As part of its Gender and Development (GAD) Program and in observance of the 2016 National Women’s Month Celebration, with this year’s theme “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda”, the Bureau of Labor Relations organized a series of learning sessions for the BLR employees. The Bureau’s learning activities relates to the advocacy for women’s empowerment and gender equality. The topics in the learning sessions include, the Basic Techniques on Self-Defense for Women and Health Awareness and Prevention of Common Diseases.

Prof. Daryl Johnson M. Abrenica of the Philippine College of Criminology lectured and demonstrated with the aid of his students, the basic techniques of self-defense under difficult circumstances on March 15, 2016. Mr. Abrenica in his discussion emphasized that self-defense helps develop mental and physical alertness as it help prepare individuals to respond to dangerous situations and unexpected threats to life and property.

BLR personnel also participated in the public event “Sama-Samang Pagsulong sa mga Agenda ni Juana” last March 16, 2016 at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, in Manila. Around 5,000 participants from different national government agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges, government–owned and controlled corporations, private and civil society organizations also attended the event. The activity was highlighted with a casting of votes on perceived gender and development issues that are recommended to be prioritized by the next administration.

Meanwhile, on March 30, 2016, the BLR culminated the Women’s Month celebration, by conducting another learning session on Health Awareness and Prevention of Common Diseases. Dr. Mar Wynn C. Bello, Director of the Health Promotion and Communication Service of the Department of Health, in his lecture, he highlighted the importance of maintaining good health and keeping the people free from disease through preventive healthcare measures.

Thereafter, the BLR Director and staff, presented tokens to the resource persons as the Bureau’s gesture of expressing its gratitude and appreciation for the expertise and time shared by the resource persons.

END/ Myra Flor M. Ampong