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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeha 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Vienna Declaration, to which the Philippines is a party, is considered 
"a milestone in the struggle by women for their rights." The Vienna Declaration 
affirmed that, "human rights of women and the girl-child are an inalienable, 
integral and indivisible part of universal human rights." But, while womenk rights 
have been recognized, the women sector is still beset with internal struggles 
created by the society's economic and political divide. 
This bill seeks to address the plight of women in Philippine society by 
granting them privileges in order for them to achieve the capacity to improve their 
lives and possibly to decrease their vulnerability. 
It aims to bring an end to 
affronts to their dignity, providing just recognition to the value of their work, equal 
opportunities, unjust oppression and discrimination, property rights, etc. 
The Magna Carta for Women specifically addresses the problem of 
women's rights such as but not limited to: (1) the economic empowerment of 
women, (2) political empowerment, (3) violence against women. It also provides 
protection for women in marginalized sectors, women small farmers and rural 
workers, women fisher folk, women in the informal economy, women migrant 
workers, women in indigenous and cultural communities, girl-child, older women 
(over 60 years of age), and women with disabilities. In a nutshell, it ensures that 
the dignity and identity of women is maintained and the special feminine 
attributes that characterize womanhood are protected and nurtured. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
, & &  
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA FOR WOMEN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I .  Short Tit/e. - This Act shall be known as the "The Magna 
Carta for Women." 
SEC. 
2. 
Declaration of Policy. - The 1987 Philippine constitution 
(Arti'cle'll, Section'l4) provides that the State shall iecognize the role of women 
in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality of women and men 
before the law. Likewise, in keeping with the provisions of the Charter of the 
United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights includiflg the 
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against 
Women and 
International Human Rights Law, the State shall, accord to the citizens the rights, 
protections, privileges such as employment rights and opportunities, basic 
services, education and other rights and privileges available to every member of 
the society, Accordingly, the State shall likewise ensure that the employment of 
any form of force or coercion against women and minors shall be dealt with by 
law. 
The State shall recognize, affirm and intensify its efforts to respect, protect 
and fulfill all human rights and fundamental freedoms, of women especially in the 
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marginalized sector of society to guarantee their economic, social and cultural 
well-being without distinction or discrimination on the account of age, gender, 
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language, ethnicity, culture, religion and disability. 
The State shall provide the necessary mechanisms to enforce and 
guarantee the realization of women’s rights and to adopt and implement 
measures that would empower themselves as agents of change and progress. It 
affirms that the task of addressing women’s concerns requires a multi- 
dimensional approach based on national commitment and political will, relevant 
and effective policies and programs, the provision of adequate resources, 
efficient monitoring and women’s participation. 
The State, in ensuring the full integration of women’s concerns in the 
mainstream of development, shall provide ample opportunities to enhance and 
develop their skills, acquire productive employment and contribute to their 
communities to the fullest of their capabilities. 
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In pursuance of this policy, the State shall recognize the right of women in 
all sectors to participate in the planning, organization, implementation, 
management and monitoring of all programs and projects relating to women. It 
shall support policies, researches, technology and training programs and other 
support services such as financing, production and marketing to encourage 
active participation of women in national development. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.- For purposes of this Act, the following 
shall mean: 
(a) 
“Empowerment” refers to the provision 
and availment 
of 
opportunities for awareness-raising and capability-building which shall enable 
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women to actively participate and contribute in the political, economic and social 
development of the nation as well as those which shall provide them equal 
access to ownership, management and control of production, both material and 
informational resources and benefits in the family, community and society. 
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(b) 
“Marginalized sectors” refers to the basic and disadvantaged 
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groups who are mostly living in poverty and have little access to basic services 
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such as health care, education, water and sanitation, employment and livelihood 
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opportunities. 
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(c) 
“Gender and Development (GAD)” refers to the development 
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perspective that is equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human 
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rights, supportive of self determination and actualization of human potentials, and 
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participatory and empowering. It recognizes the legitimacy of gender equality as 
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a fundamental value that should be reflected in development choices. It 
questions society’s social, economic and political structures and the validity of 
the gender roles they ascribe to women and men. ‘It contends that women are 
active agents of development and not just passive recipients of development 
assistance. It also stresses the need for women to organize themselves and 
participate in political processes to strengthen their legal rights. 
