Unite for All Women

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – On 7 March 2025, approximately 200 representatives from local and national government agencies, students, women miners, and civil society organizations gathered to celebrate the significant accomplishments and contributions of women toward achieving environmental sustainability and economic development. The event, titled "Unite for All Women: A Just, Green, and Inclusive Economy," was co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) Philippines on behalf of the planetGOLD Philippines project, Clean Air Asia on behalf of the e-mobility ASAP Project, and BAN Toxics on behalf of the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project.

The event was welcomed by Atty. Analiza R. Teh, Undersecretary and GEF Operational Focal Point of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Ms. Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women; and Mr. Teddy Monroy, Country Representative of UNIDO Philippines. It also featured the soulful performances of the Blue Nightingale Chorale from Our Lady of Peace School in Antipolo City and the LTO Chorale.

The highlight of the event was the parallel sessions hosted by each organizer. BAN Toxics held a session titled Kababaihan Para sa Kalinisan at Kalusugan, Clean Air Asia facilitated a consultative dialogue on women in the transport industry, and AGC Philippines presented a session called Mina Minera: Celebrating Women in ASGM and the Informal Economy.

“This gathering is not just a commemoration, but is also a strong reminder of the remarkable contributions that women have made and continue to make in promoting environmental sustainability and economic development in our country.”
- Teddy Monroy, Country Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Philippines

To open the Mina Minera session, Diory G. Carr, Gender and Development Focal Person of Mines and Geosciences Bureau, delivered her message of support, highlighting the contributions and challenges that women have faced in the sector.

Carr also emphasized that the women are not alone in their journey as the government sector has full support for them. Moreover, she added that there is a growing network of allies that will stand with the women in solidarity, championing their rights to thrive, lead, and innovate.

The GAD Focal Person then recognized the planetGOLD Philippines for its unwavering commitment to promote gender equality within the ASGM community— describing the initiatives as "inspiring" and "essential".

"You have highlighted the critical role women play in advancing environmentally and socially responsible mining. Advocating to include women in all aspects of ASGM through training, opportunities, and capacity building— pivotal in transforming our sector," Carr stated.

AGC Philippines National Project Manager Abigail Ocate and Gender & Investment Specialist Meggy Katigbak opened the session with an overview of the planetGOLD Philippines project, followed by a presentation of the project's gender study conducted in its two project sites—Paracale and Sagada. Their insights highlighted the lived experiences of women in ASGM and the critical role gender-responsive data plays in shaping more inclusive policies and programs.

Afterwards, a panel discussion featuring women champions who played a crucial role in advancing gender equality in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in the Philippines began.

The discussion began with a question directed at Harriet Reyla, Auditor of the Northern Sagada Barangay Small-Scale Mining Association, Incorporated (NSBSSMAI), and Janice Galero, Committee Head from the Samahan ng mga Minero ng Brgy. Casalugan (SMBC). Both women are members of the planetGOLD Philippines project's partner mining associations. Harriet emphasized the importance of women's leadership in formalizing their organization’s operations, while Janice highlighted the various roles women occupy within the ASGM sector.

The panel also addressed key policies and institutional support that have been vital in assisting women in the ASGM sector. Hon. Bernadette Asutilla, Vice Mayor of Paracale, discussed the Paracale Municipal Government’s collaboration with planetGOLD Philippines to establish an Inter-agency Council for Workers in the Informal Economy. This Council aims to consolidate gender and development (GAD) resources to support informal economy workers, the majority of whom are women. Gloria Langbayan, Tourism Officer and former GAD Focal Person from the Sagada Municipal Government, spoke about the GAD initiatives that the Sagada local government provides to women across various sectors, including ASGM.

“I hope our efforts as women in the mines will finally be recognized.”
- Harriet Reyla, Auditor, Northern Sagada Barangay Small-Scale Mining Association, Incorporated (NSBSSMAI)

Ms. Sheila Sanqui, the GAD Focal Person of the MGB Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), shared how the MGB CAR supports women through training sessions and seminars, in addition to collaborating with other government agencies. Dr. Sarah Marie Pante-Aviado, Public Information Officer of the Provincial Government (PLGU) of Camarines Norte, emphasized the need to shift perceptions of women in mining, highlighting their significance and influence in the sector. She also mentioned The Gold Talk—a radio talk show hosted by the Public Information Office (PIO) of Camarines Norte—as one of the initiatives by the Camarines Norte PLGU and planetGOLD Philippines aimed at destigmatizing the sector and sharing important updates about the Project.

