BUTUAN CITY, (PNA) — The Butuan City government signed Thursday morning a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Paz y Desarollo (Peace and Development) to promote gender equality in political participation in Agusan del Norte.
Paz y Desarrollo is a Spain-based non-government organization working to promote the development of the world’s vulnerable countries through international cooperation.
Created in 1991, it is now working in more than 16 countries including the Philippines towards the improvement of the living conditions of communities through empowerment, institutional strengthening, development of productive sectors and enhancing gender equality.
The activity held at the mayor’s office was attended by Butuan City Vice-Mayor Angelo Calo, Board Member Rema Burdeos, SP chairperson on Women, Children and Family Concern Committee; barangay officials and Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons of the five target villages here.
PyD was represented by Country Director Antonio Miguel Arias, PyD coordinator Clementine Louise Novales, and Hermina Montenola, program coordinator of Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA)-Mindanao.
Arias, in his message, said that Butuan City was chosen among the pilot areas, being the regional center, due to its capability and resources to undertake the project.
Vice-Mayor Calo, for his part, thanked the PyD officers and committed to the regional program to promote gender equality in political participation and other activities of the program.
Of the 14 targeted barangays in Agusan del Norte, five are in Butuan City — Jose P. Rizal, Los Angeles, Pagatpatan, Bonbon and Dulag.
Paz y Desarollo is also implementing the project in another 14 barangays in Lanao del Sur.
The program utilizes three strategies which are capacity development, advocacy and lobbying and networking and linkaging.