Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
A traditional groundbreaking ceremony marks the official day of construction of the new University Center for Gender and Development (UCGAD) building strategically located at the back of CBM building facing the College of Agriculture Cluster Building on January 17.
The construction of this new UCGAD building will serve as an office, a counseling room, a training area, a GAD resource corner, and a Child Facility Center.
Dr. Eva N. Mendoza, Chief of UCGAD expressed her pleasure and gratitude that the new UCGAD building will soon demonstrate CMU’s very positive response to the mandate of gender mainstreaming in the trilogical functions of Higher Education Institutions as stipulated in CHED memorandum Order # 1 series of 2015.
“It signifies our commitment as a University, to pursue gender equality and gender equity among all our constituents and other stakeholders,” she said.
According to Dr. Mendoza, this multi-purpose UCGAD building is needed for gender mainstreaming especially in the core functions of the university which are Instruction, Research, Extension, and for serving the gender needs, which are both practical and strategic, for CMU constituents and neighboring communities.
“The Child Facility Center, for example, could be used not only to cater to the needs of the parent employees and students, but it can also be used as a laboratory for our Nursing, Education, Psychology, and Home Economics students,” she elaborated.
Further, Dr. Jesus Antonio G. Derije, University President, challenged the UCGAD chief on how GAD can reach out to the needs of the marginalized sector of the community especially the IPs.
In the University Code, UCGAD is responsible for:
1. monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of policies, programs, and services geared towards gender sensitivity and women empowerment;
2. integration of gender concepts in academic curricula and adoption of research, extension, and advocacy programs on gender sensitivity and women empowerment; and
3. coordination of activities, projects, and programs of KAROMAHAN and assistance on building its linkages and networking with other gender assistance on building its linkages and networking with other gender resource centers, organizations, agencies and support groups.
Meanwhile, the groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the University President, the Administrative Council, Unit heads, University Planning and Development personnel, GAD focal persons, and contractors. (IADalipe-Neri)
