The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) proudly united with the nation in celebrating the 2024 National Women’s Month (NWM) throughout March, exemplifying its steadfast commitment to fostering the support, advancement and empowerment of women.

Opening Ceremony – Roses from the PCC Employees’ Association

Marking the commencement of the month-long celebration on March 4, 2024, the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS) and the PCC Employees’ Association (PCC-EA) conducted a modest yet heartfelt inaugural ceremony to express profound gratitude to all female employees. The event, adorned with a brief musical interlude performed by two esteemed male PCC representatives, was accompanied by the distribution of refreshments across all offices. Additionally, female employees were presented with symbolic “purple roses” as tokens of appreciation, symbolizing the PCC’s enduring acknowledgment of their invaluable contributions.

Learning Session on Reproductive Health and Family-Planning

In response to the double burden experienced by working mothers, alongside the increasing number of expectant and current parents among the PCC staff, the PCC collaborated with representatives from the Philippine Commission on Population and Development (CPD) to assist in addressing this issue accordingly. Through the Corporate Planning and Management Division (CPMD) of the Finance and Planning Management Office (FPMO), the PCC organized a face-to-face learning session on Reproductive Health and Family Planning on March 15, 2024.

Led by Ms. Mylin C. Quiray, the Acting Division Chief of the Knowledge Management and Communications Division of the CPD, and her esteemed colleagues from the CPD, the session encompassed a diverse array of topics pertaining to reproductive health and family planning. Delving into discussions surrounding various contraceptive methodologies, population demographics, and fostering effective parent-teen communication, among other crucial aspects, the session aimed to equip attendees with invaluable insights and resources for informed decision-making.

Film Screening of “The Adventures of Kween Jhonabelle”

Underscoring its unwavering commitment to championing women’s empowerment, the PCC partnered with EdukSine to host a film screening event on March 22, 2024. Featuring the acclaimed production, “The Adventures of Kween Jhonabelle,” the screening shed light on the multifaceted challenges encountered by countless Filipinas who navigate the intricate roles of both caretakers and breadwinners within their families.

Following the screening, Ms. Larizze Ann J. Eco, the lead actress of the film, engaged in an insightful dialogue with PCC personnel, offering profound reflections on the film’s narrative direction, its inherent relevance to Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives, and her personal journey portraying a character intricately woven into a narrative championing women’s empowerment.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) observed the annual National Women’s Month (NWM), with the new recuring theme “WE for gender equality and inclusive society.”

In March 2023, the PCC organized events and activities highlighting women as critical contributors in fostering competition law and policy in the country amid the trends and changes in innovation and technology, respectively.

Tribute to Women in the PCC

The PCC’s female employees take centerstage during the opening ceremony of the month-long celebration of NWM. The PCC kick-started the NWM by appreciating the women in antitrust service on March 6.

GAD Focal Point System Chairperson and PCC Executive Director Kenneth V. Tanate formally opened the whole-month celebration by delivering his opening remarks. This was followed by a short musical performance and distribution of tokens to female employees as a sign of appreciation.

In the PCC, women play a critical role not only in the day-to-day operations of the agency, but also in the decision making. Currently, two women occupy a seat as members of the Commission, namely, Commissioners Marah Victoria S. Querol and Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano.

Gender Mainstreaming-Innovation, Technology Nexus

The PCC explored its options on improving its gender mainstreaming in light of the current issues and trends in innovation and technology.

On March 14, the PCC, through the Corporate Planning and Management Division of the Finance and Planning Management Office, organized a face-to-face learning session titled “Phenomenon-Based Approach in Mainstreaming Gender and Development.”

Dr. Rowena S. Navera, Philippine State College of Aeronautics vice president for academic affairs and GAD resource pool member, served as resource speaker. She emphasized the need for “phenomenon-based learning approach” to identify and solve GAD issues of the PCC holistically, making its gender-related policies responsive to the needs of its employees and other stakeholders.

Women and Competition Law

Accentuating the significance of competition law and policy in inclusive economic development for women and everyone, the PCC hosted the “Forum on the Philippine Competition Act with the University of the Philippines Women Lawyers’ Circle Inc. (UP WILCO)” on March 27 via MS Teams.

PCC Commissioner Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano, in her opening remarks, emphasized that the forum is a good step for the PCC toward its intention of integrating gender equality perspective in competition policy.

Legal Services Division Chief Michelle Diana P. Maniwang-Basa, Mergers and Acquisitions Senior Lawyer Katrina Margarita D. Lopez, Competition Enforcement Office OIC-Director Genevieve E. Jusi, and OIC-Litigation Division Chief Nina Remedios R. Mejia also joined the all-women roster of speakers during the event.

