AFP advances gender mainstreaming

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported Saturday that it held an executive briefing earlier this week to strengthen gender mainstreaming and advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda across the military establishment.

Organized by the AFP Gender and Development Office, the AFP GAD Executive Briefing CY 2026 was hosted by Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rommel P. Roldan.

Members of the AFP Gender and Development Focal Point System Executive Committee, representatives from the major service branches, and regional focal point personnel attended the session via video teleconference.

The forum featured presentations on institutional gender mainstreaming and expanding women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding and security operations. Dr. Macario T. Jusayan of the Philippine Commission on Women and Assistant Secretary Susana Guadalupe H. Marcaida of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity led the briefings.

Discussions centered on integrating gender perspectives into military policies, programs, and field operations, alongside tracking the implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2023–2033.

“When we take care of our people, we strengthen the AFP, and when every member of our institution can contribute, we become a more capable and mission-ready force,” Roldan said during the briefing.

Roldan added that the initiative underscores the military’s commitment to gender equality, inclusive leadership, and shared institutional responsibility in advancing gender and development programs.