SLSU GAD joins CHEDRO VIII Culminating Activity for 2025 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women

The Commission on Higher Education Regional Office VIII (CHEDRO VIII) successfully conducted the Culminating Activity of the 2025 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) together with the Eastern Visayas Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) GAD Focal Assembly on December 16, 2025, at the Radiant Hotel, Tacloban City.

 

The activity brought together Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons and representatives from public and private higher education institutions across Eastern Visayas, reinforcing collective efforts to promote gender equality, safe spaces, and inclusive academic environments.

 

Among the active participants was Ms. Shyn Luege Villaflores, Gender and Development Head, whose participation underscored her institution’s continued commitment to advancing gender-responsive policies and strengthening GAD mechanisms in higher education.

 

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe, PhD, DPM, JD, CESO III, Director IV of CHEDRO VIII, emphasized that ending violence against women requires more than the existence of laws. “Violence against women doesn’t persist because of the lack of laws but because of silence,” Dr. Aljibe stressed, calling on higher education institutions to actively confront and address gender-based violence.

 

 

He further highlighted that awareness must be translated into concrete and sustained action. “Awareness alone is not enough; advocacies must be sustained through actions, implementation of policies, and systems,” he said, urging institutions to ensure that GAD initiatives are fully operationalized and felt on the ground.

 

Dr. Aljibe also challenged HEIs to elevate their commitment to gender protection beyond minimum requirements. “We must move from compliance to a deep commitment—from written policies to actual protection,” he added, reinforcing the role of universities as safe and inclusive spaces for all.

 

A key component of the activity was the orientation on Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law), conducted by Mr. Leo Christian V. Lauzon. The session provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of institutional responsibilities in preventing gender-based harassment and fostering respectful learning and work environments. The discussion continued in the afternoon session, allowing for the sharing of best practices among HEIs.

 

 

One of the highlights of the culminating activity was the Awarding of PCW Top-Performing State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the 2024 GAD Plan and Budget Implementation, recognizing institutions that demonstrated exemplary performance in gender mainstreaming. The awarding was led by  Mr. Lauzon, with assistance from CHEDRO VIII GFPS members.

 

The program ends with an open forum, providing participants an avenue to exchange insights, challenges, and recommendations to further strengthen GAD implementation across the region.