Isabela City was selected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) IX to be featured in its National Women’s Month Celebration initiative highlighting the strong integration of Gender and Development (GAD) and environmental stewardship.
The visit, February 26, aimed to document and showcase the city’s best practices demonstrating women’s active role in environmental management, sustainable livelihood, waste reduction, and community development. Through its innovative and inclusive governance approach, Isabela City continues to set an example in mainstreaming gender equality across environmental programs.
Featured GAD Flagship Programs include
Marang-Marang Floating Cottage, Barangay Marang-Marang Bajau Women Weavers of Tampalan, Barangay Tampalan Project ZERO: Zero Waste, Zero Chemicals, Zero Hunger (DAH Floating Garden, Barangay Carbon) Project ZERO: Zero Waste, Zero Chemicals, Zero Hunger (Kaumpurnah Elementary School)They were joined by City Tourism Officer Claudio Ramos II; Environmental Management Specialist II; Engr Rall Harvey Hadap; Community Affairs Associate Anna Sahibil; and Al-Hada Basaluddin, GAD Focal Assistant.
The final part of their itinerary was an interview with Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, where she shared the city’s GAD flagship programs and emphasized, “Hindi tayo puro slogan—we act upon it.”
The DENR-EMB IX team expressed admiration for how women in Isabela City actively care for and manage their communities, highlighting how local GAD initiatives have empowered women as key drivers of environmental sustainability and social development.
Notably, Isabela City was rated Gender-Responsive by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) during the 2024
Gender-Responsive LGU (GERL) Tool Audit, further affirming the city’s strong commitment to gender equality, inclusive governance, and transformative leadership.
The City Government of Isabela likewise extends its sincere gratitude to the Environmental Management Bureau IX for the opportunity to showcase its programs to the entire region and for recognizing the vital role of women in advancing environmental sustainability.
Indeed, in Isabela City, women empowerment and environmental protection go hand in hand. (Words by R. Albani, GAD Unit/Photos by KJ Evardo, IsaTV & M. Santos, CIO)
