SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. S '7 3 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides in Article III Section 1 that: "No person shall be 
deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall any 
person be denied equal protection of the law." This constitutional guarantee to 
life encompasses not just the protection of the right to be alive or security against 
physical harm. In includes the right to a decent standard of living thereby 
ensuring a person's economic well-being and dignity. One way of upholding this 
right is to provide the individual an opportunity for gainful employment to enable 
himself to earn a living. 
Such opportunity for gainful employment, however, remains the domain of 
certain privileged sectors. The Muslims and tribal Filipinos have not only been 
looked down socially but they have been largely deprived of equal employment 
opportunities, as well. Although in theory they enjoy the same rights with other 
Filipinos, they are actually denied the necessary training and access to compete 
for the technical or higher management jobs. 
This bill seeks to correct this injustice in our society today. For the State to 
effectively "promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the 
prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty 
through policies that provide social services, promote full employment, a riSing 
standard of living, and improved quality of life for all," as mandated by Article II, 
Section 9 of the Constitution, we must not forget our Muslim and tribal Filipino 
brothers. If the State sincerely recognizes and promotes the rights of the 
indigenous cultural minorities within the framework of national unity and 
development (Article 11, Section 22 of the Constitution), and for Congress to give 
higher priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of 
all people to human dignity, reduce social, economic and political inequalities, 
and remove cultural inequalities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power 
for the common good (Article XIII, Section 1 of the Constitution), then, strong 
concrete, affirmative, legislative actions must be taken. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to ensure equal job opportunities to the Muslim 
and tribal Filipinos, and at the same time give them preferential treatment in 
employment in the regions where they are predominant. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
9'7"ll 
Senate Bill No. 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO ENSURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MUSLIMS AND 
TRIBAL FILIPINOS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. It is hereby declared as the policy or the purpose of this Act 
to promote social justice in all phases in national development by insuring equal 
employment opportunities to Muslim and tribal Filipinos and to give preference to 
said individuals especially in regions where they are predominant. 
SEC. 2. It shall be considered an unfair labor practice for an employer: 
a) 
To refuse to hire or to discriminate against with respect to 
compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, or to 
discharge any individual because of his religion or ethnic origin; or 
b) 
To limit, segregate or classify employees in a way which would 
deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment 
opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an 
employee because of the individual's religion or ethnic origin. 
SEC. 3. It shall be considered as an unfair labor practice for a labor union: 
a) 
To exclude or expel from its membership, or to refuse to refer for 
employment any individual because of the individual's religion or 
ethnic origin; or 
b) 
To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against 
an individual because of the individual's religion or ethnic origin. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary, it shall not be an 
unfair labor practice to admit or employ any individual on the basis of his religion 
or ethniC origin in those' instances where religion or tribal origin is a bonafide 
occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that 
particular business or enterprise. Neither shall it be an unfair labor practice for a 
school, college, university or other educational institutions to employ only certain 
individuals of a particular religion or tribal origin if such institution is owned or 
substantially owned, supported or controlled by a particular religious corporation, 


association, society or tribal group, or, if the curriculum of such institution is 
aimed towards the propagation of a particular religion or ethnic group. 
SEC. 4. The Government shall reserve at least ten percent (10%) of the 
rank and file positions in government service, and shall employ members 
belonging to indigenous cultural minorities particularly Muslims and other tribal 
Filipinos in areas where they predominate. The appointed heads of the different 
governrnent agencies or offices in regions where those indigenous cultural 
community members; Provided, That the appointments must be in accordance 
with the Civil Service laws. 
SEC. 5. Every private enterprise, which obtains loans, grants, or any kind 
of financial assistance from the government or any government-owned and 
controlled bank or financial institution shall give preferential employment to 
members of those indigenous cultural communities in the regions where they 
predominate by hiring them into at least twenty percent (20%) of its labor force in 
the area; Provided, That in the other areas of the country, such enterprise shall 
hire at least ten percent (10%) of its labor force from the ranks of the cultural 
communities; Provided furlher, That these individuals shall have been residents 
of those regions for at least one (1) year prior to employment. 
SEC. 6. Every employer shall accommodate the employee's right to 
actively participate in his religious or ethnic activities. 
SEC. 7. Any law or parts of law inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,