DFA-HRMO Conducts Webinar on Empowering Women in the Civil Service and Enhancing Workplace Inclusivity in Celebration of the 2025 National Women’s Month 

Resource Speaker Director Noreen Boots Gocon-Gragasin of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) during the lecture proper of the webinar 

MANILA 26 March 2025 – In celebration of the 2025 National Women’s Month, the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), successfully conducted a Webinar on Empowering Women in the Civil Service and Enhancing Workplace Inclusivity on 21 March 2025 via the Zoom Communications Platform. 

The virtual event brought together two hundred eighty (280) personnel from the Home Office, Consular Offices, and Foreign Service Posts around the world, reflecting the Department’s continued efforts to promote gender equality and foster an inclusive work environment across all levels of the organization. 

The webinar delved into several critical and interrelated issues women face in the civil service, such as the gender pay gap, underrepresentation in leadership positions, and workplace discrimination. It explored practical strategies to advance inclusivity, such as providing equal access to workplace benefits, instituting gender sensitivity programs, and addressing unconscious bias through targeted training for personnel. 

In his opening message, HRMO Assistant Secretary Christopher B. Montero reaffirmed the Department’s steadfast commitment to adopting policies that recognize and respect gender identity, uphold equal rights, and provide protection against discrimination and harassment among personnel. He also encouraged participants to actively contribute to “creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace - one where we uplift, empower, and celebrate one another, not just during Women’s Month, but every day.” END

HRMO Assistant Secretary Christopher B. Montero, Resource Speaker CSC Director Noreen Boots Gocon-Gragasin, together with the members of the GAD Secretariat during the webinar