring that gender equality and women's empowerment goals are
effectively addressed. Additionally, it provides baseline data on the status of
both women and men within the LGU, serving as a reference for tracking
progress over time.
18.11 However, the absence of a fully established GAD database poses significant
challenges. Without comprehensive data, conducting an accurate gender
analysis becomes difficult, making it harder to identify inequalities in education,
employment, healthcare, and other critical sectors. Consequently, policies and
programs may not be adequately designed to address the specific needs of
women and men. For instance, without sex-disaggregated data on literacy rates
or employment statistics, it is challenging to develop targeted skills training
programs for those who need them most.
18.12 Furthermore, Annex D of the aforementioned JMC emphasizes that in
determining what can or cannot be charged to the GAD budget, the primary
consideration is the gender issues and disparities being addressed by the
expense or activity. The absence of a fully developed GAD database weakens
the justification for allocating resources to gender-focused programs. Without
data-backed evidence, funding requests may not be prioritized, and gender-
responsive initiatives may receive insufficient financial support.
18.13 Additionally, since the GAD database serves as a baseline for tracking progress
on gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives, its absence makes it
difficult to assess whether policies and interventions have resulted in
meaningful improvements. Without these important data and information, the
Provincial Government may struggle to measure the extent to which gender-
responsive goals have been achieved, which could lead to inefficiencies in
program implementation and resource allocation.
18.14 We recommended and Management agreed that the Provincial Planning
and Development Office (PPDO), in coordination with the GFPS and
DILG, establish a comprehensive GAD database containing the necessary
information in accordance with the data requirements under Annex B of
PCW-DILG-DBM-NEDA JMC No. 2013-01 to aid in effective gender-
responsive planning, programming, and policy formulation by clearly
identifying and defining gender issues in the preparation of the annual
94
