CHED RO XI Kicks Off the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW with GAD Summit 2025
The Commission on Higher Education Region XI in collaboration with Regional GAD Advocates’ Network XI (RGAN XI) and in collaboration with the six (6) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Private HEIs in the Davao Region, successfully conducted the Regional Gender and Development (GAD) Summit 2025 for Davao Region on November 25-26, 2025, at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Bo. Obrero, Davao City, as the host SUC.
This year’s summit, themed “Gender Justice and the Digital Age,” was marked by the official launching and unveiling of the Gender Research and Policy Journal as a key innovation of RGAN XI. The event also featured four plenary sessions delivered by distinguished GAD champions: Talk 1: “Campus Justice in Practice: Institutionalizing CODI in the Higher Education Landscape” by Dr. Cesar A. Adegue IV; Talk 2: “Making Safe Spaces Safe: Legal Protections Against Gender-Based Violence On and Offline” by Atty. Jesus A. Villardo III; Talk 3: “Does AI See Gender? Exploring Bias, Justice, and Ethical Use of AI in Research and Education” by Dr. Ruby A. Serrano; and Talk 4: “Why Talk About Gender? The Gender Research and Policy Journal and Its Role in Shaping Advocacy and Scholarship” by Prof. Jhonnel P. Villegas.
The activity concluded with a Ceremonial Wall Signing of the Pledge of Support to end Violence Against Women (VAW), symbolizing the collective commitment of the participants to promote safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive communities.
