Guimaras State University (GSU), through its Gender and Development (GAD) Program, convened a three-day Training Workshop on the Formulation of the GAD Agenda from July 28 to 30, 2026, at the Agri-Eco Convention Hall, Salvador Campus. The undertaking served as a policy laboratory for crafting the University’s strategic direction on gender mainstreaming and consolidating its institutional commitments into a cohesive GAD Agenda.
The workshop assembled University officials, Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) members, and key personnel in a deliberative exercise that sought to recalibrate institutional priorities and embed gender responsiveness within the University’s governance architecture.
The opening session featured a message from University President Dr. Lilian Diana B. Parreño, who underscored the University’s continuing resolve to cultivate an institutional culture grounded in equity and inclusivity. Dr. Sol M. Basañes, GAD Coordinator for the Salvador Campus, introduced the resource speaker, Ms. Lorena T. Yunque, who facilitated discussions on the conceptual moorings of Gender and Development, the architecture of the GAD Agenda, and the functionality assessment of the Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS). The afternoon sessions progressed into a diagnostic appraisal of the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF), where participants subjected institutional practices to collegial interrogation through presentations and structured critique.
The second day shifted toward policy articulation and strategic design. Participants engaged in a series of facilitated workshops to crystallize the University’s GAD vision and mission, delineate overarching policy aspirations, and identify gender issues requiring institutional redress. Guided by Ms. Yunque, the participants further established outcome statements, baseline indicators, performance targets, and strategic interventions that will constitute the normative scaffolding of the University’s GAD Strategic Plan.
The workshop culminated in the initial drafting of the University’s GAD Agenda, synthesizing the collective deliberations into a forward-looking policy instrument that will guide future programs, projects, and institutional interventions.
The final day featured plenary sharing, critiquing of draft outputs, and discussions outlining next steps for the formal adoption of the GAD Agenda. The three-day event concluded with an evaluation segment, the presentation of tokens and certificates, and closing remarks delivered by GSU GAD Director Mrs. Frennie D. Zarate.
