= REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT A. Francisco Gold Condominium II, EDSA cor. Mapagmahal St., Diliman, Quezon City September 21, 2006 MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No. 2006-125 To : ALL GOVERNORS, CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, DILG REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND OTHERS CONCERNED SUBJECT : AMENDMENT OF DILG MC NO. 2002-167 DATED. 10 OCTOBER 2002 (GUIDELINES ON THE PROCEDURES AND STRUCTURES FOR THE CREATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS OF WOMEN) Memorandum Circular No. 2002-167 dated October 10, 2002 which prescribed guidelines relative to the creation of Local Councils of Women is hereby amended to further strengthen the operations of such councils. I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES The organization of Local Councils of Women (LCWs) shall be conducted towards women empowerment, social justice and poverty alleviation of marginalized women through democratic participation; autonomy of LGUs and NGOs; spirit of inclusivity; political neutrality and non-partisanship of government officials/staff/organizations; transparency and accountability. II, NATURE OF LOCAL COUNCILS OF WOMEN The Local Councils of Women is organized in every city/municipality. The Council is a non- government entity which shall be comprised of women’s organizations existing in the locality and is duly recognized by the local government units (LGUs). This represents the women GO-NGO partnership in the localities.III. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE LCWs A. Local Councils of Women. The Local Councils of Women (LCW) shall have nine (9) members of the Board of Trustees: seven (7) from the NGOs/ POs/ Professional Groups; one (1) representative from the local government units (LGUs) and one (1) representative from the National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP) or its affiliates until such time that there is an organized NCWP in the locality. These nine (9) members of the Board shall elect from among themselves the regular Chairperson and other officers such as: Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer Assistant Treasurer, Auditor, PRO and other officers that may be created as the need arises. The LGU representative cannot be elected as Chairperson. The term of office of the LCW Officers shall be two (2) years. ‘These LCWs in the localities must apply for accreditation to the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW), Inc. subject to the accreditation and membership guidelines set by the PFLCW, Inc. Membership Committee. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE LOCAL COUNCILS OF WOMEN ‘Asa vehicle in mainstreaming GAD in pursuit of women empowerment, gender equality, social justice, lasting peace, fulfillment and protection of human rights, and sustainable development, the Local Councils of Women shall: 1. Define their respective advocacy agenda which shall incorporate their local priorities in terms of local, national, international women’s agenda, to include, but not limited to the following: a, The implementation of international and national instruments such as Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA); the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development (PPGD); and the Framework Plan For Women among their networks; b. Mainstreaming of gender and development in the LGU, and the passage of local legislation addressing gender issues and women’s concerns; ¢. Formulation of the LGUs GAD Plan and Budget; . Participation of women in local governance by pushing for passage of the bill on Sectoral Representation to the Local Sanggunian and ensuring representation of women in local special bodies, among others;2. Support the implementation of the Framework Plan for Women by collaborating with government agencies and/or GAD Focal Points for the implementation of GAD-related programs, projects and activities (PPAs) and developing and implementing projects that address gender issues and women’s concerns; 3. Undertake activities and projects such as livelihood, micro-enterprise, social services and training and skills development, within the framework of GAD particularly the Framework Plan For Women, independently or in partnership with existing Local Councils and other government agencies; 4, Establish linkage with business sector, GO and NGO institutions to enable ‘women’s access to resources, information and technology, in order to pursue its projects more effectively; 5. Monitor the implementation and impact of local policies and programs on women and provide the local machineries on women, the Local Chief Executive, and other relevant agencies with copies of the findings, and ensure corresponding action; 6. Establish linkage with the NCRFW in the pursuit of gender and development ‘mainstreaming and women empowerment at the local level; and 7. Build the entrepreneurial capability of marginalized women locally, nationally and internationally. CREATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS OF WOMEN In cities and municipalities where there