DAVAO CITY – In line with the celebration of the National Women’s Month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI has joined and conducted several activities last March 7-11, 2016.

The National Women’s Month Celebration this year with the theme: “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda.”

“The activity served as a call to the incoming new leaders this election not to take for granted and to include in their platforms the different issues faced by women. For them to see that this is not just another women’s month celebration,” said DOLE XI Regional Focal Person for Family Welfare Program Hannah O. Badilles.

First activity was “In her shoes” held last March 7 wherein some men of the department participated in an afternoon walk wearing high-heels from Roxas Avenue to People’s Park. The said activity which is now on its third year aims to combat sexual harassment and violence against women.

Patrick P. Pedrajas, one of the participants, said that the activity made him empathize on how hard it was to wear women’s shoes.

“The activity made me realize that it is not easy to wear high-heels and despite that challenge, women still manage to walk in heels,” he said in vernacular.

Last March 8, DOLE XI representatives joined the International Women’s Day Walk where they paraded from Roxas Avenue going to People’s Park wearing their gender advocate shirts.

The Department, through its Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons Melanie R. Jadulang and Suzette Jane A. Antiveros organized an internal activity for the women of DOLE XI named: “#SHEsparks (Strong-willed and Highly Empowered women of DOLE XI).” The event held last March 11 at Green Heights Business and Convention Center, was an afternoon filled with health and wellness lectures and massage and relaxation techniques for stress management.

DOLE XI Assistant Regional Director Jason P. Balais, who graced the activity, said that the women of DOLE XI truly deserve the afternoon to treat themselves.

Kriztja Marae G. Labrador/DOLE XI- LCO