In photo: Teams from ESCA Engineering, Investing in Women, and PBCWE together
27 September 2024, Mandaluyong City, Philippines — Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) proudly announces the successful GEARS Action Planning Workshop session of ESCA Engineering last August 22, 2024. This significant milestone in ESCA’s Gender Equality Assessment Results and Strategies (GEARS), which focuses on building a more inclusive and equitable workplace, was facilitated by PBCWE and Investing in Women (IW), an initiative of the Australian Government. The workshop, led by ESCA’s CEO Atty. Jean de Castro and HR Manager Ms. Janice Villegas, helped its GEARS Core Team identify the company’s priority areas on which to anchor their action plans.
The workshop was inaugurated by PBCWE Executive Director Julia Abad, who highlighted the importance of measuring Workplace Gender Equality (WGE) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) benchmarks through GEARS. “Understanding where we stand in terms of gender equality and inclusivity is crucial for driving meaningful change,” she emphasized.
In response, Atty. Jean de Castro reaffirmed the company’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all genders and talents. “For ESCA, our vision of building better means not just designing accessible and innovative structures but also fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces that cater to all genders and diverse talents. This is not only a business necessity that enhances innovation, creativity, and overall performance but also a moral imperative,” she stated.
In photo: PBCWE and ESCA Engineering Team during the GEARS action planning
The GEARS Action Planning represents a significant step for ESCA Engineering as it strives for gender equality and diversity in the workplace. GEARS is a structured data-driven approach to measuring and advancing WGE and DEI benchmarks, enabling the organization to identify areas of improvement, set measurable targets, and implement strategies to foster an inclusive culture.
The action planning session included comprehensive discussions, sharing of GEARS high-impact recommendations, and interactive workshops, equipping ESCA Engineering’s leadership and workforce with the tools and knowledge needed to achieve their DEI goals. ESCA garnered a leading practice score in the Leadership Commitment and Accountability GEARS focus area (FA) and their action plan commitments reflect their broader pledge to becoming a leader in creating awareness, safe working spaces, providing equitable opportunities, and nurturing an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity at every level.