are no organized LCWs, the local government units (LGUs) may appoint a point person preferably the City and/or Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer or NCWP representative to convene all women NGOs in the locality to organize the Local Councils of Women (LCWs) following the guidelines prescribed by the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW), Inc. The point person (s) shall take the place of the Local Membership and Organizing Committee (LMOC) which shall cease to function upon the issuance of this circular. MEMBERSHIP TO THE LOCAL COUNCILS OF WOMEN IN EACH LOCALITY 1. Structure Members of LCWs shall be composed of women organizations that have shown capability and commitment to implement women’s agenda at the local level. These organizations should be in continuous operations for at least one (1) year. At the minimum, they should have:B, a) Established organizations with operational structures and has a membership of at least twenty (20) members ) Projects and programs geared towards poverty alleviation, social justice and women’s empowerment Women NGOs duly established within their locality and who meet the above criteria/guidelines for membership may join the LCWs 2, Payment of Membership Dues To be a member of good standing, an accredited PFLCW Member must pay their annual membership dues. Provincial Councils of Women (PCW). The Provincial Councils of Women (PCW) formerly the Provincial Coordinating Body (PCB) shall be composed of the LCW Chairpersons in the cities/municipalities. They shall elect from among themselves a Chairperson and the corresponding officers as required. The PCW shall perform the following functions: 1. Coordinate and consolidate efforts of the municipal/city local councils of women concerning women agenda; 2. Work for the integration of the PFLCW, Inc. advocacy agenda and other relevant concerns in the provincial development plans and programs; 3. Conduct meetings as the need arises; and 4, Coordinate, collaborate, recommend and provide the necessary support to NCRFW and PFLCW, Inc. in the implementation of its programs. ‘The Provincial Councils of Women (PCW) that have been existing prior to the organization of the Local Councils of Women may retain their existing structure if duly recognized by their respective local government units (LGUs) and accredited by the PFLCW, Inc. until such time that the PCW shall have been organized following the guidelines set by the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW), Inc.Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW), Inc. The PFLCW, Inc. shall serve as the national coordinating body of all the local councils of ‘women in mainstreaming GAD in the pursuit of women’s empowerment, gender equality, social justice, lasting peace, fulfillment and protection of human rights and sustainable development. It shall have seventeen (17) Board of Trustees who are voting members and ‘two (2) posts for government representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) who shall be non-voting members. The membership to the PFLCW Board of Trustees, Inc. shall be composed of : 1. Four (4) Institutional Members. a) Women Sectoral Council of the National Anti-Poverty Commission b) Women Involved in Nation-Building (WIN) ©) National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP) 4) Filipino ~ Chinese Federation of Business and Professional Women of the Philippines 2. Six (6) LCWs/representatives of women’s organizations (coalitions, federations people’s organizations, professional groups or other similar bodies) who are elected during the General Assembly. 3. Seven (7) sectoral representatives from the following sectors: a) academe b) urban poor ) indigenous cultural communities 4) muslim women ©) elderly f) persons with disabilities 2) trade The PFLCW, Inc. shall: 1. Seta national agenda for PFLCW, Inc. on poverty alleviation, social justice and ‘women empowerment; 2. Ensure that the agenda of PFLCW, Inc. are consistent with the national agenda set forth by the General Assembly; 3. Ensure that the national agenda of PFLCW, Inc. are implemented through the LCWs;3. Ensure that the national agenda of PFLCW, Inc. are implemented through the LCWs; 4. Convene the general assembly; hold special or regular meetings 5. Facilitate the organizing and strengthening of the Local Councils of Women (LCW) in the localities; 6. Contribute to the unity of women’s efforts and recommend appropriate policies on poverty alleviation, social justice and women empowerment; 7. Issue Certificate of Membership to PFLCW members 8. Serve as one of the implementing arms of the programs and policies of NCRFW, other government agencies, local government units (LGUs) and other business organizations as per MOA signed by both parties. 9. Assist, convene, promote, develop and monitor the economic empowerment of Women among the LCWs IV. This circular supersedes all other circulars inconsistent with it. VI. EFFECTIVITY This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately. By Authority of the Secretary Appa iP WENCELITO T. ANDANAR _/ Undersecretary for Local Government