TITLE I 
RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT 
Chapter 1 
Women’s Rights 
SEC. 4. Women’s Rights.- Women shall have rights which shall not be 
limited to the following: 
(a) The right to participate in all spheres of society including the decision- 
making processes to fully realize their role as agents and beneficiaries of people- 
centered development. They shall participate in the formulation, implementation 
and evaluation of policies, plans and programs for national, regional and local 
development; 
(b) The right to equal treatment before the law; 
(c) The right to be provided with safe and healthful conditions in the 
workplace; 
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(d) ) The right to be given equal access to education, skills, training and 
economic resources to develop their self-reliance and to participate fully in all 
aspects of life; 
(e) The right to be properly informed of the issues and concerns affecting 
the welfare of women and access to comprehensive and gender sensitive health 
services such as maternal and child care and family planning; 
(f) The right to be heard and represented in government and in all 
community-based decision making bodies; 
(9) The right to determine and decide their own priorities for development 
affecting their lives, beliefs, institutions, spiritual well-being and resources; 
(h) The right to be protected from any form of discrimination, violence, 
sexual exploitation and abuse 
(i) The right to be provided with basic services which shall include, but 
not limited to, water and food, electricity, education, health and sanitation, 
employment , housing, social security, and basic physical infrastructure; 
(j) The right to be property and adequately informed on programs and 
policies affecting their livelihood and economic choices; and 
(k) The right to be given equal rights to family properties and resources 
whether titled or not, and inherited, whether formal or customary. 
Chapter 2 
Economic Empowerment 
SEC. 5. Freedom from Discrimination and Right to Equal Opportunity 
and Treatment in Employment- It shall be right of every woman to be free from 
any form of discrimination with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, 
dismissal, retrenchment, giving of assignments and other conditions of 
employment. They shall be informed of their rights under existing labor laws and 
of means available to them for redress of grievance. They shall not be subjected 
to any coercive recruitment systems, including bonded labor and other forms of 
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debt servitude. They shall likewise be protected from any acts of sexual 
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other benefits. 
harassment. Women seasonal workers shall be entitled to social security and 
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SEC. 6. Minimum Wage- Women in the labor force, whether regular, 
seasonal or contractual workers, shall be entitled to at least minimum wage or 
wage . levels 
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as prescribed under existing laws. 
SEC. 7. Occupational Health and Safety Measures.- To ensure that 
women are protected from occupational hazards, the following shall be 
implemented: 
(a) 
The employer, especially in hazardous workplaces, shall provide 
the necessary protection and protective equipment to each worker depending on 
the nature of work; 
(b) 
The employer shall establish appropriate facilities in order to 
promote their efficiency and ensure privacy such as proper seats, separate toilet 
rooms and dressing rooms and nursery in the workplace; and 
(c) 
The State and the employer shall guarantee women’s protection 
from banned or harmful chemicals. 
SEC. 7. Women’s Livelihood Resource Center.- 
A Women’s 
Livelihood Resource Center shall be established in every province. The Center 
shall be managed by the provincial government. 
For this purpose, the provincial government in coordination with the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Technical 
Educatjon and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Technology and 
Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) shall develop livelihood and entrepreneurial 
training programs to harness the skills of women. 
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SEC. 9. Functions of Women’s Livelihood Resource Center,- The 
Women’s Livelihood Resource Center Shall have the following functions: 
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(a) Conduct training programs, which will upgrade technical and 
entrepreneurial skills of women, such as saving mobilization, financing and 
market management; 
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(b) Implement consciousness-raising activities, specifically 
gender 
sensitivity trainings, capability building and leaders hip trainings; and 
(c) Provide technical support, extension, services, credit access and 
market assistance to women engaged in micro and cottage industries. 
