Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bit no’245

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides:

Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in
nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality
before the law of women and men.

Women have historically been underrepresented in scientific and engineering
occupations, and although progress has been made over the last several decades, there
is stillroom for improvement.

Female students earn fewer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in science and
engineering. Among recent bachelors of science and bachelor of engineering graduates,
women are less likely to be in the labor force, to be employed full-time, and to be
employed in their field than are men. Moreover, a substantial salary gap exists between
men and women with doctorates in science and engineering.

Limited access is the first hurdle faced by women seeking industrial jobs in science and
engineering. While progress has been made in recent years, common recruitment and
hiring practices that make extensive use of traditional networks often overlook the
available pool of women. Once on the job, many women find paternalism, sexual
harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, different standards for judging the
work of men and women, lower salary relative to their male peers, inequitable job
assignments, and other aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile to women.
They, to a greater extent than men, find limited opportunities for advancement,
particularly for moving into management positions, and the number of women who have
achieved the top levels in corporation is much lower than expected.


This bill seeks to establish a commission that would examine these issues and help —

a) to focus attention on the importance of eliminating artificial
barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women
in the fields of science, engineering, and technology, and in all
employment sectors of the Philippines;

b) to promote workforce diversity;

°) to sensitize employers to the need to recruit and retain women
and minority scientists, engineers, and computer specialists;

to encourage the replication of successful recruitment and retention programs by

universities, corporations, and agencies having difficulties in employing women in the
fields of science, engineering, and technology.

LUIS RAYMU! RAY” F{VALLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

8345
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN.
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Commission on the
Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act.”

SECTION 2. Commission on the Advancement of Women in Engineering, Science and
Technology Development. — There is established a commission to be known as the
“Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology
Development" (in this Act referred to as the ‘Commission’).

SECTION 3. Duty Of The Commission. - The Commission shall review available
research, and if determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional research
to-
(A) identify the number of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the
Philippines in specific types of occupations in science, engineering, and technology
development;
(8) examine the preparedness of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities to —
(1) pursue careers in science, engineering and technology development; and
(2) advance to positions of greater responsibility within the academia, industry, and
government;
(C) describe the practice and polices of employees and labor unions relating to the
recruitment, retention, and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with
disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and technology development;
(D) identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers to, the recruitment, retention, and
advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of



science, engineering, and technology development in academia, industry, and
government;

(E) compile a synthesis of available research on lawful practices, polices, and programs
that have successfully led to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women,
minorities, and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering, and technology
development;

(F) issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies that government (including
Congress, academia, private industry can follow regarding the recruitment, retention,
and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disal i
engineering, and technology development;

(G) identify the disincentives for women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities to
continue graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics, and computer science;
(H) identify university undergraduate programs that are successful in retaining women,
minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and
technology development;

(\) identify the disincentives that lead to a disproportionate number of women, minorities,
and individuals with disabilities leaving the fields of science, engineering, and technology
development before completing their undergraduate education;

SECTION 4. Membership. — The Commission shall be composed of six members to be
appointed by the President as follows:

(A) two members from among for-profit entities that hire individuals in the fields of
engineering, science, or technology development.

(B) two members from among institutions in education or academia in the fields of life
science, physical science, or engineering.

(C) Two members from among non-governmental organizations, people’s organizations
or any similar entities that promote and advance the welfare of women, minorities and
individuals with disabilities.

The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology shall automatically seat as
chairman of the commission in an ex-offico capacity.

Each member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.

A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.

Members shall not be paid by reason of their service on the Commission.

Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in an amount to be
determined by existing law.

A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.

The Commission shall meet not fewer than 5 times in connection with and pending the
completion of the report described in this Act. The Commission shall hold additional
meetings for such purpose if the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the
Commission requests additional meetings in writing.

SECTION 5. Directors And Staff Of The Commission; Experts And Consultants.—
(A) Director — The Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a Director and additional
personnel as the Commission considers appropriate.


(B) Experts and Consultants. ~The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent
services to assist in the discharge of the Commission's functions.

SECTION 6. Powers of the Commission. —

(A) Hearings and Sessions. - The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this
act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence
as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or
affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.

(B) Powers of Members and Agents. — Any member or agent of the Commission may, if
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to
take by this section.

(C) Obtaining Official Data. - The Commission may secure directly from any department
or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that
information to the Commission.

(D) Mails. - The Commission may use mails in the same manner and under the same
conditions as other departments and agencies of the government.

(E) Contract Authority. - To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the
Commission may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or
persons for the purpose of conducting research or surveys necessary to enable the
Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.

SECTION 7. Report. — Not later than 1 year after the date on which the initial
appointments are complete, the Commission shall submit to the President and the
Congress a written report containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of
the Commission resulting from the study conducted under section 3.

SECTION 8. Construction; Use of Information Obtained. — Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to require any non-governmental entities such as business, college or
university, foundation, or research organization to provide information to the Commission
concerning such entity's personnel policies, including salaries and benefits, promotion
criteria, and affirmative action plans.

No information obtained from any entity by the Commission may be used in connection
with any employment related litigation.

SECTION 9. Termination; Access to Information. - The Commission shall terminate 30
days after the submitting the reports required in this act.

On or before the date of the termination of the Commission, the Commission shall
provide to the Department of Science and Technology the information gathered by the
Commission in the process of carrying out its duties under this Act. The department
shall act as a central repository for such information and shall make such information
available to the public, including making such information available through Internet.

SECTION 10. Review of Information Provided by the Department of Science and
Technology and Other Agencies. —
(A) Provision of Information. — At the request of the Commission, the DOST and any


other department or agency shall provide to the Commission any information determined
necessary by the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act, including—data on
academic degrees awarded to women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in
science, engineering, and technology development and workforce representation and
the retention of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities in the fields of science,
engineering and technology development; and

(B) Review of Information. - The Commission shall review any information provided and
shall include in the report required under Section 7 on how to correct any deficiencies in
the collection of the types of information described in that subsection, and in the analysis
of such data, which might impede the characterization of the factors which affect the
attraction and retention of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the field
of science, engineering, and technology development; and

SECTION 11. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this Act —

(1) P3,000,000 for the fiscal year during which this Act is approved; and

(2) P3,000,000 for next succeeding fiscal year.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,