EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
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SENATE
s.B.No. 2088
71 MAR-8 PI :57
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS RISA HONTIVEROS, MARIA LO 
NANCY S. BIN AY, PIA S. CAYETANO, LEILA M. DE LIMA, IMEE R.
GRACE POE, AND CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
RCOS,
AN ACT
TO ENSURE GENDER RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROTOCOLS AND 
PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS THE GENDER-DIFFERENTIATED NEEDS OF 
WOMEN DURING COVID-19 AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS, 
EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, the first COVID-19 case was reported on January 30, 2020. 
Subsequently, on March 7, the first local transmission was confirmed. Four days after, the 
World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic. The 
government responded to the pandemic through the imposition of community quarantine 
mechanisms (i.e. essentially lockdowns) since March, minimal mass testing of Persons 
Under Investigation (PUIs), and contact tracing. Notwithstanding, the number of 
Infections in the Philippines had risen to an insurmountable extent with about 385, 400 
cases as of November 2020.
The Imposition of the Community Quarantine protocols dramatically changed the 
social landscape of the country. With these restrictive mechanisms in place, the provision 
of services - both public and private, is hampered. The advent of the new normal alters 
how things are done and provided. This complicates the enforcement of laws and policies, 
especially that the pandemic was unprecedented. The people are faced with a new reality 
that poses new challenges and threats and exacerbates pre-existing problems and Issues.
One of the heavily-affected sectors during this pandemic Is the women's sector. In 
the Philippines, a patriarchal society, there are already existing issues pertaining to 
women. These issues are aggravated alongside the changing environment and processes. 
Some of these prominent issues are: decreased economic opportunities, gender-based 
violence, inadequate access to justice and services, increased unpaid care work, labor-


related issues (both domestic and overseas), and compounded sexual and reproductive 
health risks. The COVID-19 crisis creates further risks for Inclusion, as women In certain 
populations are more affected than others They are often marginalized and have limited 
access to social services and opportunities to cope.
Statistics and reports have shown that there was a marked increase in gender- 
based violence (GBV) globally upon the implementation of lockdowns. Women are more 
exposed to increased control and restriction by their abusers and are often left without 
recourse since it is more difficult to make private calls to report the abuse. Increased 
stress during catastrophic situations (e.g. natural disasters) may also cause increased 
domestic abuse. The availment of services became more complicated due to lack of ECQ 
guidelines, quarantine measures restricting mobility and transportation, and the fear of 
being infected when they go outside to report. Disruptions in public services like justice 
and social services further hindered reporting of GBV. Due to overstretched healthcare 
structures and local and national government justice systems, women were constrained 
in filing cases and accessing services and facilities (like medical treatment, psychosocial 
support, and domestic violence shelters). Women experienced difficulties in getting 
barangay protection orders (BPO) and temporary protection orders (TPO). In the 
Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded 804 cases of gender-based 
violations from March 15-April 30,2020 alone. Although there was a decrease in the 
number of reported abuses, the implication could be that women face more constraints in 
reaching out for help. Aside from domestic violence. House Resolution 866 also called 
for the investigation of “state-sponsored” violence and abuse against women, children, 
and LGBTQI+ grounded on various reports on the same being committed by government 
authorities and agents during the stringent implementation of the enhanced community 
quarantine.
The pandemic also disrupted the continuity of care for survivors and their access 
to health services, such as routine health or antenatal visits. The condition is worse for 
poorer women, those from indigenous groups, and women with disability who have less 
resources to sustain themselves from existing abusive relationships as well as Insecure 
environments. GBV exposes women to greater risk of injury, transmission of sexually 
transmitted infections, pregnancy complications, and death.
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for women are aiso impeded. 
According to the World Economic Forum, countries in the Asia Pacific including the 
Philippines have reduced access to SRH services. This could lead to a 17% - 43% increase