CHAPTER 3 
Political Empowerment 
SEC.10. Righfs fo Organize.- The State shall recognize the right of 
women to organize in order to promote their welfare, protect their rights, express 
their concerns, develop skills, advance or safeguard their interests and initiate 
action to resolve women’s issues. Towards these ends, the government shall 
encourage the establishment of self-help and political organizations such as but 
not limited to cooperatives, associations and people’s organizations to enable 
members to improve their quality of life and enhance their socio-cultural and 
political role and status in society. 
SEC.ll. Ernpowerrnenf in Public Sewice.- The national and local 
governments shall ensure the equitable distribution of power and decision 
making at all levels of bureaucracy. 
(a) Appointment- Appointive 
positions in the national and local 
governments from the grassroots level to the top levels of management in the 
bureaucracy shall be open to qualified women regardless of the number holding 
elective positions in the local political units. 
(b) Promotion- Women should be given equal opportunities for promotion 
in any government position until its possible highest level. 
(c) Training and Seminars- Every government agency shall conduct 
gender sensitivity training for public servants from rank and file to supervisory 
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positions. It shall also provide equal access to managerial, entrepreneurial, 
technical and leadership training to women in the public service. 
SEC.12. Integration of Women in Political Parties.- All political parties 
shall encourage recruitment of women to become members of the party and shall 
likewise encourage the representation of women in their internal policy-making 
structures, appointive and electoral nominating processes. 
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To ensure the fundamental equality of men and women, all duty 
accredited political parties are hereby encouraged to provide adequate 
representation of women in its slate of official candidates in the election for the 
local and national positions. 
SEC. 13. Women’s Representation in Local Development Councils 
and Planning Bodies.- 
To ensure the participation of women in local 
development planning and program implementation, all local development 
councils from the regional, provincial, municipal and barangay levels, shall 
include a representative from the women sector. Women’s group shall also be 
represented in national and local special and decision-making bodies such as but 
not limited to agriculture, fisheries, agrarian reform and anti-poverty councils. 
CHAPTER 4 
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Comprehensive Health Service 
SEC. 14. Comprehensive Health Services- The State shall at all times 
provide for comprehensive gender sensitive health services and programs 
covering all stages of a woman’s life cycle and ensure access to the following: 
(a) maternal care services; 
(b) nutrition package; 
(c) family planning services; 
(d) adolescent and youth health services; 
(e) women and children protection services; 
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(f) screening and appropriate management of sexually transmitted 
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infections 
(STls), reproductive tract 
infections 
(RTls), human 
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immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency 
syndrome (AIDS); 
(9) screening and appropriate management of breast and reproductive 
tract cancers and other gynecological conditions; and 
(h) healthy lifestyle activities. 
SEC. 15. Comprehensive Health lnformation and Education- The 
State shall provide women in all sectors timely, complete and accurate 
information and education on comprehensive and gender sensitive health 
services and shall ensure availability and accessibility to safe, affordable and 
quality health care services. 
TITLE 2 
THE MARGINALIZED SECTORS 
Chapter 1 
General Provisions 
SEC. 16. The Marginalized Sectors- The State shall, at all times, provide 
for the protection, rehabilitation and empowerment of women belonging to the 
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marginalized sectors who are economically, politically, socially and culturally 
disadvantaged. 
(a) Economic marginalization shall refer to the conditions of women who 
do unpaid work, who are underpaid and often receive less than what their male 
counterparts receive, and have less entitlements and access to productive 
resources. 
(b) Social marginalization shall refer to the conditions of women who 
perform multiple tasks in the farm, household and community which are often not 
recognized by society. This also refers to the minimum or lack of access to basic 
social services such as health, education, shelter arid food. 
(c) Political marginalization shall refer to the subordination of women in 
political and organizational structures, less representation in decision-making 
bodies, absence of legal mechanisms addressing gender gaps and women’s 
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concerns. This also include marginalization and violence against 
women 
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resulting from armed conflicts. 
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SEC. 17. Value of Women’s- The State shall recognize and implement a 
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valuation scheme for work done by women in household, informal sector, farm, 
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fishery, mining and manufacturing, care for the environment and community 
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work. These shall be reflected as economic activities and shall be included in the 
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census of the National Statistics Office (NSO) and in the surveys of the 
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Depadment of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), 
(d) Cultural marginalization shall refer to any discrimination because of 
ethnicity, gender, age, faith and belief. 
