April 4, 2024 – GUIMARAS. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Guimaras Provincial Statistical Office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) – Guimaras, successfully gathered a total of 103 Women of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) organization as part of their Gender and Development (GAD) Program in celebration of the 2024 Women’s Month with the theme “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!”

“This is the first time that the PSA and PSWDO collaborated to empower the KALIPI organization in Guimaras on March 26, 2024,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare stated.

Statistical Specialist II (SSII) Ellen Grace F. Galaura and Information Officer (IO) Orlie E. Tabia from PSA-Guimaras, were invited as resource persons during the forum. SSII Galaura discussed the Guimaras Gender Statistics featuring sex-disaggregated data on population, birth, marriage, death, top five leading causes of death among men and women, the youngest and the oldest bride and groom, crime against persons by type of offense, persons deprived of Liberty availing Alternative Learning System, and the PhilID Birth Assistance Project and its registered beneficiaries.

Moreover, IO Tabia presented the February Inflation Report for the participants to have a grasp of the rate of change in the prices of goods and services in Guimaras province, hoping they may take it as a guide to craft plans or livelihood projects which may help to ease prices particularly on food which is one of the main contributors to the faster inflation rate of Guimaras province.

Both presentations emphasized the vital role of statistics, particularly the sex-disaggregated data, in promoting gender equality and crafting plans and development in the province.

The KALIPI organization is a non-political and non-profit organization at the barangay level, promoting women’s development and empowerment through harnessing their strengths and developing their full potential as human beings.

“The KALIPI organization was established in 1990 under the Bureau of Women’s Welfare, DSWD, and was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March 1996,” PSWD Officer Shirly T. Gabutin said.

“Under RA 7160, the organization’s sustainability program and services to women were decentralized to the local government units,” she added.

Gabutin also highlighted that as of 2023, 72 barangays in the province have an organized KALIPI: 11 Buenavista municipality, 14 in Jordan, 12 in San Lorenzo, 13 in Sibunag, and 22 in Nueva Valencia.

Moreover, she expressed her appreciation to PSA Guimaras for their support and collaboration in the successful conduct of the GAD program in the province.

On behalf of the Provincial Governor, Executive Assistant III Gerardo Gaitan attended the event and delivered a message emphasizing the vital role and contribution of women towards the province’s development.

Likewise, DSWD Regional Office VI Rayner Lobaton discussed the Magna Carta of Women and the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313). 

The PSA and PSWDO collaborated to organize a Women’s Forum focused on advancing gender equality.

The forum aimed at disseminating effective information and data on gender issues and challenges while highlighting the important role of women in the decision-making process.