Empowering Every Juana: DOST-NCR Initiatives Debunk Stereotypes About Women 

The DOST-NCR boasts of a portfolio of women-leaders under its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), as well as in the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology and Women-Helping-Women: Innovating Social Enterprises (WHWise) Programs. For this year’s Women’s Month, DOST-NCR came up with a robust mix of awareness campaigns, capacity building activities, community engagements, and inter-agency collaborations that were all anchored on the theme of “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!”  

A Month of Celebration, A Year of Empowerment   

Women’s Month streamers at the DOST-NCR Regional and Cluster Offices signaled the start of the celebration, aside from the “Purple Wednesdays” campaign that had government personnel nationwide wearing purple every Wednesday.   

Recognizing the critical role of dialogue, DOST-NCR organized insightful webinars for the public that reflect the changing roles of women in society. “Women Stirring the Pot of Innovation” unpacked the challenges and opportunities for women in the food manufacturing industry; “Women at the Helm,” emphasized innovation and strategic leadership in building resilience among women-led MSMEs; “Championing Women Leaders in DRRM and Sustainability” and “How Women Are Resilient in Facing Disasters and the Impacts of Climate Change”, discussed women’s pivotal roles in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness; “Women Entrepreneurs in Sustainability”– a collaboration with Soilmate, showcased the role of green technology in empowering women entrepreneurs; “Women Beyond the Kitchen”, tackled women’s roles integrating across the food industry value chain; “Genderizing R&D”, showed how research and development outputs can create gender-sensitive impacts across sectors; and “Women’s Roles and Challenges Beyond the Kitchen and in the Digital Age,” focused on the shifting roles of women in modern digital ecosystems and the broader socio-economic landscape.   

To ensure that the reach of gender advocacy extends to vulnerable communities, DOST-NCR also conducted a face-to-face Gender Sensitivity and Awareness Training, which raised awareness on gender concepts, roles, and rights, equipping both women and men with a deeper understanding of equality, respect, and inclusive community development.   

International and Regional Collaborations: Championing Women in Science and Technology   

In an affirmation of the universal nature of women’s concerns, particularly in the field of science and technology, DOST-NCR joined the March 28 Philippine Side Event of the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69) through the hybrid forum “WEE in S&T: EmpoWEEring Women through Gender-Responsive Science and Technology Interventions,” which highlighted the transformative power of inclusive science and technology programs in advancing women’s economic empowerment (WEE).   

Prior to Women’s Month, DOST-NCR also participated in the DOST Central Office-GAD Unit-led forum to celebrate the 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS). Held on February 11, 2025, the forum titled “Unboxing STEM Professions: A Day in the Life of Women in Science,” shared inspiring stories from women scientists who are breaking barriers in STEM fields.   

Grassroots Engagement: Empowering Women in Communities   

In line with its commitment to inclusivity, DOST-NCR reached out to women in the communities on March 14 through the “WEE in S&T: Orientation on the Basic GAD Concepts and Livelihood Training” held at the DOST-ITDI Training Room. Women from Barangays New Lower Bicutan and Western Bicutan in the City of Taguig were given a tour of DOST-ITDI’s facilities and services and were briefed on GAD principles and VAW laws by DOST GAD Focal Person Ms. Maria Fe B. Singson.   

The DOST visit included a livelihood training session and a hands-on tour of the DOST-ITDI Food Processing Division (FPD) facilities led by the division’s trainers. For its part, DOST-NCR distributed essential cleaning kits to the participants that can be used for both household maintenance and for potential home-based livelihood ventures.   

Reaching Out to the Underserved: Standing Together for Elderly Women   

In keeping with its Science Beyond Borders campaign, DOST-NCR, in partnership with the DOST Central Office and DOST SIKAT, conducted a heartfelt outreach activity on March 21 at the Mother Elisabetta Longhi Foundation. Through the program titled “We, in S&T: We Stand Together for Elderly Women,” the agency engaged elderly women in meaningful activities, including a Zumba session, gift-giving, and a special musical number performed by DOST staff.   

The DOST-NCR conducted a Technical Needs Assessment at the facility to determine potential livelihood interventions that are suitable for elderly women to support their well-being.   

A Celebration Beyond Women’s Month  

Through a blend of awareness building, empowerment training, community outreach, and inter-agency collaborations, DOST-NCR’s 2025 Women’s Month celebration was not just a tribute to women—it was a collective declaration that women belong in leadership, in laboratories, in different fields and beyond.   

As DOST-NCR continues to nurture inclusive innovations, its initiatives during Women’s Month affirmed its role as a trailblazer for women’s empowerment in science and technology, proving that when Juana leads, everyone moves forward—not just every March, but every day of the year.   

By: Divine Joy Niala, GAD Officer