The month of March has been declared as Women’s Month through Proclamation 227 which provides for the observance of women’s role in history. In support of the aoferementioned proclamation and, moreover, in support of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), in which the Philippine Government is among the signatories, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Declaration adopted by the member-countries of the United Nations (UN) in which one of the eight (8) main development goals under the said declaration seeks to promote gender equality and empowerment of women, the National Statistical Coordination Board, through its regional division in Northern Mindanao, launches its first edition of the Women and Men (WAM) in Northern Mindanao Statistical Handbook.

The Women and Men Statistical Handbook presents the latest available gender statistics, from both official and administrative sources, on the different priority sectors of gender concerns in the region. Data for provinces and key cities are also provided whenever possible. This publication is an affirmation of our commitment towards the realization of the visions of the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development and in fulfilling the various international commitments of our country to gender concerns.

It is hoped that this publication will be a significant source of information for decision-makers, project planners, implementers and evaluators to guide them in their advocacy work and in the formulation of effective plans, programs and policies for the advancement of women in Northern Mindanao.

The publication (CD-ROM version) is now available at the National Statistical Information Center (NSIC) library, which is open to the public for free from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays. The NSIC is a one-stop shop of statistical information and services managed by the NSCB. The Northern Mindanao Branch is currently located at PopCom Compound, J.V. Seriña St., Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

LINNITO M. PASCUAL
Regional Head
nscbru10@yahoo.com