THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINE 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. QsmeAa 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 14 of Article I I  of the Philippine Constitution provides that 
“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.” 
The 1995 survey of population reports the male: female ratio at 1.051. 
The fact that this ratio is far greater than the ratio of males to female in 
government, business and politics shows that these spheres continue to be 
male-dominated, and females are not proportionately represented in these 
sectors. 
In the long run, the ideal situation is a free market where both sexes have 
equal access to opportunities in all endeavors. The reality however, is that 
females continue to face more difficult odds in gaining access to educational 
institutions, work place, and career opportunities. 
In order to compensate for the inherent social discrimination againsf 
women, and to achieve a balance in male-female participation, fhis bill proposes 
to resetve at leasf one third of cerlain opportunities in government and certain 
institutions to women. 
Improving women’s access to advancement opportunities promotes equity 
Tapping women’s energies to complement the male 
in Philippine society. 
approach could introduce productivity improvements for greater efficiency. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
c 
LL 
SERGIO QSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPU 
OF THE PHILIPPINE 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
This Act shall be known and cited as the “Women 
Empowerment Act of 2004.” 
SEC. 2. Appointive positions in the national and local government shall 
be reserved to qualified women based on the following fraction and classification: 
a) At least one-third of the Cabinet; 
b) At least one-third of all undersecretaries and positions of comparable 
salary grade or at least one in every line department, government-owned and 
controlled corporations, government financing institutions, state colleges and 
universities, and local government units: Provided, That in cases where there 
are more than fifty percent (50%) women population occupying technical 
positions in departments, offices, bureaus and agencies, the secretary or the 
head of agency shall be a woman and the proportion of one-third shall be 
increased to two-thirds; 
c) At least one-third of all assistant secretaries in every department; 
d) At least one-third of all directors in every department; 
e) At least one-third of all chiefs of division in every department, bureau of 
agency ; 
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f) At least one-third of all ambassadors and consular officers; 
g) At least one-third of all judges in all lower courts; and 
h) At least one-third of all prosecutors in the Department of Justice. 
The Civil Service Commission shall enforce this provision. 
SEC. 3. All duly accredited political parties shall reserve at least one-third 
of its party elate of official candidates to women in elections for the municipakity 
councils and provincial boards. 
The Commission on Elections shall enforce this provision. 
SEC. 4. Women in the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be allowed 
combat and security-related assignments. The Armed Forces of the Philippines 
shall enforce this provision. 
SEC. 5. All police stations shall establish an all-female unit to attend to 
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victims of rape, battering, incest and other crimes against women and chastity. 
For this purpose, the Philippine National Police shall reserve at least thirty per 
cent (30%) of all items in each rank to women. 
SEC. 6. All departments, bureaus, agencies, and other government- 
owned and controlled corporations, in coordination with the National Commission 
on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), shall include in their human resource 
development program, gender and development orientation, trainings, and 
seminars among others 
SEC. 
7. 
At least one-third of scholarships, grants, fellowships and 
trainings in the National Local and governments, either in the Philippines or 
abroad, shall be reserved for qualified women. 
The Commission on Civil Service and the National Economic and 
Development Authority shall enforce this provision. 
SEC. 8, Nothing in this Act shall diminish the rights and privileges of 
i ncum bent male employees. 
SEC. 9. Persons who violate the provisions of this Act shall be punished 
by a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of 
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not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years or both fine and 
imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
If the offender is a government official, he shall, in addition, be perpetually 
disqualified from holding any public office. 
SEC. I O .  The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, in 
consultation with the Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Election, the 
Philippine National Police, and the National Economic Development Authority, 
shall formulate the necessary guidelines to implement this Act. 
SEC. 
11. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. If any part of the provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or 
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in.full force and effect. 
SEC. A3. This shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,