The UPLB Gender Center (UPLB-GC) invited women leaders who have made notable contributions to the country’s COVID-19 response in the third episode of its Facebook talk show ‘Gend-ER Live: Women Leaders in the Midst of Crisis’ on Aug. 27.
One of the guests was Hon. Leni Robredo, Vice President of the Philippines.
She talked about her office’s relief efforts for healthcare workers through the provision of shuttle and dormitory services and personal protective equipment (PPEs).
She also discussed efforts for the remote learning of indigent students, including initiating donation drives for gadgets and putting up learning hubs in communities without Internet access.
Alongside Vice President Robredo was Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, chairperson of Ako Bakwit, Inc. and a women and peace advocate.
She shared her experiences in managing an online COVID-19 information campaign and in facilitating donations of PPEs to frontliners and relief goods to citizens of Mindanao by working with various institutions and sectors.
In his welcome remarks, Atty. Eric Paul D. Peralta, director of UPLB-GC, lauded the guests for being exemplary public servants during these trying times and for carrying the torch of Filipina leaders.
Dr. Serlie Barroga-Jamias, vice chancellor for community affairs, in her closing remarks, hoped that the guests’ grit and passion for service would inspire other women to become leaders in their own right.
In his solidarity message read by Atty. Peralta, Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. ensured the UPLB community that his administration would always support programs that promote and protect the rights of women, LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized sectors.
Serving as moderators were Dr. Evelie P. Serrano, coordinator of the Gender for Rural Development Office of UPLB-GC, and Dr. Emilia A. Lastica-Ternura, coordinator of the UPLB Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment.
About 3,000 Facebook viewers attended the webinar.
Gend-ER Live! is one of the initiatives of UPLB-GC to continue mainstreaming gender concerns in the community in the ‘new normal’. (Miguel Victor T. Durian)