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Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE’S) Bureau of Rural Workers and 
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other studies and reports of information-related agencies. 
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the contribution of women to the national economy. 
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CHAPTER 2 
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WOMEN SMALL FARMERS AND RURAL WORKERS 
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SEC. 18. Women Small Farmers and Rural Workers- For purposes of 
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this Act, “women small farmers and rural workers’ shall refer to women who are 
dependent on small-scale subsistence farming and on workers in commercial 
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farms and plantations as their primary source of income, who do paid, unpaid 
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and underpaid work in their farms, whose work are regular or season-bound, and 
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who have less entitlement to land and access to productive resources. These 
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shall include the following but not limited to: 
(a) small farmers with tenurial status such as women farmers who work on 
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the land, including those who own not more than three (3) hectares of the land, 
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and who are still amortizing for the land: tenants, leaseholders; and stewards; 
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(b) small farmers in the following farming systems: communal farms, 
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upland farms, ancestral domains and subsistence farms; and 
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(c) rural workers who are paid, unpaid or underpaid in farms, home-based 
enterprises, cottage industries, small agriculture-based manufacturing industries 
and small cooperatives. 
SEC. 19. Food Securify and Productive Resources- 
The State 
recognizes the contribution of women to food production and shall therefore 
ensure sustainability and sufficiency of its activities in the household and 
community levels. To address this, the State shall ensure access of rural women 
to all forms of productive resources such as: 
(a) Property rights 
(I) 
Property rights shall refer to full and formal ownership of land; 
(2) Equal status shall be given to men and women in the titling of the land 
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and issuance of stewardship contracts and patents; 
(3) Equal treatment shall be given to men and women beneficiaries of the 
agrarian reform program; 
(4) Customary rights of women to the land shall be recognized, in 
circumstances where private ownership is not possible, such as ancestral 
domain claims; and 
(5) Information and assistance on claiming rights to the land shall be made 
available to rural women at all times; 
(b) Credit and Capital 
(1) women small farmers shall be given equal access to formal sources of 
credit and capital; 
(2) wider credit schemes and opportunities shall be made available to 
women small farmers and workers; and 
(3) women small farmers shall be given equal share to the produce of the 
farm household and to the savings and services of the organization to which they 
belong. 
(c) Wo me n-F rie nd I y Ag ricu I t u re Tech no logy 
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accessibility and viability; 
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(1) women friendly agriculture technology shall be designed based on 
(2) women organization shall consulted in the design of a particular 
technology before being launched or mass produced; and 
(3) scholarship grants shall be given to student of agriculture and technical 
schools interested in research and development aimed towards women-friendly 
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(d) Trainings and Women- Friendly Extension Services 
(I) 
trainings and extension services of agricultural and environmental 
agencies shall ensure the participation of women; and 
(2) trainings and seminars shall be gender sensitive, resource-based and 
relevant to existing skills and market. 
(e) Seeds Production and Distribution 
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access to seeds production and distribution shall be ensured ; and 
(2) indigenous practices of women in seed storage and cultivation shall 
be recognized. 
(f) Information 
(1) access to information regarding national, agricultural and agrarian, 
environmental and women specific policies shall be ensured; and 
(2) information shall include data concerning production, market and 
technology. 
(3) scholarship grants shall be given to students of agriculture and 
technical schools interested in research and development aimed towards 
w o me n-f r ie nd I y farm tech no logy 
(d) Trainings and Women-Friendly Extension Services 
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(I) 
trainings and extension services of agricultural and environmental 
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agencies shall ensure the participation of women; and 
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(2) trainings and seminars shall be gender sensitive, resource-based and 
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relevant tu existing skills and market. 