In maternal mortality. More than half of family planning services were also reduced due 
to suspension of public transportation, limited clinic staff, and reduced clinic hours. The 
health system Is also overwhelmed due to the surge In COVID-19 cases. This Is a 
vulnerable environment considering that a study by the University of the Philippines 
Population Institute estimated that two million Filipino women between 15 to 49 years 
old are expected to get pregnant this year due to the Imposed lockdowns.
Women frontline workers should also be afforded services due to their more 
disadvantaged position. Generally, they lack access to personal protective equipment. 
They are also at greater risk of weakened Immune systems due to the emotional and 
physical toll brought by the burden of their unpaid domestic care work on top of their 
regular work.
Another vulnerable sector whose difficulties have been amplified due to the 
pandemic are the migrants and forcibly displaced populations. Those particularly 
vulnerable are forcibly displaced populations Including refugees, asylum seekers, stateless 
persons, populations at risk of statelessness and internally displaced persons. It has been 
a "force multiplier" In exacerbating existing precarities faced by vulnerable and 
marginalized populations such as refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, 
populations at risk of statelessness and Internally displaced persons. While no 
socioeconomic impact study has been undertaken, regular monitoring of refugees, asylum 
seekers, stateless persons and persons at risk of statelessness Initially sheds light on a 
myriad of protection issues faced by these populations. These range from challenges In 
accessing education and shelter to widespread loss of Income with little to no access to 
social protection systems and livelihood and employment opportunities as amelioration 
programs to ease the Impact of the pandemic cater to nationals.
Due to this Influx of Filipino migrants striving to look for a better life In other 
countries, the Philippines has come up with several policies and programs which ensure 
that they are given the proper preparation and protection for their departure as well as 
their return.
Migrant workers are Inherently disenfranchised by the spread of the coronavirus 
due to the stringent policies being put In place by the different governments to combat 
the disease's transmission. Different aspects of their lives are severely affected by these 
responses. Nations have Implemented lockdowns which have led to many migrant


workers to return to their home countries whiie others stay stranded in the host countries 
to continue to earn their livelihood. The disruptions caused by the virus are predicted to 
have profound and long-term effects on migration and migration poiicies. With migrant 
workers treated as scapegoats for the transmission of the disease, xenophobia is 
rampant. This piaces them in a situation of uncertainty about the help that they can 
receive, whether for their heaith or sociai welfare. Those particularly vulnerable are 
refugees, displaced persons, and asylum seekers1. Another important aspect of migration 
is returning home. A 'forced' return puts migrant workers at great risk because embarking 
on migration required them to take loans to be able to pay for the procedures. Despite 
working elsewhere for a long period, a study has shown that one out of ten OFWs still 
return home broke. Less than half of OFWs save a part of their cast remittances, most 
only setting aside 25% or less of their earnings2.
The ongoing pandemic has caused great difficulty on the part of the government 
to provide services particularly to women migrant workers. Women migrant workers face 
a whole new set of challenges due to the onslaught of the pandemic. In the latest 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Advisory in April 2020, there were 517 confirmed 
COVID-19 cases of Filipino migrant women workers in over 33 countries/regions, with the 
highest percentage coming from the European region. This reflects an Increase of 11% 
in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported from around the world.
8.5 million women migrant domestic workers on insecure contracts are facing 
income loss and much greater risks of abuse and exploitation3. 740 million women 
worldwide working in the Informal sector are also at threat due to the existing lockdowns 
and curfews and their lack of accessibility to social protection provisions4. The Philippines 
alone houses 6.6 million women in the informal economy who are not exempted from 
such a dilemma5.
It is estimated that about 25 million jobs will be lost globally, putting migrant 
workers as heavily vulnerable6. According to the latest survey on overseas Filipino (April 
to September 2019), there are an estimated 2.2 million workers overseas. Filipina migrant
1 Ahsan Ullah, Locked up under lockdown: The COVID-19 pandemic and the migrant population. University of 
Brunei Darusalam, June 30,2020.
2 Kidjie Saguin, Returning broke and broken? Return migration, reintegration and transnational social protection in 
the Philippines, July 7,2020,
https:/Avw.tandfonline.corti/doi/full/10.1080/21632324.2020.1787100?scroll=top&needAccess=tme.
3 Id.
4 Id.
5 Gender Snapshot COVID-19 in the Philippines, UN Women (April 2020).
6 Id.