Ms. Rose Ellaine F. Ferrer, president of Auro Resources Trading, Inc., discussed the trends of women engaging in unpaid labor and their collaboration with mining associations to sell gold to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Over the past few months, Auro Resources Trading, Inc. has been purchasing gold from small-scale miners in select communities across the Philippines, and they have not observed any gendered patterns in gold selling from these associations. Currently, there is insufficient gender-disaggregated data on such patterns, and overall data on the ASGM sector in the Philippines is scarce. In light of this, Ms. Ferrer expressed her gratitude to the planetGOLD Philippines team for being one of the few organizations that publish data on the ASGM sector.

“In the Minahang Bayan areas we’ve visited, roles are now becoming more gender neutral. We’re seeing more and more women as government leaders, and as heads of small-scale mining areas, communities, or federations. Women truly make valuable contributions—resourceful and hardworking. That’s why we’re now seeing more and more roles being entrusted to them.”
- Rose Ferrer, President, Auro Resources Trading, Inc.

The panel was followed by an interactive storytelling session featuring Mina Minera, a children’s storybook produced by AGC Philippines through the planetGOLD Philippines project. This interactive storytelling session was conducted by Make Believe Productions, a storytelling and entertainment group based in the Philippines. It marked the launch of Mina Minera, with the second edition featuring artwork from students in Sagada, Mountain Province, distributed to select partners during the event. The third and final edition of Mina Minera will be available in mid-2025, once the artwork from students in Paracale, Camarines Norte, has been printed. Sagada and Paracale are the two project sites for the planetGOLD Philippines project.

After the breakout sessions, the entire plenary gathered to affirm their commitment to advancing women’s rights, particularly in the ASGM, transport, and health sectors. This pledge of commitment was led by Ms. Noralene M. Uy, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, International Affairs, and Climate Change at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Ms. Janete R. Oviedo, Head of the GAD Council Office at the Quezon City Local Government.

“The forum was a precious opportunity to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contribution of women workers who work tirelessly every day to support their families, communities, and the nation as a whole. Women are an integral part of the ASGM community, without them, the entire small-scale gold production operations of their organizations, associations, and communities would crumble.”
- Abigail Ocate, National Project Manager, Artisanal Gold Council Philippines

Additionally, the planetGOLD Philippines team launched an original song co-produced by AGC Philippines titled “Isulong Ang Pagkilos (Ginto ng Bayan)” [Accelerate Action: Gold of the Nation] to highlight the theme of International Women’s Month 2025. The song, performed by Meggy Katigbak and Nicole Nievera and written by Meggy Katigbak and Dawn Po Quimque, illustrated the challenges and realities faced by women in the ASGM sector and called on participants to accelerate action towards realizing women’s rights and supporting their work both at home and in the mines.

As tribute to the women who have dedicated their work, in part or in whole, in contributing to the development of the ASGM sector, the AGC Philippines recognized the following women as ASGM Champions in their own right:

1. Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, CESO I, Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems, and Climate Change, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
2. Fay W. Apil, Regional Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera Administrative Region
3. Dr. Sarah-Marie Pante-Aviado, Provincial Information Officer, Provincial Government of Camarines Norte
4. Hon. Bernadette Asutilla, Vice Mayor, Municipal Government of Paracale
5. Dr. Virginia B. Mazo, Former Municipal Health Officer, Paracale Local Government,
6. Lainie Abanes, Barangay Captain, Barangay Casalugan
7. Shirly D. Suzara, Vice President, Samahan ng mga Minero ng Brgy. Casalugan
8. Wilma Chalotag, Environmental Management Specialist, Mt. Province Environmental and Natural Resources Office
9. Gloria Langbayan, Municipal Tourism Officer, Municipal Government of Sagada
10. Harriet Reyla, Auditor, Northern Sagada Barangay Small-Scale Mining Association, Incorporated

To conclude the vibrant Women’s Day celebration, women miners from Paracale and Sagada took the stage to perform a stirring poem written by Dawn Po Quimque, National Communications Officer of AGC Philippines. The piece served as a powerful tribute to the women of ASGM—honoring their strength, resilience, beauty, and brilliance. With every verse, they asserted their rightful place as leaders, workers, and changemakers—demonstrating that the heartbeat of small-scale mining beats strongest in the hands of women.

Watch the full event: