Kalinga State University conducted a two-day Seminar on Gender and Development towards public service excellence participated by the non-teaching personnel and some faculty of the College of Business, Entrepreneurship & Accountancy and the College of Criminal Justice Education held last September 7 and 8, 2023 at Lower Magat Eco-tourism Park, Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.
Attended by 71 participants, the event aims to strengthen the knowledge and understanding of the service providers gearing towards excellent delivery of quality services at the same time to serve as an information dissemination of Republic Act 11036 otherwise known as the Mental Health Act of the Philippines.
According to Mrs. Aida Cawili, a registered Guidance Counselor of the university the Mental Health Act is directed towards improving the health of the population in school, workplaces and communities. It also highlights the balanced delivery of mental health services with emphasis on individuals with psychiatric, neurologic and psychosocial health needs, and overcoming society’s attitudinal challenges that they may live free from humiliation and discrimination.
She also stressed that since we are government service providers, there is a need for every employee to realize his or her own potential, cope with normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully and is able to contribute to his or her community.
Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Edna P. Yumol also reiterated in her welcome message the importance of being mentally healthy apart from being physically healthy considering that we are dealing with a lot of clients every day.
“We intend to conduct annual seminar on GAD such as this to be held outside the school so as to integrate and advocate gender equality principles and perspectives with our policies, programs and systems and also to give a break for our workforce to relax and have fun” she added.
The two-day seminar concluded with a team building activity among the participants facilitated by the University Guidance Counselor Mrs. Jema Mendoza.