The City of San Fernando's distinct approach in promoting gender responsiveness in the city can be seen in the prioritization and institutionalization of policies and structures within the city government. Aligned with the people-centered governance of City Mayor Hermenigildo Gualberto, the city's accomplishments on gender and development (GAD) are continuously being expanded to respond to the needs of its citizens.
The City of San Fernando has an active GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) which is primarily responsible for the city's GAD planning and budgeting. The city's GAD fund supported the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Nasudi Center for Women, a halfway house for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors. The fund also supports the operations of the Sangguniang Kabataan Teen Center in all its 59 barangays to advocate for adolescent health and reduce teenage pregnancies. For 2021, the city government has appropriated funding for the creation of a permanent city GAD office.
Apart from the facilities, the City of San Fernando is a forerunner in terms of putting in place defined gender-related policies. Currently, the city has policies on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Comprehensive Gender Fairness (CGF).
Another good practice is the role played by the City Library. They ensure that reading materials are gender-sensitive by reviewing them before being disseminated to schools and day care centers. Moreover, the city day care workers also author their own children's stories which undergo review for gender fairness.
During the pandemic, the city government was proactive in ensuring the health and well-being of its frontliners, the local government employees. For its 2021 GAD fund, a portion will be allotted to purchase vaccines for city government employees regardless of employment status.
Learning from the experience of the City of San Fernando, having the necessary policies and facilities in place to support GAD and serve the needs of the people indeed is crucial in pushing towards becoming a gender responsive local government.
Photo credit: City Government of San Fernando, La Union