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(e) Seeds Production and Distribution 
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(7) access to seeds production and distribution shall be ensured; and 
(2) indigenous practices of women in seed storage and cultivation shall 
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be recognized 
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(2) information shall include data concerning production, market and 
(’I) access to information regarding national, agricultural and agrarian, 
environmental and women specific policies shall be ensured; 
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technology 
CHAPTER 3 
WOMEN FISHERFOLK 
SEC. 20. Women Fisherfolk- For purposes of this Act, “women fisherfolk” 
shall refer to women directly or indirectly engaged in taking and/or culturing and 
processing fishery and/or aquatic resources. These shall include women 
engaged in fishing in municipal waters and coastal areas, women workers in 
commercial fishing and aquaculture, vendors and processors of fish and coastal 
products, and subsistence producers such as shell-gatherers, wood-gatherers in 
mangrove forests and other related producers. 
SEC. 21. Use and Management of Marine Resources- The State shall 
ensure that women directly engaged in municipal waters and coastal fishing shall 
have equal access to the use and management of marine resources, and shall 
have all the rights and benefits accruing to stakeholders in fishing and 
aquamarine industry. 
SEC. 22. Rights and Welfare- The State shall protect the rights and 
welfare of women in commercial fishing, fish processing and aquamarine culture 
to have equitable share in the produce as well as equal wages and benefits as 
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their male counterparts. The State shall also ensure that they are provide with 
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health hazards. 
necessary support services and gears to protect them from occupational and 
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SEC. 
23. 
Value-added 
Enterprises.- 
The 
State 
shall 
provide 
opportunities for empowering women fisherfolk to be involved in the control and 
management not only of the catch and production of aquamarine resources but 
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also to engage in entrepreneurial activities which would add value to production 
and marketing ventures. 
SEC. 24 Appropriate Technology.- The State shall promote the 
development of appropriate technology, training programs and extension 
services which would cater to the needs, preferences and accessibility of women 
fish e rfol k. 
SEC. 25. Represenfa‘tion and Parficipafion. - The State shall ensure the 
right of women fisherfolk to equal representation in all policy-making bodies and 
actively participate in all matters that concern the sustainable development of the 
fishery sector. 
CHAPTER 4 
URBAN POOR WOMEN 
SEC. 26. Urban Poor Women. - For purposes of this Act, “urban poor 
women’’ shall refer to women residing in urban centers and urbanizing areas 
whose income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National 
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) andlor cannot afford in a 
sustained manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, 
education, housing and other essential amenities of life. 
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‘SEC. 27. ‘Community Planning. - The Sfate shall consult women in 
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urban poor communities and involve them in community planning and 
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opportunities. 
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CHAPTER 5 
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development especially in matters pertaining to zoning and relocation. 
SEC. 28. Housing Programs. - The State shall develop housing program 
for the urban poor that are accessible, secured and with viable employment 
WOMEN IN THE FORMAL ECONOMY 


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forms of compensation. 
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SEC. 30. Women in the Formal Economy- For purposes of this Act, 
“women in the formal economy” shall refer to women working in registered 
business enterprises who sell their services in exchange for wages and other 
SEC. 31. Rights of Women in the Formal Economy- The State shall 
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ensure that women in the formal economy enjoy: 
(a) security of tenure; 
(b) equal wages for the same time of work; 
(c) support services that will enable them to balance family obligations 
and work responsibilities; 
(d) social security, particularly in cases of retirement, unemployment, 
sickness, invalidity, and old age and other incapacity to work, as well as the right 
to paid leave; and 
(e) membership in unions regardless of status of employment. 
CHAPTER 6 
WOMEN IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY 
SEC. 32. Women in the lnformal Economy- For purposes of this Act 
“women 
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informal 
economy” 
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self-employed, 
occasionally/personaIly hired, subcontracted and. unpaid family workers in 
household 
unincorporated 
enterprises, 
including 
home-workers, 
micro- 
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entrepreneurs and producers, street vendors, hawkers and peddlers, small 
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retailers such as the owners and operators of sari-sari stores, and all other 
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categories who suffer from invisibility, violation of workers’ rights, multiple 
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SEC. 33. National System ofAccounts.- The State shall ensure that 
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workers in the informal economy shall be included in the national system of 
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accounts through gender-disaggregated data, and that they and their 
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organization shall be represented in all policy-making bodies that deal with their 
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concerns. 
burdens and gender violence, lack of access to resources and social protection. 
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SEC. 34. Rigbts of fhe lnformal Women Workers.- The State shall 
ensure that all the rights of women workers in the informal economy already 
enshrined in existing laws such as the Labor Code, department orders, executive 
orders, among others shall be implemented, and that other rights not yet fully 
recognized should be affirmed through appropriate legislation as well as 
ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions 
SEC. 35. 
Programs and Services- Government agencies such as 
DOLE, DSWD, TESDA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Housing and 
Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), government financial 
institutions (GFls), and LGUs, shall ensure that all their programs for credit, 
training, technical and marketing assistance, and housing shall be made 
available to women workers in the informal economy on easy terms. 
SEC. 36. Social Profecfion- Social Security System (SSS) and Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) shall conduct membership campaigns 
among workers in the informal economy in partnership with their organizations; 
indigenous and community-based social protection schemes shall receive 
support from government agencies, LGUs , and other institutions which can 
render assistance. 
CHAPTER 7 
WOMEN MIGRANT WORKERS 
SEC. 37. Women Migrant Workers- For purposes of this Act, "women 
migrant workers" shall refer to women who are to be engaged, are engaged or 
have been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which they are not 
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SEC. 38. Employment Promotion and Protection. - In recognition of the 
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temporary nature of overseas work, the State shall exert all efforts to address the 
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causes of outmigration by developing local employment and livelihood 
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opportunities for women and by introducing measures to curb violence and 
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legal residents. This shall also include women working in international sea and 
air vessels registered and based in a foreign land. 


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forced and involuntary displacement of local women. The State shall ensure the 
protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of migrant women regardless 
of their work status. 
SEC. 39. Rights and Welfare. - The State shall ensure the following 
rights and welfare of migrant women: 
(a) protection against illegal recruiters; 
(b) protection against forced and not forced, legal and illegal forms of 
trafficking; 
(c) protection against discrimination in wages, conditions of work and 
employment opportunities in host countries; 
(d) access to all support services and all forms of assistance from all 
national and local agencies concerned with the welfare of migrant workers, the 
Philippine embassies and consulates in any country of, regardless of status of 
employment, whether documented or undocumented; 
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(e) Membership in organizations and unions; 
(f) Participation in policy formulation and implementation especially on 
matters pertaining to the sector in and outside of the country; and 
(9) Participation in national and local elections. 
CHAPTER 8 
WOMEN IN INDIGENOUS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES 
SEC. 40. Women in Indigenous and Cultural Communities- For 
purposes of this Act, “women in indigenous and cultural communities” shall refer 
to women who have continuously lived as organized community on communally- 
bounded and defined territory, who have, under claims of ownership since time 
immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common 
bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who 
have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, 
non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the 
majority of Filipinos. 
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SEC. 41. Rights fo Self-Deferminafion- This State shall implement 
measures to enable the realization of indigenous wornen’s rights to self- 
determination, practice their religious beliefs, culture and forms of community 
governance, speak their chosen languages, and to support the survival of their 
unique cultural relationship with their land, acknowledging their customary and 
communal laws in relation to land. 
SEC. 42. Management of Natural Resources- The State shall ensure 
the protection of indigenous women’s right to use their traditional knowledge 
including the freedom to develop their natural resources and their rights to 
protect their indigenous knowledge over the management and conservation of 
their resources. 
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SEC. 43 . Preservation of Cultural Heritage. - The State shall protect 
the traditional livelihood and culture of indigenous women and shall not allow the 
implementation of development program which are deemed prejudicial and may 
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cause irreversible environmental damages. The State shall also ensure that any 
development programs affecting indigenous people’s livelihood and resources 
shall be implemented upon full information and consent of the people. 
SEC. 44. Promoting the Role of lndigenous Women. - The State shall 
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promote the role of women in indigenous communities by raising public 
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awareness, as appropriate, through the mass media, education at all levels and 
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special programs to create a better understanding of the situation of indigenous 
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women. 
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CHAPTER 9 
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condition. 