workers comprise 56% of this number7. These women migrant workers are exposed to 
a myriad of risks such as loss of livelihood since there is limited coverage by labor laws 
and the shutdown of migrant support services in the host country. Women are also more 
prone to abuse and sexual harassment since they cannot leave their employers due to 
travel restrictions. They also lack access to social protection, healthcare, and maternity 
protection. For example, the women who do domestic work in Singapore in homes consist 
of those from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, or Sri Lanka. The State 
prescribes that they live with employers, often under their surveillance and control. 
Stringent labor and immigration policies which could affect job security further hinder 
overseas Rlipina workers from registering the births of their children which could lead to 
Increased risk of statelessness and hinder them from accessing programs and services89. 
This is particularly the case in the Middle East where a significant portion of OFWs, 
particularly female domestic workers, are deployed.
The lockdown measures of the country have emphasized their vulnerability to 
exploitation due to the lack of mobility and limited access to the outside world. Although 
their employers could be sanctioned for abuse, the fact that there is no legal protection 
for domestic workers under labor laws heightens their situation.
Aside from above, there are several other gender-differentiated needs of women 
especially from marginalized sectors, which must be inquired into and addressed. These 
multifaceted issues continue to persist as the community quarantine protocols are still In 
place. The COVID-19 aisis is far from over. Thus, it is imperative that policies are tailored 
to fit the specific needs of women. This crisis which exacerbated the violence against 
women is an opportunity to strengthen the current domestic violence and sexual abuse 
laws such as the Magna Carta of Women (R.A, 9710), Anti-Violence Against Women and 
their Children Act (R.A. 9262), Anti-Rape Law (R,A. 8353), Acts of Lasciviousness under 
Art. 336 of the Revised Penal Code, and Safe Spaces Act (R.A. 11313) because their 
weaknesses are exposed in light of the more complex social realities. Nonetheless, the 
essential duty to protect women from all forms of violence mandated in these enumerated 
laws shall persistently be maintained and enforced during the pandemic.
7 Philippine Statistics Authority, Total Number of OFWs Estimated at 2.2 Million, June 4,2020, 
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/survey-overseas-filipinos.
8 UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Desk Review Report on Populations at Risk of Statelessness, ad.
9 House of Representatives’ Committee on Overseas Woricers Affairs, The Condition of Overseas Filipino Workers 
in Saudi Arabia, 9 February 2011, https://centerformigrantadvocacy.files.wordpress.eom/2012/06/report-of- 
congress-mission-to saudi-arabia-on-the-ofw-conditioapdf


Most importantly, the Issues on women should not be taken as independent and 
exclusive of each other. Simply put, some women are more vulnerable than others. Using 
a gender lens without taking Into account other structural factors (e.g. socio-economic 
status, age, ableness, migrant status, access to resources, membership in indigenous 
populations) would not sufficiently expose other forms of oppression which deepen 
women's disadvantage in different areas of life. Using an intersectional lens, it could be 
seen that there are various overlapping vulnerabilities and conditions that exacerbate the 
experience of women during the pandemic. They are at a greater risk of experiencing the 
long-term consequences of COVID-19 brought by constrained health systems, lack of 
access to resources, and social and economic Impacts. By not adopting an intersectional 
gender analysis, policies fall short of providing a gender-informed and comprehensive 
approach to the COVID-19 crisis.
In view of the forgoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
OS u
RISA HONTEVEROS
MARIA LOURDES NANCY S. BINAY
c h‘
IMEE R. MARCOS
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
LEILAM. DEL
/grace3
POE
6


