CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6 a. Increased personal security through better handling of domestic violence at the community level. NCRFW’s initial discussions with the DILG on implementing a gender mainstreaming strategy focused on barangay-level responses to domestic violence. This included developing a barangay protocol on handling cases of domestic violence that aims to improve reporting and action on VAW cases, and crafting guidelines and technical assistance on domestic violence by barangay and DILG officials. Said protocol is being revised to align with recently passed anti-violence against women and children legislation. Such a collaborative effort between national agencies can have a significant impact, as DILG has the capacity to promote nation-wide implementation, training and monitoring. b. Increased economic opportunities for women in community forestry. As a first step in its gender mainstreaming strategy, DENR focused on its community-based forestry program. Its approach included gender analysis of the participating communities and of the program itself. Subsequent changes in the program resulted in more stewardship contracts being awarded to women, thereby increasing women’s control over forest resources. DENR also changed the criteria for selection of participating people’s organizations. It trained the groups to ensure women’s participation and decision-making in community livelihood projects. As this is a flagship program, a reorientation of direction could increase opportunities for women in many areas. Moreover, the positive experience with gender mainstreaming in this program provided the impetus for a reconsideration of the DENR’s other programs. c. Increased access of women to resources of local agencies to meet local needs. Over the years, the GAD budget policy has become the focus of intense lobbying by women’s organizations, many actively working for its implementation. It has been a powerful instrument for women to negotiate with government agencies and local governments for better programs, projects and services. This is exemplified by the 70-member women’s group in a village in Mindanao, which negotiated with the barangay officials for the group’s accreditation as a legitimate organization, prepared a GAD plan and presented it to the barangay council. Funds released in the first year were used, in part, to convert the old village hall into a women’s center, while funds in the second year went to livelihood training and the purchase of equipment for entrepreneurship. As a result of the process of consultations about the GAD budget, the women’s organization has also secured a place in the decision-making and political processes of the barangay. d. Availability of periodic gender statistics. This has been made possible by institutionalized policies in agencies and Philippine Statistical System to generate statistics on gender issues, increased generation and publication of statistics on women/gender issues for dissemination and utilization for training and researches and established and enhanced mechanisms for collaboration on gender issues and gender statistics (NCRFW 2002c). Mainstreaming Gender in Local Government 96. Mainstreaming gender in local governments has gained momentum in the past decade. The enactment of GAD Codes by local governments helped. The Codes spelled out their vision of promoting, protecting and fulfilling women’s rights and gender equality, and offered comprehensive interventions that respond to the practical and strategic gender needs of women and men (NCRFW 2001). Among the model GAD Codes are in Davao City (Ordinance No. 5004-1997), Cotabato Province (Ordinance No. 202-2000), Misamis Occidental Province (Ordinance No. 26-2000), Quezon Icty (Ordinance No. 1036-2001) and Angeles City (Ordinance 38