https://gerc.ph/pdf/INVITE-AND-DETAILS-5th-National-GAD-Summit_letter-to-co-ops_Jan2024e.pdf

08 January 2024

Dear Fellow Cooperators,

Greetings!

In celebration of the co-ops’ achievements on gender and development (GAD) we are inviting your cooperative to the “5th National Summit on Gender and Development (GAD) in Cooperatives” to be held on March 4-6, 2024 in Vigan Convention Center, Vigan City, PH. The Summit theme is “Accelerating Gender Equality for Real and Lasting Change in Philippine Co-ops” #GEinPHcoops

In the National Summits on GAD in Co-ops (previously held in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021), Philippine co-ops and co-op-supporting government and private organizations come together to share, learn, and get inspired more from the showcasing of best practices of co-ops, and the discussions on development topics by eloquent resource
speakers—including updates on emerging frameworks and concerns affecting co-ops, women, and men. In these Summits, the co-ops affirm that gender integration helps their organizations achieve even more encompassing sustainable development.

Expected Participants of the 5th National GAD Summit
• Cooperatives: Board of Directors and other officers; General Managers/Chief Executive Officers; GAD Committee and Education Committee; GAD Focal Persons, GAD Trainers and GAD Advocates; Human Resource Officers; Youth Leaders
• Local government units: Co-op Development Officers; GAD Focal Persons; Youth Officers/Leaders
• GAD Focal Persons of government agencies that support co-ops
• People’s organizations and other organizations that support GAD in co-ops

The GAD Summit Organizers
The Gender Equality Resource Center (GERC) Inc. and the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) are the 2024 GAD Summit organizers. GERC Inc. is a resource center and advocacy body that promotes the advocacy and practice of GE in co-ops to achieve and support co-op development and growth. NSCC is a
federation of co-ops based in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, organized to empower co-ops and implement projects that help eradicate poverty through extending financial assistance, training, and community development activities.

We are also attaching here the following documents as reference for your logistical preparations in joining the Summit:
1. List of hotels and guest houses in Vigan City
2. List of contacts for transportation services

See you at the Summit!
(Sgd.)
MS. EMMA A. NIEVA, DM
Chairperson
Gender Equality Resource Center (GERC) Inc.


https://gerc.ph/pdf/INVITE-AND-DETAILS-5th-National-GAD-Summit_letter-to-co-ops_Jan2024e.pdf


Summit Objectives
1. To share information on how co-ops are mainstreaming GAD in people, policies, programs/ projects/activities, and enabling mechanisms; and to highlight the impact of GAD in co-ops
2. To identify how to sustain and expand GAD mainstreaming in co-ops to further strengthen actions in addressing particularly socioeconomic, climate change, and digital technology challenges
3. To issue a call for action to all cooperatives, legislators, government agencies, and civil society to help accelerate immediately—NOW—gender equality and GAD efforts for real and lasting change in Philippine cooperatives and to contribute to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

https://gerc.ph/pdf/INVITE-AND-DETAILS-5th-National-GAD-Summit_letter-to-co-ops_Jan2024e.pdf

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Register online and see the other Summit-related registration instructions and incentives here: https://bit.ly/3MWSVid

Dates to Remember
March 4, 2024—travel to and arrival at Vigan City. Claiming of GAD Summit kits and IDs will start on March 4, 2024 from 2PM until 6PM, and on March 5,2024 at 7AM-9AM at Vigan Convention Center (hallway area). Please assign one participant only to claim your kits.

March 5 and 6, 2024—GAD Summit at the Vigan Convention Center

First registration period with early-bird fee of PhP6,000 is from January 1 to January 29, 2024: with live-out arrangement (Summit participants will arrange and pay for their own accommodations in Vigan City). The registration fee of PhP6,000 should be deposited in the GERC bank account on or before January 31, 2024 (not
later than this date).

The next-to-open registration period is from February 1, 2024 to February 23, 2024, with PhP7,500 registration fee: with live-out arrangement (Summit participants will arrange and pay for their own accommodations in any of the nearby hotels/lodging facilities in Vigan City). The registration fee of PhP7,500 should be deposited in the GERC bank account on or before February 23, 2024 (not later than this date).

   REGISTRATION FEES: PhP6,000 (if paid/deposited on or before January 31, 2024)
                                      PhP7,500 (if paid/deposited after January 31, 2024)

For inquiries, contact Ms. Wilma Ganibe of GERC via mobile: 0935-549-2471 (TM); or via this e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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RATIONALE
In March 2023, United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres told the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which is the key UN women’s rights group, that progress toward gender equality is “vanishing before our eyes.” Mr. Guterres said that gender equality is “300 years away,” based on the then latest estimates from the UN Women, which is the UN agency that is dedicated to gender equality and women empowerment. The UN “Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023” did not give a better update for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 5 (“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”). SDG No. 5 emphasizes that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. The UN SDG Report 2023 highlighted the following information:

• There has been progress over the last decades on gender equality, but the world is not on track to achieve it by 2030, which is the target year for achieving all the 17 SDGs.
• The socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation even bleaker. Progress is falling behind in many areas including, but not limited to, time spent on unpaid care and domestic work, decision-making regarding sexual and reproductive health, and gender-responsive budgeting. Furthermore, the already poorly funded women’s health services have faced major disruptions; violence against women (VAW) remains endemic (or is naturally happening); and despite women’s leadership in responding to COVID-19, they still trail men in securing decision-making positions they deserve.
• There must be commitment and bold action to accelerate progress, including through the promotion of laws, policies, budgets, and institutions that advance gender equality.
• With only seven years remaining to 2030, a mere 15.4 percent of SDG No. 5 indicators with data are “on track”; 61.5 percent are at a moderate distance; and 23.1 percent are far or very far off track from 2030 targets. In many areas, progress has been too slow. At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage; 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws; 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace; and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.

The preceding description of the grim scenario on achieving gender equality should be of concern to all development organizations—including cooperatives, of course. Cooperatives function right where the people are, the people who trust them with their hard-earned money. As cooperatives are at the center of people’s socioeconomic lives, these organizations should be strong and sustainable so that they can overcome the challenges that are coming from all over. There must be topnotch cooperative leadership and management; and excellent service delivery to the members. And with both women and men in their membership, the cooperatives should be able to know and be able to address their members’ gender needs and strategic interests. The mainstreaming of gender and development (GAD) in cooperatives should lead to the attainment of gender equality that will ensure quality life for all. But it is not enough that Philippine cooperatives become aware of the threats to their gender-related activities and overall development efforts, particularly in locations where these cooperatives operate. With the need to address urgent socioeconomic problems that concern the members, GAD mainstreaming becomes even more important in Philippine cooperatives to ensure that the situation and condition of women-members and of men-members are taken into account. Cooperatives must accelerate now their GAD mainstreaming efforts because of the still current and also new challenges to cooperatives that require the multi-pronged development approach that cooperatives must do. And cooperatives do not have an excuse to not to do the task. They have the guidelines and the tools, particularly through Memorandum Circulars No. 2013-22 and No. 2017-04 of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), GAD
assessment tools, etc.; co-op gender advocates; financial resources; and other requirements to move fast, accurately, and purposefully. Cooperatives also have their fellow cooperatives to serve as source of learning and inspiration on best practices on mainstreaming GAD.

This 5th National GAD Summit intends to bring to the fore cooperatives’ best practices and best experiences in mainstreaming GAD in the four entry points of people, policies, programs/projects/ activities (PPAs), and enabling mechanisms. Showcasing cooperatives’ gender-related actions will highlight that the results are greatly helping to bring about organizational development and sustainability, and members empowerment.

This 5th National GAD Summit also seeks to enable cooperatives to ask themselves “What now?” and to identify how to continue or sustain and then expand their gender-related actions amid the ever-increasing challenges they must face, especially in today’s world—particularly the increasing socioeconomic, climate change, and digital technology challenges. These socioeconomic, climate change, and digital technology challenges are interrelated with one another in the global and local levels, inasmuch as gender equality is a cross-cutting objective in development work. The interrelatedness of socioeconomic, climate change, and digital technology challenges also means that when not properly addressed altogether, they have long-term ill effects even on the cooperatives that are people-based organizations. To quote the report “Government Responses to COVID-19: Lessons on gender equality for a world in turmoil” by UN Women, there is “the need to ensure that crisis response and strategies for recovery and future preparedness are gender-responsive is more urgent than ever.”


https://gerc.ph/pdf/INVITE-AND-DETAILS-5th-National-GAD-Summit_letter-to-co-ops_Jan2024e.pdf


Register online and see the other Summit-related registration instructions and incentives here: https://bit.ly/3MWSVid