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
’21 MAR “8 PI -51
S.B. NO. ,2ms
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS RISA HONTIVEROS, MARIA LOU 
NANCY S. BINAY, PIA S. CAYETANO, LEILA M. DE LIMA, IMEE R. M
GRACE POE, AND CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
TO ENSURE GENDER RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROTOCOLS AND 
PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS THE GENDER-DIFFERENTIATED NEEDS OF 
WOMEN DURING COVID-19 AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS, 
EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
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CHAPTER I
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Short Titie. - This Act shaii be known as the "Gender Responsive and
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Inclusive Pandemic Management Act of 2021."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby affirms its role as the primary
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duty-bearer in ensuring the enjoyment and fulfillment of all human rights during natural
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and other disasters and emergencies, including a pandemic, especially the right to life,
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which permits no derogation even during emergencies, and the right to health, so that
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every individual shall enjoy the highest attainable level of health. It affirms its
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Constitutional duties to guarantee the equality of men and women to the enjoyment of
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their human rights, with focus on the differentiated needs of, and impact of emergencies
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on, women, prohibit discrimination, and create an enabling environment under the "new
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normal" that guarantees the human rights of women. It acknowledges its corresponding
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duties relating to women's rights to participation and representation, protection from
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gender-based violence during emergency situations, sexual health and reproductive
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health, and economic empowerment of women. It adopts a zero-tolerance policy towards
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gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, which is rooted in gender inequality and
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discrimination. The implementation of approaches and strategies relevant to disaster risk
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reduction, emergency and pandemic management must integrate human rights and


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gender lenses. It is fundamental that policies, plans, programs, actions, conduct and
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results are non-discrimlnatory and that no one is left behind.
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Towards ensuring gender equality, the State shall be guided by existing frameworks on
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gender-responsive programming during the COVID-19 pandemic and shall likewise
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establish mechanisms and processes to ensure the adoption, reprogramming and/or
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continuity of programs that serve and address the gender-differentiated needs of women
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during a pandemic.
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Accordingly, the State shall:
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(a) Be the primary duty bearer to enforce the protection of human rights of women
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during pandemics and other public health emergency from the point of
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prevention until recovery and while adapting to the new normal in society;
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(b) Establish policies and programs to prevent the spread of a "notifiable disease",
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to prepare prior to its actual impact, and to deliver treatment, care, support
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and other essential services to individuals affected in accordance with
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evidence-based strategies and approaches that uphold the principles of human
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rights and gender-responsiveness, and taking into account the intersectional
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considerations that differentiate impact on different groups, identities and
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sectors;
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(c) Institutionalize real, actual and meaningful participation of women, at-risk
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individuals and communities affected by the pandemic and other public health
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emergencies, and those who are most vulnerable to violations of human rights
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during such situations in policy and decision making and at every stage of the
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pandemic or emergency management, especially in the formulation of general
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guidelines and resolutions governing the national management of the
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pandemic as well as in its implementation;
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(d) Empower and collaborate with women and Institutionalize their role to publicly
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lead, decide and promote gender responsive, equitable and universally
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accessible response, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction approaches in
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all areas of concerns, including public health, during a pandemic;
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(e) Adopt a multi-sectoral and Inter-disciplinary approach in the preparation,
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response and recovery stages of the pandemic response management by
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ensuring an all-of-society engagement and partnership involving the whole
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government, public health practitioners, technical experts, local communities,
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civil society organizations (CSOs), academe, private sector, persons most
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vulnerable to the pandemic and other relevant actors or stakeholders, with the
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State as the primary duty-bearer;


