PH Consulate General in Manado Conducts Webinar on Gender and COVID-19 

Speaker Ms. Reina Olivar (upper right), Vice Consul Manuel C. Ayap (lower right) and the participants (lower left) during the webinar on Gender and COVID-19. (Manado PCG photo)

MANADO 16 November 2020 – The Philippine Consulate General in Manado held a webinar entitled “Gender and COVID-19” on 14 November 2020 where Ms. Reina Olivar, a Gender and Development Specialist of the First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA), extensively discussed the COVID-19 pandemic situation and how it differently affects men and women in terms of gender roles. She also presented some gender-sensitive coping mechanisms that can be adopted by men and women at the workplace and household settings.

Ms. Olivar explained that the pandemic situation brought to light disparate gender roles that tend to put a disproportionate burden on a group of individuals because of the gender role they are compelled to assume. She noted that, in some cases, the pandemic is causing fathers and mothers to share parenting responsibilities to such an extent that was not typical before the pandemic. She also described how the pandemic created entrepreneurial opportunities which empowered members of the vulnerable sectors who put their creativity to work to pursue business opportunities.

While the pandemic unleashed unprecedented challenges, Ms. Olivar is optimistic that a gender development agenda should make for a constructive response to these challenges that will create advantages for the public even in the post-COVID-19 world. END

For more information, visit https://www.manadopcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinManado/.