THE Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region (DoST-NCR), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and the United Nations Women Philippines held a forum "Mind the GAP (Gender and Poverty) at the PICC with the theme "Accelerating the Achievement of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls" as a tribute to Women's Month.

The forum aimed to recognize poverty as a human rights issue, strategizing to protect and fulfill the rights of impoverished women and address current and future challenges in promoting general equality.

In his keynote address, DoST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said, "The DoST advances its gender mainstreaming efforts and calls for a deeper understanding of gender differences, access to resources and opportunities ensuring immense contributions to and benefit from and building people's capacities to assess to aid and implement solutions."

Sigrid Jan Sibug, Technical and Policy and Coordination consultant-PPO at UN Women Philippines, said gender equality is a fundamental human right and "a transformative force that has enormous economic benefit."

DoST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho Mabborang mentioned the government's initiatives in support of women.

Fabio Pompetti, consul, first secretary and deputy head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, talked on "Crossing The Digital Gender Divide."

He noted that the Philippines is doing quite well in gender equality, adding that the country is doing better than Belgium because it never had a woman head of state "while the Philippines had at least two."

Merly Barlaan, chief administrative officer of the Women Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) in New York City, talked about "Harnessing the power of Science, Technology and Innovation to help women move out of poverty."

NCR regional director Romelen Tresvalles delivered the closing remarks.