The men-dominated Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Friday unanimously approved a gender- responsive awards ordinance perceived to be of “clear bias” towards women but argued to have malice towards none. All male board members present in the session did support the measure authored by a lady colleague, but not without prior clarifications on its “exclusivity.” Pushed by Board Member Godofreda Tirol, the legislation creates and institutionalizes the annual “GADtimpala Awards” to Bohol municipalities having the best gender-responsive initiatives.

The GADtimpala recognizes local government unit programs, projects and services that remarkably upgrade the quality of life among women, of their families and in the community in general and other significant achievements. Tirol is a national Ulirang Ina awardee or a model Filipina mother in the country. The GAD means gender and development which, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), is programmed by the government with focus on the principle of development for all. While he understood that gender does not solely refer to the feminine kind, Board Member Tomas Abapo, Jr. agreed that the awards system motivates women to be agents of development. The GADtimpala will be launched as a fitting climax to Bohol's celebration of March as the National Women's Month. To the “simple understanding” of Board Member Venzencio Arcamo, the legislation does “concern and favor” women. But like all his fellow capitol male legislators, Arcamo ultimately backed the passage of Tirol's proposal with the wish to acknowledge the men whose labors serve the welfare of women and elevate their social dignity.

There are government programs that harness the capacities of the male sector or male-dominated sub-sectors yet have huge impacts on making the female group a more productive citizenry, the SP member said. The GADtimpala, according to Tirol, is an enabling initiative to apply and appreciate the substance of the Magna Carta for Women. Tirol's legislative piece on the search for best GAD-performing LGUs specifies its aims thru the following: *To recognize the significant achievement s and accomplishments of municipal governments in upholding the rights of women; *To assess the effectiveness of the LGUs in implementing gender-responsive programs and services; *To encourage LGUs to prioritize and fully address the issues and concerns related to GAD; *To encourage women's active engagement in programs and activities towards the attainment of the respective visions, missions and goals of the LGUs; and *To be able to identify the marked improvement in the lives of women as an expected outcome of the support to GAD.

In further explaining her measure, Tirol cited the thrust of responsive governance of the province under Gov. Edgar Chatto and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim, herself a woman presiding over the capitol SP which is the highest policy-making body of the province. Once its implementing rules and guidelines are crafted, Tirol said the GADtimpala can award outstanding programs of men's gender development. According to the CSC, the government's GAD program adheres to the idea of women and men enjoying the same conditions for realizing their full human rights and potentials to contribute to development as well as benefit from the results.

HOW ABOUT THE THIRD SEX?

The term “gender” refers to the socially-constructed differences between men and women, as distinct from "sex," which refers to their biological differences. Gender refers to the feminine or masculine kind while sex refers to female or male, Tirol emphasized. In the Philippines, the third sex is not recognized as a gender, according to Board Member Gerardo Garcia, although Abapo cited that in other countries, it is recognized as a gender because gender is sex. Abapo asked Tirol if her gender-sensitive awards ordinance recognizes the gays and lesbians, to whom she straightly and politely replied that it speaks no third sex. But the lady lawmaker quickly added that the third sex can venture in welfare activities or form a livelihood group who should get equal support from the government.

Board Member Jovanna Jumamoy, the only other incumbent SP member who is a woman by gender, seconded Tirol's ordinance. She is a lesbian. By hierarchy, Lim, the incumbent vice governor, is not a member of the provincial board but its presiding officer. Moreover, Tirol clarified that the GADtimpala search recognizes not individuals or groups but LGUs having outstanding gender-sensitive activities. Abapo acknowledged the GADtimpala as pursuing women's equality with men as opposed to the culture in olden times when women were taken as “properties” of men. Gender equality denotes women having the same opportunities in life as men, including the ability to participate in the public sphere. Board Member Elpidio Jala agreed with Board Member Abeleon Damalerio that the GADtimpala measure has at least proved how the men in the board are passionate about sex---as a social concern. (Ven rebo Arigo)