The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) successfully conducted the Gender and Tourism Writeshop on 19–20 June 2025, with the objective of mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) across TPB programs and initiatives.
The writeshop began with a session led by Mr. Raymond Jay Mazo, who set expectations for an engaging and informative two-day learning experience. Discussions on the first day included the proposed endorsement of the GAD Plan and Budget (GPB) with a 5% GAD attribution, a synthesis of relevant legal frameworks on tourism and gender equality, and a strong emphasis on adopting GAD as a cross-cutting institutional approach, rather than as a stand-alone program. The day concluded with breakout sessions, during which participating units began drafting program briefs and identifying key stakeholders.
The second day built upon the foundational concepts covered in the initial session, with a recap and discussions on monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, forthcoming training on sex-disaggregated data, and the contextualized use of artificial intelligence (AI) in program planning. Departments presented their draft project briefs and received constructive feedback from the resource speaker. Recommendations focused on improving the clarity and structure of project documents, ensuring internal consistency, and highlighting the GAD dimension of each initiative.
The activity also underscored the importance of institutionalizing the collection of performance indicators for inclusion in accomplishment reports. Departments were guided to evaluate their project briefs using the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG) checklist to ensure alignment with national standards.
At the conclusion of the writeshop, project officers expressed appreciation for the opportunity to enhance their understanding of GAD integration and affirmed their commitment to applying GAD principles in the development of TPB’s programs and projects.
KENLORD C. NAVARETTE
Writer / Graphic Design
TPB GAD Specialist
