NEWS RELEASE || 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐌𝐄𝐅 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐆𝐃 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲

BUTUAN CITY, October 20, 2025—𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗚𝗠𝗘𝗙) 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗙𝗚𝗗) 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲–𝟭𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝗗𝗢) 𝗡𝗼. 𝟯𝟮, 𝘀. 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟳 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗚𝗥𝗕𝗘) 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The activity, held at the Butuan City School of Arts and Trades (BCSAT) and Gold Hall, DepEd Caraga Regional Office, gathered key education stakeholders to evaluate the progress, impact, and challenges of gender mainstreaming initiatives within Caraga’s basic education system.

Leading the GMEF validation were Reynaldo D. Anto and Jasmine V. Birondo from DepEd Region VII (Central Visayas), and Joice Baliug and Jay Cepillo from the DepEd Central Office (CO) GAD Secretariat, specifically from the BHROD Employee Welfare Division, who also facilitated the FGD sessions. The validation team was warmly received by Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion, who welcomed them “the Caraga way,” setting a tone of collaboration and openness throughout the two-day engagement.

The activity featured a broad representation of participants from different education sectors, ensuring a well-rounded and inclusive assessment of the GRBE Policy. Learners shared firsthand accounts of how the policy has influenced their learning experiences and school environment.

School heads, on the other hand, offered valuable insights on how gender-responsive practices are being institutionalized at the school level. Their perspectives highlighted the importance of leadership support in sustaining gender mainstreaming initiatives.

Division GAD Coordinators also played a pivotal role in the validation, led by Regional GAD Coordinator Adrilene Mae J. Castanos and Alternate Regional GAD Coordinator Fe Baring. Supporting them were six Division GAD Coordinators—Glenda Dadap (Siargao), Loraine Dedumo (Surigao del Norte), Kizzes Batistil (Surigao City), Joanna Rey Bughao (Bayugan City), Angel Priabetiro (Agusan del Norte), and Evangeline Razon (Butuan City)—who presented comprehensive Means of Verification (MOVs) to support the region’s evaluation.

Adding further depth to the discussions, Nancy N. Caballero of BCSAT and Flory Joan G. Ronquillo of Agusan National High School (ANHS) in Butuan City represented the school-level GAD Coordinators, sharing their experiences and best practices in promoting gender responsiveness within their institutions.

To enrich the assessment process, Mr Oliver O. Salino, an active GAD advocate and member of PCW-NGRP Batch 6, was invited as a consultant. His technical expertise and continuing partnership with DepEd Caraga strengthened the evaluation with evidence-based perspectives and actionable recommendations.

The inter-regional GMEF validation and FGD underscored DepEd Caraga’s commitment to advancing gender equality and inclusivity in education. Through continued collaboration, the region remains steadfast in ensuring that every learner—regardless of gender—enjoys a safe, empowering, and equitable learning environment.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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