LIST OF HOTELS AND LODGING HOUSES IN VIGAN CITY
---Please book your own accommodation (March 4-6, 2024)

• NSCC HOTEL VIGAN
A. Reyes St., Brgy., Vigan City Ilocos Sur
Contact numbers: (077) 6741070, 09175076402
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.coop-nscc.com

• NSCC CASA DE VIGAN
A. Reyes St., Brgy. 1, Vigan City Ilocos Sur
Contact numbers: (077) 6741070, 09175076402
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.coop-nscc.com

• NSCC PLAZA HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER
Don Alejandro Quirolgico, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur
Contact numbers: (077)7223281, 0927 6468214
Email add: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.coop-nscc.com

• CASA RICA HOTEL
Corner Calle Abaya, 88 Quirino Boulevard, Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 674 0591
Website: CASA RICA HOTEL

• CASA TEOFILA LODGE
Contact numbers: (077)722 6482
Website:Casa Teolfila Lodge

• CUIDAD FERNANDINA HOTEL
26 PLARIDEL ST, VIGAN CITY
Contact numbers:(077) 6792598
Website: CUIDAD FERNANDINA HOTEL

• CONDOTEL ASUNCION
Florentino cor Jacinto St., Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 722 8777
Website:condotel asuncion

• CORDILLERA INN HOTEL & RESTAURANT
29 Crisologo St, Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077)722 2727
Website:cordillera inn vigan city

• GORDION HOTEL
Salcedo Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077)6320881
Website:gordion inn

• HOTEL FELICIDAD
V. De Los Reyes cor Florentino St., Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 674 0232
Website: hotel felicidad

• HOTEL SALCEDO DE VIGAN
V. De Los Reyes St., Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 7221200
Website: hotel salcedo de vigan

• MY VIGAN HOME HOTEL
14 Plaridel St., corner Bonifacio St, Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 7226986/09175272304
Website: my vigan home hotel

• PLAYA DE ORO RESORT
Brgy Mindoro., Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 7228774 to 75
Website:playa de oro resort vigan

• RF ANICETO MANSION
Crisologo St.,Vigan City
Contact numbers: 077 7222383, 09175429386
Website: rf aniceto mansion
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• UNP GUESTEL
Quirino Boulevard, Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077)7222810
Website: unp hostel

• VIGAN PLAZA HOTEL
Crisologo St., Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 722 8553
Website: vigan plaza hotel

• VILLA ANGELA HERITAGE HOUSE
26 Quirino Boulevard, Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077) 7222914
Website: villa angela heritage house

• HOTEL MERCANTE
Bonifacio St., near Plaridel St, Vigan CIty
Contact numbers: 09171124784
Website:hotel mercante

• CORDILLERA FAMILY INN
Florentino St (near A. Reyes St infront of Plaza Burgos) Vigan City
Contact numbers: (077)722 2272
Website: cordellera family inn

• HOTEL VENETO DE VIGAN
Bonifacion St., cor A. Reyes St, Vigan City
Contact numbers:(077) 6740938
Website: hotel veneto de vigan

• HAPPY GREY HOTEL
Quirino Boulevard, Cuta, Vigan City
Contact numbers: 0917 8137101
Website: happy grey hotel

Note: Participants can still look for other hotels/lodging houses in Vigan City that are not in the list by using Google.

TRANSPORTATION
Please book for you own travel to the GAD Summit and tour in Ilocos Region from:
> Metro Manila and other provinces going to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (Region 1)
> Manila Airports - T1, T2, T3, T4
>Clark City Airport
>Laoag City Airport
>Manila Seaports
via expressways -NLEX, TPLEX, SCETEX

• CO-PILOT TRAVEL AND TOURS
Based in Quezon City
Contact Person: Mr Jeffrey Mendoza
Mobile number: 09171487835
FB Page: Co-Pilot Travel and Tours

• Cooperative Transport services, please check with cooperatives you know that are based in Manila and Luzon areas

• BUSES (please check their websites)
1. Partas Bus (Pasay City and Cubao terminals)
2. Viron Transit (Cubao Terminal)

• Private Van for hire (if you know of someone)


https://gerc.ph/pdf/INVITE-AND-DETAILS-5th-National-GAD-Summit_letter-to-co-ops_Jan2024e.pdf

Register online and see the other Summit-related registration instructions and incentives here: https://bit.ly/3MWSVid