The Forum was organized by the PCC, through the Communications and Knowledge Management Office-Capacity Building and Development, and the UP WILCO.

Internal NWM Advocacies

The PCC also held advocacy-based activities to encourage employee participation in the celebration of women’s month.

These activities included the a) dissemination of GAD-related information materials (#JuanaSays2023 and #GADtoKnow), b) implementing of employees to wear Purple every Wednesday (#PurpleWednesdays), c) use of the all-women cast video of “Lupang Hinirang” during flag activities, and d) participation in the webinars hosted by the Philippine Commission on Women and the National Council on Disability Affairs.

The observance of the NWM has always been a venue to highlight women’s achievements and to discuss continuing and emerging issues and concerns, challenges, and commitments on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), in partnership with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), held the Online Forum on the Philippine Competition Act on 29 March 2022 via Microsoft Teams. A total of one hundred (100) participants from the private sector, academe, and other government agencies attended the online forum.

Through this initiative, the PCC and PBCWE put forward a meaningful discourse on the opportunities and challenges faced by women in the workplace and how they relate to PCC’s mandate of promoting fair market competition and fostering inclusive economic recovery and growth.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) joined the nation in the 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC), with the theme “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran”.  The 2022 NWMC serves as a tribute, a platform, and a call to action that highlights the extraordinary roles of ordinary Juanas in the society as trailblazers and harbingers of change.

The PCC conducted several activities to show appreciation and gratitude to the Juanas of the PCC. Kicking off the celebration, the PCC, through its Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS) Secretariat, distributed “rose pastillas”. Furthermore, an #EmpowerHer quote by notable women in history was posted on the bulletin boards and sent via email to the PCC organization every Monday of March. On March 28, 2022, the recorded video messages of PCC Chairperson Arsenio M.  Balisacan, PhD and the GFPS Chairperson Kenneth V. Tanate, PhD were played during the flag-raising ceremony.

Two webinars were conducted to increase awareness on gender mainstreaming. The Gender-transformative and Inclusive Workplace webinar was conducted on March 15, 2022. It provides an overview of how companies and organizations can create and implement policies that improve gender equality in the workplace. Ms. Rowena B. Dirain from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board served as the resource speaker.

On the other hand, the webinar on Gender-Fair Language was held on March 25, 2022. The webinar provided an opportunity to learn practical tips on how to use gender-fair language in official documents, communications, and issuances. The Subject-Matter Expert for this webinar was Atty. Judie Rose Tugado-Dimayuga, founder/owner of the JRTD Law Office.

To cap off the celebration, “PCC Women Leaders and Movers,” featuring women leaders and movers, in the PCC was unveiled through PCC channels.

The Philippine Competition Commission joins the whole nation in the celebration of the 18th Women with Disability Day. This years’ Women with Disability Day Celebration highlights the role and equal participation of women with disabilities in inclusive development in this time of pandemic and beyond.  

The 18th Anniversary of Women with Disability: in pursuant to Proclamation No. 744 declaring the last Monday of March of every year as Women with Disability Day. For 2022, the theme: “Kababaihang may Kapansanan sa New Normal: Kapantay, Kaisa, at Kasama sa Inklusibong Kaunlaran” will be a celebration of honoring women with disabilities and encouraging them to continue to inspire and be the voice of others. 

There are several ways you can join the Campaign. Visit the National Council on Disability Affairs’ Facebook page and website. 

 

#WomenMakeChange
#WomenWithDisabilityDay 

The Philippine Competition Commission hosted a Workshop on Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda for 2020-2025 for the Gender and GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) Technical Working Group (TWG) on July 12, 2019 at the PCC Court Room in Quezon City.

The workshop outlined the agency’s GAD Vision, Mission and Goals and defined its strategic interventions, success indicators, and targets to be pursued over a six-year period covering 2020-2025. The GAD Agenda was built on the commitments defined in the Magna Carta of Women, Women in National Building Act, the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development (PPGD) 1995-2025 and International GAD-related commitments such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

After the lecture, the participants worked on the formulation of the PCC’s GAD Agenda that includes the review of the gender analysis; creation of the PCC’s GAD Vision, Mission and Goals; and outline of the gender issues, GAD mandates, outcomes, indicators, baseline data and targets per GAD Goal.

The one-day workshop was facilitated by the consultant, Ms. Katherine Viñegas, and attended by the participants composed of GFPS TWG representatives.

The workshop served as an avenue for exchange of insights, lessons and practical issues on the cycle of planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation of GAD Plans and Budget (GPBs).

The formulation of the PCC’s GAD Agenda for 2020-2025 is a step towards increasing PCC’s gender mainstreaming level and achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality.