The State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines have established a model of Gender and Development (GAD) tools. They have different activities but lack of organized data sources with particular data needed for gender analysis like the sex-disaggregated data. GAD data is very important in gender analysis to enable the GAD Focal Point System to have the basis for gender issues and concerns. In this paper, the authors present information technology-based solution where the GAD Focal Point System has basis for gender analysis and proposed undertakings using a classification system like decision tree algorithm. The approach is better for discovering relevant solutions in improving university programs and activities to achieve the goal of gender equality.
Nowadays the ways in which things are done using technology are refined and welcoming. Everything turns to computerization, people are connected to internet, some are using robotics, dependent on IoT, making the transaction fast, proceeding to paperless operation and implementing different algorithms in data science like decision tree algorithm.
Currently, there is an increase of applications of decision tree algorithm in different aspects of life such as in business management, educational management, clinical decision support, engineering, and solutions with situation awareness. In terms of problems solution, the Gender and Development (GAD) in different government agencies have yearly plan and budget that requires them to implement projects, programs or activities to minimize the gap of women and men and eliminate discriminations. In GAD, each person has equal opportunities in achieving satisfying life that promotes gender equality through responsive projects that provide the needs of men and women particularly the marginalized such as indigenous people, women in especially difficult circumstances and all discriminated individuals. Due to the existing discrimination and gender biases in the Philippines, the highest authority mandates all the government agencies included the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and local government units to use at least five percent (5%) of the total budget appropriations of agency to support the projects of GAD that address gender issues and concerns [
Based on interviews from SUCs GAD Focal Persons in the First Luzon SUCs GAD Advocacy Forum last November 17, 2017, most of them have enrolment data as the basis of their gender issues but lack of significant data that can monitor the needs of clients, gender issues and problems of their students and employees and have hard time to think GAD projects or activities. Similarly, most of the SUCs do not maximize the use of their GAD budget and failed in the approval of PCW in their accomplishment report and GAD Plan and Budget (GPB).
More so, this paper presents a mechanism to automate the process of determining gender issues and its equivalent solutions through technology-based solutions. Where the time and effort consumed by the GAD Focal Point system in the university in identifying the issues and solutions will be lessened and have their concrete bases for that purpose and achieve gender equality and inclusivity.
The Philippine Plan for Gender and Development (PPGD) 1995-2025 was established to pursue the full operation of equality for men and women. This plan was approved and adopted by former President Fidel V. Ramos as Executive No. 273, on September 8, 1995. The institutionalization of Gender and Development in the government was stated in this plan in which then incorporated the GAD concerns on the planning, programming and budgeting processes, and annual performance reports [
The country continued to support the plan through the formation of various laws like the Magna Carta of Women which was approved on August 14, 2009. This mandate is non-discriminatory and pro-gender equality and equity in the formulation and implementation of policies and plans for national development [
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) made their efforts to mainstream GAD. In the article of Manzanan in 2015 stated that CHED led various efforts to attain gender equality in the academe. It started in 2010 where CHED established the GAD Focal Point in regional offices. CHED organized education summits on gender issues from 2011 to 2014. The commission also led the formulation of CHED memorandum 1. s. 2015 to help the academe in the implementation of GAD [
In the CMO 1, s. 2015, it was stated that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) need to form a GAD database and report on the status of GAD implementation. It is the basis of the researcher to continue and pursue this research where the data for individuals are gathered, analyzed and presented by sex and age and reflect problems, issues and questions related to women and men in society [
The Los Baños of Laguna Philippine have their GAD database spearheaded by their GAD Office. They have a strong belief that it is essential in their planning, programming, and policy formulation. The purpose also of this technology-based system is to share their information with the interested researchers. Their database has a list of sectors such as social development, economic development, infrastructure, environment, institutional and gender mainstreaming. The GAD Office also promises to continuously and regularly monitor and update the database to make sure that all possible facets of necessary data are covered [
Cornwall (2000) claimed the importance of exploring the gender dimension on participation in project, planning and policy processes to attain participatory development and make the society in Africa and Asia more gender-sensitive and responsive [
Song and Lu (2015) stated that decision tree is usually used for establishing classification systems based on multiple covariates. This method classifies data into branch-like structure that builds an inverted tree with a root node, internal nodes, and leaf nodes. The algorithm can efficiently deal with complicated datasets, large and complicated parametric structures [
According to Phyu, decision trees tend to perform better when dealing with discrete/categorical features [
Automation is the technology by which a process or procedure is performed with minimal human assistance [
The researchers used the developmental method in improving and integrating features of automating the process of recommending the GAD solutions to the digital applications for State Universities in the Philippines. In improving the system, the agile process model that adopts iterative development was utilized [
The dynamic data sources were utilized as sources of information. Without this software, there is a limited option to identify gender issues in the university. Among the data sources used by the researchers are coming from the researchers’ developed applications. The data are collected from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology-Philippines.
As shown in
The different applications are innovated by adding features that automatically recommends solutions based on GAD problems identified within the databases. The recommendations are validated from the Philippine Commission on Women Resource Pool and members of GAD Focal Point System of different State Universities in the Philippines. Some of the reports obtained are shown in
The solutions identified from data are so much plenty which is more than 10 times as compared to the previous GAD plan and budget. Within the system, just an instant, if data are available, automatically provide the right solutions. The solutions identified are recommended by the GAD Focal persons of different universities in Region III.
The data collected were verified the accuracy using the Machine Learning Tool called Waikato Environment Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) version 3.8 of Experimenter App. Not all data are verified. The data such as training needs
| GAD Data and Gender Issues | GAD Intervention | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Programs /Activities | Trainings | Strategies | |
| There are many identified LGBTQ students enrolled in the campuses who are needed for guidance and acceptance Lesbian 47 Gay 87 Bisexual 196 Transgender 3 Other 8 | Provision of All gender comfort rooms Provide projects that can use their talents and accept what they are in the community | Provide free HIV Test Guidance Program for LGBTQ | Provide symposium /Seminar on Sogie, bullying, GAD concepts and HIV awareness | Recommend them to join in the Student Organization or any LGBTQ community |
| There are many Solo parents enrolled in the university Male—2 | Female—41 | Financial Assistance Php15000 per semester | Their children with ages 3 - 5 can be enrolled in the Child Development Center | Provide symposium /Seminar on GAD concepts, Solo Parent Acts and Career coaching | Provide publications like brochure about Solo Parent Acts, Career coaching and the like |
| The married students with children ages 1 - 5 have difficulty to attend classes Male—15 | Female—54 | Provision for Child Development Center Free study in Child Development Center | Training on Child Development Training about motherhood or fatherhood, Training on Gender-based Parenthood | Recommend to enroll in afternoon session | |
| The students with children with special needs have difficulty to attend studies and pursue studies. Male—33 | Female—35 | Provision for Financial Assistance for Special Needs Provide schools for children with special needs | Training on Love and Care the Children with special Needs | ||
| The PWD students have difficulty to attend classes and need financial support Male—35 | Female—45 | Provide Financial Assistance; Renovation of old comfort rooms with facilities for PWD Provide ramps in every buildings and pathways for them | Program for PWD like cooking lesson, or any lesson that can improve their skills | Symposium about Republic Act No. 10,754 for PWD Training on Sign Language | psychological Counseling |
| The students whose parents are far/ OFW are usually have problems in their studies and lives Male—199 | Female—95 | Counseling Program | Training about Coping Mechanism Training on financial management | Recommend to join in the student organization | |
| The students whose parents are dead usually have problems in their studies, lives and need financial assistance Male—99 | Female—90 | Provide Financial Assistance | Counseling Program | Training about Coping Mechanism Training on financial management | Recommend to join in the student organization |
| There is a stigma that the course is good only for men and cannot be performed by women or not advisable for women Course Enrolled More than 100 female than male M F BS SEd 234 642 BEEd 20 164 BSBA 468 1120 | Provision for financial assistance for women in program/courses with no or fewer women | Counseling Program on GAD Sensitivity | Symposium on choosing the Right Career Path Training on GAD Sensitivity | |
| GAD Data and Gender Issues | GAD Intervention | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Programs /Activities | Trainings | Strategies | |
| Limited knowledge to differentiate Sex and Gender Many students are Not Aware to differentiate Sex and Gender Male—571 | Female—225 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Conduct Gender Sensitivity Training | Make and distribute leaflets about Sex and Gender | |
| Limited knowledge on Gender and Development Many students are Not Aware on Gender and Development Male—521 | Female—221 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Integrate GAD in various courses and school activities | Conduct Gender Sensitivity Training | Make and distribute leaflets about Gender and Development |
| Limited knowledge on Gender Analysis Many students are Not Aware on Gender Analysis Male—726 | Female—492 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Integrate GAD in various courses and school activities | Conduct Gender Analysis Training | Make and distribute leaflets Gender Analysis about |
| Limited knowledge on Gender Mainstreaming Many students are Not Aware on Gender Mainstreaming Male—1186 | Female—1048 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Integrate GAD in various courses and school activities | Conduct Gender Sensitivity Training | Make and distribute leaflets about Gender Mainstreaming |
| Limited knowledge on Gender-Fair Language Male—1251 | Female—1121 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Integrate GAD in various courses and school activities | Conduct Gender Fair Language Symposium | Make and distribute leaflets about Gender-Fair Language |
| Limited knowledge on UN-CEDAW Many students are Not Aware on UN-CEDAW Male—1818 | Female—1845 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Integrate GAD in various courses and school activities | Conduct UN-CEDAW Symposium | Make and distribute leaflets about Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women |
| Limited knowledge on Anti-Sexual Harassment Law (RA 7877) Male—1571 | Female—1513 | Provide GAD corner Update the GAD corner information | Integrate GAD in various courses and school activities | Conduct UN-CEDAW Symposium | Make and distribute leaflets about on Anti-Sexual Harassment Law (RA 7877) |
assessment were verified its accuracy and tested using Classification System Algorithm such as Naïve Bays and J48. The screen results are shown in
It shows that the Model used the Decision Tree (J48) has higher accuracy than Naïve Bayes.
The researcher successfully identifies mechanisms on dynamic data sources for gender and development. The implementation of Decision Tree Algorithm to the computer applications give so much help for the GAD Focal Point system in identifying the solutions to the problems identified from data gathered. They have instant data sources that can help to manage, monitor the GAD projects, and numerous GAD solutions can be identified which is necessary for planning, programming, and policy formulation. Upon operation of this scheme, the SUCs must prepare a better set-up of computer laboratory with fast internet connection and good computer specifications for better system performance.
The authors sincerely appreciate all the insights and expertise shared by the GAD focal persons of the different SUCs, faculty members from Angeles University Foundation, administrators, students and employees of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, staff of Commission on Higher Education R3, Philippine Commission on Women and to our families who always encouraged us in doing and make this study completed.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Sonza, R.L. and Tumibay, G.M. (2020) Decision Tree Algorithm in Identifying Specific Interventions for Gender and Development Issues. Journal of Computer and Communications, 8, 17-26. https://doi.org/10.4236/jcc.2020.82002