SEC. 45. Gir/-Chi/d.- For purposes of this Act, “girl-child” shall refer to 
female minors below eighteen (18) years of age or those over, but are unable to 
fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, 
exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or 
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SEC. 46. Profecfion of the Girl-Child, The State shall pursue measures 
to eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl-child in education, health 
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and nutrition and skills development. It shall protect the girl-child from all forms of 
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abuse caused by negative, cultural attitudes and practices as well as in the 
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economic exploitation of child labor. 
CHAPTER 10 
OLDER WOMEN 
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 SEC. 47. Older Wornen.- For purposes of this Act, “older women” shall 
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refer to women above sixty (60) years of age and referred to as senior citizens. 
SEC. 48. Protection of Older Women.- The State shall protect older 
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persons from neglect, abandonment, domestic violence and abuse. The 
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Commission on Human Rights (CHR) shall be tasked to implement the rules and 
regulations for the protection of human rights of older persons as well as the 
appropriate sanctions and penalty provisions for the violation of these rights. 
CHAPTER 11 
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WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES 
SEC. 49. Women with Disabilities.- For purposes of this Act, “women 
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with disabilities” shall refer to women who are suffering from restriction or 
different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to 
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perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a 
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human being 
SEC. 50. Special Privileges- Women with disabilities shall be provided 
with social and physical infrastructure interventions such as: 
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(a) assistive devices for maternal and health care; 
(b) alternative social security system and health insurance program; 
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(c) special credit window at concessional rate in livelihood enterprises 
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and access for marketing of products and services made by women with 
disabilities; and 
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(d) special protective mechanisms and support services against violence, 
sexual abuse and exploitation. 
TITLE 3 
I NSTlTUTl ONAL MECHANCSMS 
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CHAPTER 1 
MEDIA, INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 
SEC. 51. Reorientation of the Role of Women in Media. - The State 
shall endeavor to raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing the 
dignity of motherhood/ parenthood and the role and contribution of women in the 
family and in nation-building apd development through the strategic use of the 
mass media. For this purpose, programming policies shall appropriately present 
woman’s 
needs, 
issues 
and 
concerns 
in 
movies, 
television 
shows, 
advertisements and print media through the support of media watch groups, 
media professional associations and women’s organizations. Similarly, gender- 
sensitivity training programs for media professionals including producers, 
directors and managers shall be organized to encourage the creation and use of 
non-stereotyped, balanced and diverse images of women in media. 
SEC. 52. Establishment of a Shared Government lnforrnation for 
Women- All government agencies, including government-owned and controlled 
corporations (GOCCs) and LGUs, shall develop a system of gender- 
disaggregated database on their programs and projects for planning and policy 
formulation. 
SEC. 53. Integration of Gender and Development (GAD) Perspective 
in Educafion- The Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission of Higher 
Education (CHED) shall integrate gender and development perspective in school 
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curricula. 
CHAPTER 2 
GAD PLAN AND BUDGET 
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SEC. 54. Comprehensive Plan for Women.- NEDA shall formulate a 
five .(5)- 
.. year Comprehensive Plan on the impact. of globalization to women 
especially those in the marginalized sectors. 
SEC. 55. Integration of Women Concerns in Local Development 
Planning. - The local chief executives, in coordination with the women sector 
representatives and appropriate agencies, shall formulate agencies, shall 
formulate specific plans and programs that will address the socio-economic 
needs of their women constituents. 
SEC. 56. GAD Budget. - Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7192, otherwise 
known as the Women in Nation-Building Act, the Philippine Plan for Gender- 
Responsive Development (PPGD, 1995-2025) and the annual General 
Appropriations Act, all concerned government agencies and LGUs shall allocate 
at least five percent (5%) of their total appropriations to implement their 
respective GAD plans as well as in the implementation of the provisions of this 
Act. 
SEC. 63. lrnplemenfing Rules and Regulations- NEDA, as the lead 
agency, in coordination with the National Commission on the Role of Filipino 
Women (NCRFW) and all departments and agencies herein mentioned shall 
formulate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act within ninety 
(90) days after its effectivity. 
SEC. 64. Separability Clause- If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 65. 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. 
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Approved, 
SEC. 66. Effecfiviy Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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