As the National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) 2026 came to a close, the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) donned shades of purple to reaffirm its commitment to women's empowerment and gender equality.
Reflecting on the sub-theme “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!” the celebration draws inspiration and strength from pre-colonial Filipina leaders, emphasizing leadership grounded in wisdom, compassion, and shared responsibility to build strong and empowered communities.
Spearheaded by its Gender and Development-Focal Point System (GFPS), in coordination with the Learning and Development–Human Resource Development Division and the Health Services Section of the General Services Division, PS-DBM organized a series of activities that advance women's rights and promote gender equality.
Among these month-long initiatives were the NWMC-themed flag-raising ceremonies, where Filipinas across various sectors and eras were featured to underscore their significant contributions to nation-building; an hour-long Zumba fitness session to further promote physical wellness and team bonding, enjoyed by 62 participants; lectures, webinars, and wellness activities to promote greater understanding of the month-long observance; and the #PurpleWednesdays of March.
Gathering 399 attendees from the main office, the PhilGEPS, and regional depots, the Cybercrime Awareness Learning hybrid sessions–presented by gender and development practitioner and scholar Ms. Kristel May Gomez-Magdaraog–aim to empower women with knowledge on digital security, highlight the importance of cybersecurity, strengthen individual capacity to safeguard finances and personal information, and promote awareness to ensure women can navigate digital spaces safely.
“Our objective today is clear: to bridge the information gap. We want to empower every one of you, especially our female colleagues…by strengthening your digital literacy, we are not just protecting data, we are promoting the economic security and confidence of our entire workforce,” Acting Director Judith Riza Bleza emphasized.
Complementing this activity was a webinar on preventive care, lifestyle wellness, and reproductive health management titled The EmpowerHer: Advancing Women’s Health and Well-being. Discussed by medical experts Dr. Prima Donna Napa-Lim and Dr. Leedah Rañola-Nisperos, Medical Specialists III of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, 112 employees benefited from their extensive presentation, insights, and medical recommendations.
PS-DBM and its GFPS, chaired by Deputy Executive Director Marlita Dagsa, endeavors to actively advance gender equality and women’s empowerment through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
PS-DBM takes pride in its very own “babaylan” in Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong—accorded local awards and international distinctions—who inspires every woman and man in the PS-DBM community to lead and excel with honor, integrity, and compassion.
Mula sa PS-DBM, patuloy nating isulong ang pag-asenso ng bawat kababaihan! April 1, 2026 | CM