Philippine Commission on Women(PCW)

Hello,

I would like to request for information regarding the following:

1. How much and what percentage of the total GAD budget from the years 2010-2017 were spent on beauty contests

2. How many departments, LGUs, State Universities, etc. spent their GAD budget on beauty contests from 2010-2017

I would also appreciate information on the most commonly spent on programs for GAD budgets from 2010-2017.

Thank you!

January 12, 2018

Dear Natashya Gutierrez,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Jan 11, 2018 04:59:33 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for GAD budget spent on beauty pageants.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance this Office does not have the information you have requested. Activity such as beauty pageants is not allowed as a GAD activity, which is clearly stated in the PCW-NEDA-DBM Joint Circular No. 2012-01: Guidelines for the Preparation of Annual GAD Plans and Budgets and Accomplishment Reports to Implement the Magna Carta of Women, that "The following expenses may NOT be charged to the GAD budget UNLESS they are justified as clearly addressing a specific gender issue:
7.1 Physical, mental and health fitness including purchase of
equipment and information dissemination materials;
7.2 Social, rest and recreation activities;
7.3 Religious activities and implementation of cultural projects; and
7.4 Construction expenses 
However,  for the GAD Budget of LGUs, you may wish to contact the Bureau of Local Government and Development, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, or resubmit your request addressed to the correct agency on the eFOI portal.

For further assistance you may review the FAQ section of the eFOI site: https://www.foi.gov.ph/help.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to PCW Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa at e-mail address: [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Blesilda Belo
FOI Officer