Recognizing the remarkable performance of Davao de Oro State College in implementing the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget policy, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) honored DDOSC as Rank 9 nationally among State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) with the Highest Attributed Expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024.

GAD Unit Head Sarah O. Cabahit-Aranges, MM, personally received the award during the formal ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City.

Among SUCs in Region XI, DDOSC stood proud alongside the University of Southeastern Philippines (Rank 5 among SUCs with Highest Attributed Expenditures, Rank 10 among SUCs with Highest GAD Expenditures) and Davao del Norte State College (Rank 2 among SUCs with Highest GAD Budget Expenditures).

Emelita V. Valdeavilla, Chairperson of the PCW, congratulated the awardees and urged institutional leaders to continue advancing gender equality in their respective organizations.

“If women are not empowered, they will end up as burdens in the organization; If you want to succeed, empower the women,” said the PCW head honcho.

Additionally, the awarding ceremony also served as a platform for top-performing agencies to present their best practices, GAD interventions, and innovative programs in promoting inclusive development.

Meanwhile, GAD Unit Head Cabahit-Aranges affirmed DDOSC’s commitment to sustaining its efforts, stressing that the College will continue to strengthen its GAD programs and uphold its vision of building a more inclusive academic community.