The Central Luzon State University – Gender and Development Office (UGADO), in collaboration with the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC), officially opened the 4th International and 7th National Gender and Development (GAD) Research Congress held from November 19–21, 2025, at the CLSU Research and Extension Amphitheater.
With the theme “Accelerating Societal Inclusivity: Gender-Transformative Research for Sustainable Development,” the congress brought together around 190 participants, including guests and researchers from various State Universities and Colleges.
CLSU President Dr. Evaristo A. Abella delivered the welcome remarks, emphasizing the critical role of inclusivity.
“Inclusivity involves the participation of every sector of society, especially the marginalized. Inclusivity also means empowering those who are powerless. It is symbolic in the sense that there must now be equal treatment between men and women. We believe that when you talk of inclusivity, women are not just beneficiaries—they should also be actors in research, in implementation, and in the use of research findings,” said President Abella.
The opening ceremony featured distinguished keynote speakers including Dr. Yoshihide Obayashi, Assistant Professor from the Department of Health Care Policy at the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine in Sapporo, Japan, who emphasized that sustainability cannot be achieved without inclusivity.
Another keynote speaker, Dr. John Paolo R. Rivera, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, highlighted in his final remarks that as empowerment rises, societies rise. However, he stressed that empowerment must be accompanied by responsibility and accountability.
Further, the event will feature a series of plenary sessions, research presentations, and discussions aimed at advancing gender-transformative initiatives.
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