9-10 November 2026
Benguet State University’s gender mainstreaming performance was evaluated for GADTimpala (Gender and Development Transformation and Institutionalization through Mainstreaming of Programs, Agenda, Linkages, and Advocacies) by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The GADtimpala initiative recognizes state universities and colleges (SUCs) and national government agencies who demonstrate exemplary progress in implementing gender-responsive programs, activities, and projects (PAPs), inspiring broader institutional integration across the higher education sector.
A joint validation team assessed BSU’s GAD initiatives, led by PCW Supervising GAD Specialists Armando G. Orcilla and Ariel Rivera, alongside PCW GAD Specialists II Patricia Beatriz R. Azanza and Kathleen Shane I. Gonzalez, CHED Information Officer II Sol Therese A. Laguio-Logo, and CHED Education Supervisor II Evelyn S. Ecle.
University President Kenneth A. Laruan delivered the opening message emphasizing that the GAD programs are pursued out of a genuine commitment to institutional and community development rather than mere government compliance. Laruan also noted that the university aims to use the feedback and observations to continuously improve its gender development programs by striving for a 1% improvement every day.
Following the opening remarks, the validation team guided participants through the evaluation process and schedule. The session then moved into a presentation of BSU’s key GAD accomplishments by Director Jude L. Tayaben, followed by a thorough compliance review using the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 1, s. 2015 checklist, and a focus group discussion with program beneficiaries.
In the afternoon, the team conducted onsite validations across threecommunity initiatives: Project HOTEL at Brentwood, Baguio City; Project REACH at Tawang, La Trinidad; and Project RAISE at the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. This is to assess the impact of BSU’s institutional GAD mechanisms, systems, gender-responsive curriculum, and research and extension programs.
The first day of the evaluation concluded with a cultural night shared by the validation team, BSU officials, GAD personnel, and CHED officials and representatives.
Day two began with the visit to the facilities established by the GAD office, including the lactating stations, child minding centers, and the university library.After the site visit, the team continued to evaluate BSU’s Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework across four core entry points: policy, people, enabling mechanisms, and PAPs.
After the evaluation, Orcilla presented the initial score of BSU and shared suggestions and ways forward in improving the universities gender mainstreaming initiatives.
President Laruan expressed gratitude for the two-day validation activity, noting that the evaluation will help strengthen the university’s gender and development programs, projects, and activities and that results of the validation will be integrated into future operational planning for gender development.
VP for Administration and Finance Richard H. Kinnud then delivered the closing message highlighting the power of teamwork and urged the BSU community to make proper documentation a continuing practice rather than just an emergency activity for evaluation visits.
Kinnud also emphasized that while GADtimpala recognition is an honor, the true goal is not winning awards, it is earning the trust, respect, and confidence of students, employees, and the community by actively practicing gender equality, dignity, fairness, and inclusion every day.//DPaydowan