As the temperatures are reaching tropical heights in Europe, we are gearing up for the fourth edition of the Women in Ag Awards, the international awards open to all women in agriculture worldwide, hosted in collaboration with the DLG. Present and behind the Awards project from the very beginning, back in 2022, Juana Tapel has been an appreciated member of the jury for all this time. It was only fair to put her in the spotlight as we look forward to meeting this year’s candidates.
Juana T. Tapel, or Jane as she likes to be called, is an authority in her field in her native Philippines. A distinguished ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE) and PhD specialized in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Jane is a retired Director of the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE). She also served as Member of the Professional Regulatory Board for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) of the Professional Regulation Commission for almost twelve years. Jane is currently an active member of the Philippine Commission of Higher Education’s Technical Panel for Engineering and Technology.
“I took up a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, for it is the priority course for Study Now Pay Later Plan, a program that enables students to begin college without immediate financial strain, allowing them to focus on their studies”, Jane explains. “In the back of my mind, I knew then that I wanted to contribute to the agricultural development of the Philippines.” After obtaining her degree, she pursued a Master in Management with major in Project Management, “because I was already involved in implementing different government agri-related projects by then.” She topped it of with a doctorate in Philosophy while working with the Philippine government.
“From Engineer to Director III – designated as Assistant Director of BAFE of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the BAFE being considered as the engineering arm of the DA – to my retirement from government service in December of last year. I have worked with the government from my graduation to my retirement”, Jane explains.
The PWESS and Lakambining Inyinhera (LI)
Recognized by the Institution of Engineering and Technology among 95 inspiring engineers and technologists (notable co-nominees being Steve Jobs and Elon Musk), Jane received many awards for her achievements over the course of her career. She has been an incontournable of the Philippine engineering community since the late 1990s. “I started as Founding Treasurer of the Young Engineers of the Philippines, then Secretary of the Philippine Technological Council (PTC) for six years”, Jane narrates. I likewise served as National President of the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers, Chairperson of the Women Engineers Network of PTC, Chairperson of the Women Engineers of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations, and currently the Chairperson of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists for Asia Pacific Nations Network (INWES-APNN).” Passionate about empowering women in engineering, she has initiated the Philippine Women Engineers and Scientists Summit (PWESS) and the search for Lakambining Inyinhera (Ms. Engineering). The PWES is designed to capacitate women engineering practitioners whilst LI unleashed their beauty and smartness through the search.
“We need to develop technologies and engineering solutions that are gender-inclusive”
Gender bias and climate change
In the Philippines, women in agriculture can face gender-based discrimination in accessing agricultural programs and government projects, Jane says. “They usually receive lower wages compared with their male counterparts. My former office (BAFE) has been working for this equality in wages by developing gender-inclusive machinery and infrastructures so that women can likewise deliver the needed services performed by men, like operating tractors and other machinery.”
The big challenge for Philippine agriculture, however, is the impact of climate change. “Droughts, floods and typhoons are increasing both in frequency and intensity and they lead to losses and food insecurity”, Jane explains.
To Jane, the key to equality and food security is mechanisation. “We need to develop technologies and engineering solutions that are gender-inclusive, so that women can confidently operate them. Furthermore, I believe we need to equip women in agriculture to operate these machines and facilities by skilling them. Agricultural mechanisation is the key to equality, higher productivity and food security.”
This article was published in the summer issue of Women in Ag Magazine.
Click here to read the full article.
