Gender-Responsive Governance, Social Service Delivery, and Community Satisfaction in SAMARICA Area

This study examined the extent of gender-responsive governance (GRG) implementation and its relationship to the quality of social service delivery and the level of community satisfaction in the SAMARICA area of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. Employing descriptive-correlational and predictive research designs, the study assessed key dimensions of GRG, namely institutional mechanisms, protection and promotion of women’s human rights, integration of the Gender and Development (GAD) agenda in local development plans, and resource allocation and financial accountability. It likewise evaluated the quality of social service delivery in terms of social welfare, health, safety and protection, and education-related services, and measured community satisfaction with GRG initiatives. The respondents included 385 community residents selected through proportional random sampling and 299 local government unit (LGU) officials and personnel involved in GAD-related programs. Data were gathered using the Gender-Responsive LGU (GeRL) Self-Assessment Tool developed by the Philippine Commission on Women and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and multiple regression analysis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that gender-responsive governance in the SAMARICA area is strongly implemented, particularly in protecting women’s rights, integrating the GAD agenda in local plans, and establishing institutional mechanisms. Social service delivery was generally rated very good, with education, welfare, and health services receiving high evaluations. Results further showed that while GRG significantly influences the quality of social service delivery, it does not necessarily translate into higher community satisfaction. Among GRG indicators, policies protecting and promoting women’s human rights emerged as the strongest predictor of community satisfaction. Similarly, among social service indicators, only safety and protection services significantly predicted community satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of rights-based and protection-oriented interventions in enhancing public satisfaction with gender-responsive governance.