Mariveles, Bataan – The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), through its Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS), joined government agencies from across the country in the 5th National GFPS Convention held on September 1 to 3, 2025, led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
The gathering came at a historic moment as the PCW celebrated its 50th founding anniversary while the country marked several milestones in gender advocacy: the 45th year since the Philippines ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the 30th year of the GAD Budget Policy, the 25th year of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, and the final year of the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (1995–2025).
With the theme “Reaping Gains, Celebrating Milestones, and Strengthening the Roles of GFPS for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,” the three-day convention featured plenary discussions on new policies, capacity-building workshops, and presentations of good practices from various agencies. It also highlighted the contributions of GFPS members in pushing for gender-responsive governance and women’s empowerment across different sectors.
For AFAB, the convention was an opportunity to align its gender programs with national priorities and learn from practices of other institutions. The Freeport’s GFPS continues to pursue initiatives that integrate gender perspectives in policy and development work, aiming to create a more inclusive environment for workers, investors, and the wider Bataan community.