CEDAW/C/PHL/7-8 measures were implemented; policies were enacted; and PCW has sustained its critical role in coordinating and orchestrating government efforts; in providing technical assistance and in developing tools for analysis and monitoring and evaluation. The report argues that the “key ingredients to the attainment of key PPGD targets during the past fifteen years are two -fold: shared vision and effective partnerships among all stakeholders, which resulted in the desired outputs and outcomes that contributed to the achievement of the PPGD goals”; and (3) PPGD as implemented, generally contributed to the attainment of the country ’s commitments to CEDAW and BPfA. Strengthening partnerships and mechanisms 40. To address resource limitations particularly by the national machine ry for the advancement of women, mechanisms of support for the promotion of equal rights of women and men are continuously being strengthened. One such mechanism is the gender and development focal point system (GFPS), now in place in many government agencies and local government units with the responsibility of leading and monitoring gender mainstreaming in their respective agencies. As defined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act, GAD Focal Points “shall serve as the catalysts for gender responsive planning/programming in their respective agencies. They shall ensure that disseminated guidelines are appropriately utilized and revised to suit emerging developments. They shall ensure the conduct by appropriate staffs/units of periodic assessment of policies, programs/projects, procedures and circulars which are deemed discriminatory to gender concerns. 41. As of 2008, there are 189 GAD Focal Points established in national government agencies, their attached agencies, state universities and colleges, and government owned and controlled corporations. In 2010, a total of 44 provinces, 59 cities and 811 municipalities have functional GAD Focal Points. An enhanced policy on the creation and strengthening of GAD Focal Points was issued in 2011 and a survey on GFPs has been started based on the revised guidelines. GAD Focal Point assemblies have also been convened to update members on new guidelines and to agree on measures to strengthen the fulfilment of their functions. 42. The State Party recognizes the challenges that GAD Focal Points face in their gender mainstreaming work, such as the need to strengthen their gender competence, the need for stronger top level support for their work, and the fast t urnover or transfer of assignment of members of GAD focal point systems who have been trained but who are unable to transfer their skill to incoming officers, resulting to weak continuity or sustainability of GAD efforts and the constant need for training on basic GAD competencies for new officers. In response, the State Party plans and implements capacity development programs to strengthen the focal point members’ competence and influence within their organization. 43. Gender mainstreaming has also been introduced in various government interagency committees to strengthen the gender responsiveness of policies and plans that such committees review and approve. Examples include the cabinet cluster on Human Development and Poverty Reduction (HDPR), the Intera gency Council on Violence against Women and their Children (IACVAWC), the Interagency Council against Trafficking (IACAT), the Social Development Committee (SDC) of the NEDA) and a host of other national interagency 12/36 15-03079