ILOILO CITY — The Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) 6 held its first semester meeting on June 15, 2026 at DEPDev Region VI, drawing together government agencies, local government units, and civil society partners. The gathering spotlighted new health service access for vulnerable groups and a full slate of Pride Month activities across Iloilo City.
Strengthening Gender and Development Networks
Representatives from multiple LGUs reported on their GAD Committee accomplishments, sharing best practices that range from gender‑sensitive local policies to community‑based training. The exchange allowed smaller municipalities to learn from the innovative frameworks already tested in more urbanized centers.
A key agenda was the formal establishment of the regional GAD Resource Pool through the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network. This network has been at the forefront of campaigns against gender‑based violence and has a long history of mobilizing communities through events like the One Billion Rising campaign. Its institutionalization ensures a roster of trained gender specialists ready to be deployed across Western Visayas.
Capacity development activities, including workshops on GEDSI‑responsive programming, were also laid out for the rest of 2026. These initiatives will build the skills of local planners and frontliners to integrate gender equity into everyday government services.
PhilHealth Expands Support for the Most Vulnerable
Janimhe C. Jalbuna, Public Affairs Unit Head of PhilHealth 6, delivered an in‑depth presentation on new and existing health coverage for marginalized sectors. Her talk focused on streamlining registration processes so that senior citizens, persons with disabilities, child orphans, and foundlings can more easily access their benefits.
Special attention was given to cases involving violence against women and their children. Jalbuna explained the specific documentary requirements and simplified steps for victims to avail of medical and psychological services without unnecessary delays. The agency is working closely with local social welfare offices to ensure that no survivor falls through bureaucratic cracks.
The updates were well received by the committee, as they directly align with the regional goal of making health care equitable and gender‑responsive. LGUs committed to disseminating the information through their barangay health workers and women’s desks.
Iloilo City Pride Month Brings Color and Advocacy
Gab Umadhay of the Iloilo Pride Team and the Office of the LGBT Affairs (OLA) then took the floor to unveil the month‑long Pride celebration. The calendar is packed with events designed to celebrate diversity, foster inclusion, and raise awareness about the challenges faced by sexual minority groups.
The SOGIE Caravan will travel through various barangays, offering education sessions alongside cultural performances. Competitive events like the LGBT 3rd World Dance Sports Competition, the Volleyball League 2026, and the Mardi Gras Dance Competition will give participants a platform to showcase their talents. A Drag Night Competition billed as “Warrior Queen” and the SOGIE SC Ambassador 2026 pageant will further highlight the community’s creativity and resilience.
These activities are not just festivities; they are acts of visibility. Umadhay stressed that Pride Month in Iloilo City is a movement calling for acceptance, equal rights, and an end to discrimination. The OLA is working closely with RGADC to ensure that all events are safe, inclusive, and supportive.
A United Front for Inclusion
The convergence of GAD policy, health service expansion, and grassroots Pride activism illustrates a maturing regional approach to equity. By bringing together PhilHealth’s concrete service updates with the vibrant cultural expression of the LGBTQIA+ community, the meeting modeled the kind of intersectional collaboration that RGADC 6 champions.