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(f) Enable indiscriminate access of everyone to pandemic-related and essential 
services, as weii as sustained access to iiveiihood and other productive 
opportunities;
(g) Undertake appropriate actions to ensure the continuous and effective 
functioning of and access to concerned institutions, communication systems, 
referral systems, protection mechanisms and other appropriate measures to 
address gender-based vioience and give priority to access effective remedies, 
inciuding reprogramming of delivery of services and capacitating service 
providers to deliver pertinent essentiai services;
(h) Ensure that the differentiated needs, multiple burdens and gender-based 
violence faced by women during the pandemic or emergency situation are 
addressed and integrated in measures, actions and conduct relating to the 
management of the pandemic response by integrating intersectional analysis 
in the formuiation of policies, plans and programs relating to pandemic 
management, particularly in the area of security and iaw enforcement at aii 
ieveis of government and particuiariy at the barangay ievel;
(i) Ensure access to prompt and substantive sociai protection and safety nets, 
taking into account the heightened insecurity and burden on the part of women 
and at-risk individuais, communities and groups that might hinder access;
(j) Positiveiy act, address and seek to eradicate and prohibit stigma, discrimination 
and other conditions that result in gender-based violence and aggravate the 
situations of women;
(k) Craft and design effective communication and information platforms and 
systems that ensure broad, accurate and prompt dissemination, and effective 
understanding by aii, particuiariy in relation to monitoring incidence of gender- 
based vioience both in private and public spaces and access to protection 
mechanisms and effective remedies;
(i) Utilize existing modern information, communication, research and 
technologicai capacities and techniques in crafting the policies and protocois 
with due regard to human rights; and
(m) Appropriate funds specificaliy for the above-mentioned mandates. Such 
funds wiii taken out from the Calamity Fund appropriated under the annuai 
Generai Appropriations Act and shaii be used for the preparation stage until 
the recovery stages in connection with any public health emergency that may 
occur during the budget year or those that occurred in the past two (2) years 
from the budget year.


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Sec. 3. Purpose. - The principal purpose of this Act Is to ensure that there Is
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adequate statutory power for government agencies to act, pursuant to their respective
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mandates, upon a declaration of an emergency by the President by reason of a pandemic
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and guided by the policies issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious
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Diseases (lATF) and principles enunciated herein:
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(a) To monitor and gather data regarding the realities of women relating to
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gender-based violence and enjoyment of their human rights In the context of
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a pandemic that would inform, craft and direct policies to be implemented in
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all the stages of pandemic management.
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(b) To effectively prevent, respond and eliminate the incidence of gender-based
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violence against women and girls through the integration of gender and
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intersectional analysis In pandemic policy and decision making, planning and
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programming in all the stages of pandemic management;
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(c) To develop and craft guidelines and instructions on practices, protocols,
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systems of coordination and networking, information and education of first
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responders, especially during the response and early recovery stage, safety
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and personal protection of workers, and needs of women, girls and at-risk
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individuals, groups and communities, and ensure its timeliness,
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responsiveness, availability and accessibility;
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(d) To ensure that communications systems, referral systems, protection
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mechanisms and other measures on access to justice and effective remedies
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by women subject to gender-based violence are in place and continue to
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operate during the period of a pandemic;
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(e) To provide immediate haven, shelter and security, resources and support to
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women and girls subject to violence;
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(0 To enable sufficient and effective regulatory authority to respond and to
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prevent the incidence of gender-based violence during a pandemic, including
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but not limited to the relaxation of regulatory requirements that impede the
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delivery of services or its compliance during a pandemic, emergency
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procurement and provision of emergency funds for these purposes.
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For this purpose, every department or agency must come up with a gender-responsive
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pandemic preparedness plan, manual or protocol for women in pandemics within sixty
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(60) days from the implementation of this Act and ensure the designation of focal persons
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to supervise and oversee the implementation of said plan, manual or protocol.
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Sec. 4. Interpretation of this Act. - Unless otherwise provided, nothing in this Act
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shall be construed as precluding provisions in existing Philippine laws, international


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human rights laws and related instruments, and international humanitarian laws that are
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more promotive of human rights and the preservation and protection of the right to life.
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Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. -
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(a) "Access to Justice" means the sufficient access to essential services for victim
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survivors of gender-based violence, and all women and girls in conflict with the
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law such as the unimpeded availability of legal assistance, case management
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services, health services, medico-legal services, counselling, protection,
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operational shelters, and support; with an accountability mechanism in place.
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(b) "At-risk individuals and groups" include the following vulnerable and
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marginalized persons, sectors and/or groups:
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1) Women with Disabilities
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2) Girl children
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3) Elderly women
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4) Women deprived of liberty especially those who are pregnant, about to give
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birth, or has just given birth
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5) Pregnant, Lactating, and Post-partum mothers
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6) Members of the LGBTQI+ community
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7) Urban Poor Women
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8) Women in the Informal and formal economy
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9) Women PUIs, PUMs, and COVID Positive
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10)Moro and Muslim women
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11) Rural and indigenous women
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12) Internally displaced women
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13) Migrant women and their families
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14)Persons living with HIV
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15) Women frontline workers (as defined under lATF Guidelines)
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16) Women human rights defenders
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17) Single mothers
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18) Teenage mothers
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19) Women who are refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or at risk of
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statelessness
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20) Women in prostitution/ victim survivors of illegal recruitment and trafficking
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21) Women experiencing sexual or domestic violence
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(c) "Early Recovery" means a multidimensional process of recovery that begins in
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a humanitarian setting. It is guided by development principles that seek to build
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on humanitarian programmes and catalyze sustainable development
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opportunities. It aims to generate self-sustaining, nationally-owned, resilient 
processes for post-crisis recovery. It encompasses the restoration of basic 
services, livelihoods, shelter, governance, security and rule of law, environment 
and social dimensions, including reintegration of displaced population. Essential 
services to address gender-differentiated needs shall be made available during 
this period.
(d) An "emergency" is any situation in which the life or well-being of civilians 
affected by natural disaster, conflict or a public health threat has been or will 
be at risk unless immediate and appropriate action is taken, and that demands 
an extraordinary response and exceptional measures.
(e) "Essential services" covers health and social services, whether provided by a 
public or private undertaking, to ensure the security, safety and well-being of 
persons, including but not limited to food, water, medicine, medical devices, 
public utilities, energy, access to justice, police, health and protection services, 
and social protection addressing the needs of women during situations of 
pandemic, emergency or disaster as may be determined by the lATF or other 
relevant lead government agency or body under the law.. Essential services 
cover health, police and justice, and social services sectors as defined by the 
the Essentials for Quality Multisectoral Service Provision to Women Migrant 
Workers Subject to Violencei_Brlef: COVID-19 and essential services provision 
for survivors of violence against women and girls; and Essential Services 
Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence. Such services will remain 
available throughout the preparation period, any possible imposed government 
lockdown, and during the recovery period.
(f) "Frontline Workers" are those employees within essential industries who must 
physically show up to their jobs. It includes public and private health workers, 
such as but not limited to medical professionals, hospital and health facility 
administrative and maintenance staff, and aides from private health facilities, 
as well as their service providers, health workers and volunteers of the 
Philippine Red Cross and the World Health Organization, and employees of 
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation (PHIC), health insurance providers, disaster risk reduction 
management officers, public safety officers, and other workers in other high 
priority sectors; Provided, that the lATF shall determine the sectors by which 
its workers can be classified as frontline workers.


