By Czarina Berlynn Donne Agustin

Underscoring the importance of healthy team relationships and a gender and culturally sensitive workplace, Mariano Marcos State University is conducting a series of value-based activities for all its employees.

The university has scheduled in batches its over 1,200 personnel to participate in an activity that aims to ‘intensify personnel work performance through value-based gender and culture sensitive landscape’ at Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet from June to August. 

Divided into 13 batches, MMSU teaching and non-teaching employees are participating in training sessions, meaningful discussions and value-based activities for two days.

The first batch has started to attend sessions yesterday, June 20, to develop effective team relationships, individually reflect their personalities and inculcate gender and cultural sensitivity.

Topics and activities including transformational leadership, relationship management and excellence in service are facilitated by experts fr­om the Council for Restoration of Filipino Values, a non-profit and non-government organization and an Accredited Learning and Development Institution by the Civil Service Commission.

Aimed to increase performance quality through healthy work relations, Human Resource Management Officer Director Ms. Marcela V. Aison explained that employees must develop a positive attitude in their roles as individuals and as team members to perform excellent services. “Through this activity, interpersonal qualities of trust, communication and mutual accountability can be developed among our workforce,” she added.

Dr. Marlowe U. Aquino, Director for Planning also noted that through team building activities, every employee can learn together, which in the long run, will establish a good workplace atmosphere in the university.

Aside from strengthening team relations, the activity also helps to minimize gender gaps and to craft policies for manpower development.

“Gender sensitive approach activities give better understanding of sexual division of labor, biological differences and social structures, thus, providing platform for equal opportunities,” said Ms. Nataliza Llapitan, gender and development (GAD) technical expert.

Recognizing the university’s human capital as the central force for development, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis stressed the university will continue to prioritize its people through activities where they can improve individually and as a team.

“We continue to commit to provide ways for our employees to engage in continuous learning and improvement,” PCSA added.

The activity is being organized by the GAD Focal Point System Capacity Development and Training Program Team, extension directorate, human resources management office, planning directorate, Faculty Association, Inc. and Association of Non-Teaching Administrative Personnel. (JVBT/HLY,StratCom)