Lakbay-Aral to PGAD Quezon Province

  • Lakbay Aral to PGAD Quezon 

The “ Study Tour “ or “Lakbay Aral “ Benchmarking/ learning activity venue at Queen Margarette Hotel downtown, Lucena City, Quezon Province inclusive of lunch on August 24,2017 was sponsored by Quezon Provincial Gender and Development (PGAD) office headed by Ms. Ofelia M. Palayan, PGAD, Chairperson,PTWG for GWP.  The management were very much thankful and grateful for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to us by Provincial Gender and Development (PGAD) Quezon province.

The Lakbay -Aral/ learning Journey to Provincial Gender and Development Quezon Province provides opportunities for exposure visits and experiential learning for Pandi Water District GAD Focal Point System (GAD-GFS) on a myriad of ways to “ create the pipeline” for women political, social, economic and health status to built strong and better community and to ensure that there are ample opportunities for gender equality = men + women working together. The forward thinking actions of Gov. David “Jayjay “ C. Suarez who not just “check the box” on diversity but rather make himself accountable for a gender responsive governance in the province of Quezon.

The PGAD of Quezon Province have exhibited “best practices” and initiatives worthy of emulation and replication. The management learned that the vital components in PGAD -Quezon’s success story is the active participation and support of the Local government units (LGUs) strong leadership and commitment, in doing gender mainstreaming ,organized women’s groups, adequate resources — a heart that beats compassion and myriad of inspiration — to see things through.

The Pandi Water District GADFPS influenced by PGAD- Quezon Province will now have a basis to develop a framework to localized the gender equality and women empowerment through the localization of the Magna Carta of Women. Our quest for continuing the journey towards the fullness of our feat has just begun.

  • Niyogyugan Festival

It’s also the time of the year where people get together in Lucena, Quezon to celebrate a week-long ‘Niyogyugan Festival,’ a feast of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest of coconuts which symbolizes the “tree of life”. From the two words “niyog” (coconut) – Quezon’s main agricultural product and “yugyog” (to shake or move), the festival showcases the province’s culture and natural bounty.

The weeklong festivity is composed of several events such as Niyogyugan Investment forum, Niyogyugan Quezon Kusineros (cooking competition), Karosa ng Niyog (Float Competition) and the Bb. Niyogyugan 2017. They also have “Araw ng Pamilyang Magsasaka” which will recognize all the farmers in the province, and “Araw ng mga Guro” for the teachers and many more activities. ( Abigail Abigan Published 7:00 PM, August 25, 2017)

The Pandi Water District were lucky to witnessed expositions of booths from different municipalities and cities of Quezon Province where they showcased their local products and a glimpse of their history.