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(g) Gender-Responsive is the consistent and systematic attention given to the 
gendered differences among individuais in society with a view to addressing 
status quo and structurai constraints to gender equaiity; this inciudes creating 
and sustaining an environment through site seiection, staff seiection, program 
deveiopment, content, processes and materiais that reflects an understanding 
of the reaiities of women's iives and addresses their needs and issues.
(h) Heaith event of pubiic heaith concern refers to either a pubiic heaith emergency 
or a pubiic heaith threat due to bioiogicai, chemicai, radio-nuciear and 
environmentai agents as defined under RA 11332.
(i) "Intersectionaiity" is a framework for understanding that people experience 
overlapping (I.e., intersecting) forms of oppression, discrimination and 
marginalization based on their co-existing identities (e.g., inequality based on 
gender and/or ethnicity).
(j) "Locally Stranded Individual" refers to foreign nationals or Filipino citizens in a 
specific locality within the Philippines who have expressed intention to return 
to their place of residence or home origin.
(k) "Marginalization" refers to a condition where a whole category of people is 
excluded from useful and meaningful participation in political, economic, social, 
and cultural life.
(l) "Migrant Workers" refers to Filipinos who are to be engaged, are engaged, or 
have been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which they are not 
legal residents, whether documented or undocumented.
(m) 
"Nondiscrimination" refers to the guarantee wherein human rights are 
exercised without discrimination of any kind based on race, color, sex, 
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, 
birth or other status such as disability, age, marital and family status, sexual 
orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic 
and social situation.
(n) "Pandemic" is defined under this Act as the worldwide spread occurring 
worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and 
usually affecting a large number of people as declared by the World Health 
Organization. The term also contemplates other public health emergencies as 
defined under RA 11332 and as declared by the Department of Health.
(o) "Preparedness" refers to efforts that focus on ensuring adequate capacity and 
knowledge, while reinforcing the ability to anticipate, respond and recover from


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the impact of emergency situations. Essentiai services to address gender- 
differentiated needs shaii be inciuded in these efforts.
(p) "Prevention" generaiiy refers to taking action to stop GBV from first occurring 
(e.g., scaling up activities that promote gender equality or working with 
communities to address practices that contribute to GBV). Mitigation refers to 
reducing the risk of exposure to GBV (e.g., ensuring that reports of "hot spots" 
are immediately addressed through risk-reduction strategies).
(q) "Recovery" is the process following relief and supports the transition into long­
term reconstruction and development. Recovery actions are most effective if 
anticipated and facilitated from the very outset of a humanitarian response. It 
involves the restoration and Improvement of facilities, livelihoods and living 
conditions of crisis-affected communities, including efforts to reduce risks 
brought on by the crisis. Essential services to address gender-differentiated 
needs shall be made available during this period.
(r) "Response" refers to an emergency response involves the provision of 
emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a 
humanitarian crisis to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety 
and protection, and meet the basic needs of women, girls, boys and men in 
the affected population. This stage can range from a few days or weeks to 
many months and even years, particularly in protracted insecurity and 
displacement contexts. For the purposes of this Act, response shall be 
undertaken upon the declaration of the Department of Health of a public health 
emergency. Essential services to address gender-differentiated needs shall be 
made available during this period.
(s) "Social Protection floors" refers to nationally defined sets of basic social security 
guarantees that should ensure, as a minimum that, over the life cycle, all in 
need have access to essential health care and to basic income security which 
together secure effective access to goods and services defined as necessary at 
the national level; which Include among others: access to essential health care, 
including maternity care; basic income security for children, providing access 
to nutrition, education, care and any other necessary goods and services; basic 
income security for persons in active age who are unable to earn sufficient 
income, in particular in cases of sickness, unemployment, maternity and 
disability; basic income security for older persons.
(t) "Social Safety Nets" refer to noncontributory interventions designed to help 
individuals and households cope with chronic poverty, destitution,, and
8


