DOrSU Makes Strong Showing at RGAN XI 2025 GAD Summit
Two years after hosting the first-ever Regional Gender and Development (GAD) Summit, Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) remains one of the driving forces of Davao Region’s gender equality efforts, taking on major roles in the 2025 GAD Summit held on November 25–26 at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) –Obrero Campus in Davao City
Organized by the Regional Gender and Development Advocates Network XI (RGAN XI), led by its president and DOrSU GAD focal person Dr. Mary Fil M. Bauyot, in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education – Regional Office XI (CHED RO XI) and USeP as host institution, the summit convened GAD directors, focal persons, researchers, and faculty members from public and private higher education institutions across Davao Region. With the theme “Gender Justice and the Digital Age,” it served as a platform for dialogue, capacity building, and advocacy to strengthen GAD mechanisms and embed gender perspectives in academic policies, programs, and services.
A key highlight of the summit was the ceremonial launch of the RGAN XI Gender Research Policy Journal (GRPJ), a publication dedicated to research and policy analyses on gender issues in higher education. The journal is headed by Asst. Prof. Jhonnel P. Villegas of DOrSU as Editor in Chief, giving the University a significant voice in shaping the regional gender research agenda and in evaluating submissions from member institutions.
The summit opened with four plenary talks on campus justice, safety, and technology. Dr. Cesar A. Adegue IV, CESE, Regional Director of the National Commission of Senior Citizens – RO XI, led Plenary Talk 1, “Campus Justice in Practice: Institutionalizing CODI in the Higher Education Landscape.” He was followed by Atty. Jesus Agora Villardo III, Professor II at the USeP School of Law, who delivered Plenary Talk 2, “Making Safe Spaces Safe: Legal Protections Against Gender-Based Violence On and Offline.”
The lens then shifted to digital tools and scholarly works as Dr. Ruby A. Serrano of USeP delivered Plenary Talk 3, “Does AI See Gender? Exploring Bias, Justice, and Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Research and Education,” while Asst. Prof. Jhonnel P. Villegas of DOrSU capped the session with Plenary Talk 4, “Why Talk About Gender? Gender Research and Policy Journal and Its Role in Shaping Advocacy and Scholarship,” highlighting the contribution of the new RGAN XI Gender Research Policy Journal.
The summit also marked the kick-off of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, aligning regional GAD efforts with the nationwide call to address abuse and harassment in all settings, including schools and online spaces.
Adding a strong banner to DOrSU’s participation was a poster exhibit of the University’s GAD extension programs, featuring community-based initiatives on gender sensitivity, women’s empowerment, and safe spaces advocacy in Davao Oriental. The exhibit showcased how lessons from campus discussions are translated into work with barangays, schools, and local partners.
The event harked back to 2023, when DOrSU hosted the inaugural Regional GAD Summit. Since then, the University has continued to play an instrumental role, providing much of the leadership and intellectual backbone of the regional network and helping shape how schools in Southern Mindanao talk about gender and development in the digital age.