1
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3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
vulnerability, such as unconditional and conditional cash transfers, 
noncontributory social pensions, food and in-kind transfers, school feeding 
programs, public works, and fee waivers. These programs target the poor and 
vulnerable.
(u) "Stigma" refers to a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or 
group of people have about something such as in the context of women.
(v) "Violence Against Women" refers to any act of gender-based violence that 
results In, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or 
suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary 
deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.
CHAPTER II.
PROGRAMMING AND MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS GENDER-DIFFERENTIATED
NEEDS OF WOMEN DURING A PANDEMIC
Sec. 6. Leadership, Participation and Empowerment of Women. - During a public 
health emergency, women shall be empowered to be included In the national and local 
government's response systems to address the gender-differentiated needs of the 
different groups of women especially the marginalized. It is thus mandated that response 
and recovery systems must ensure that women are placed strategically and participate 
meaningfully In leadership, decision-making, and policy-making positions at all levels. In 
accordance with this, the lATF and other similar and related bodies shall have the 
Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as permanent member at all levels including 
planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and to facilitate the continuous 
integration of a gender-responsive plan to be developed therein in national governance 
response systems. Further, forty percent (40%) of membership of all development 
councils from the regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels shall be 
composed of women.
Sec. 7. Humanitarian Principles Guiding Pandemic Programming and Management 
to Address Gender-Differentiated Needs of Women During the Pandemic. - Following the 
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (lASC) Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based 
Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action, and the United Nations Population Fund 
(UNFPA) Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence in 
Emergencies, the following principles shall ground. Inform and guide the formulation and


1 
implementation of policies, plans, programs, and other appropriate measures, including
2 
affirmative actions, in managing the COVID19 pandemic:
3 
(a) A survivor-centered approach which creates a supportive environment in which
4 
survivors' rights and wishes are respected, their safety is ensured, and they are
5 
treated with dignity and respect.
6 
(b)A human rights-based approach that seeks to analyze and address the root
7 
causes of discrimination and inequality to ensure that everyone has the right
8 
to iive with freedom and dignity, safe from violence, exploitation and abuse, in
9 
accordance with principles of human rights law.
10 
(c) A community-based approach that ensures that affected populations are
11 
engaged actively as partners In developing strategies related to their protection
12 
and the provision of humanitarian assistance. This approach involves direct
13 
involvement of women, girls and other at-risk groups at all stages in the
14 
humanitarian response, to identify protection risks and solutions, and build on
15 
existing community-based protection mechanisms.
16 
(d)The humanitarian principies of humanity^ impartiaiity, independence and
\l 
neutraiity which should underpin the implementation of the Minimum
18 
Standards and are essential to maintaining access to affected populations and
19 
ensuring an effective humanitarian response.
20 
(e)The "do no harm"approach which takes into account all measures necessary
21 
to avoid exposing people to further harm as a result of the actions of
22 
humanitarian actors.
23 
(f) The Principies of Partnership which comprise a framework for all actors in the
24 
humanitarian space to follow principles of equality, transparency, a results-
25 
oriented approach, responsibility and complementarity.
26 
(g) Taking into account the best interests of the cMc/wherein child and adolescent
27 
girl and boy survivors of sexual abuse have the right to have their best interests
28 
assessed and determined and taken as a primary consideration in all decisions
29 
that affect them.
30 
(h) Focus should be given to the intersectionality of the circumstances of women,
31 
taking into account the specific needs and concerns of marginalized and
32 
vulnerable women groups Including women and girls deprived of liberty,
33 
women working in the informal sector,* women migrants workers, and other
34 
similarly situated at-risk Individuals and groups.
10


1 
(i) Rlghts-basedpolicingy^\\^x^\x\ human rights principles and practices are taught
2 
and applied at all levels, In policy, doctrinal, operational and administrative
3 
functions of the police organization.
4 
Sec. 8. Guarantee of non-dlscrimination. - This Act shall prohibit discrimination in
5 
all forms committed against women as provided under the Magna Carta of Women even,
6 
and especially, during the occurrence of a pandemic or any public health emergency.
7 
Those found guilty under this provision shall be meted out a penalty one degree higher
8 
than those penalties provided for discrimination under the Magna Carta of Women. The
9 
Revised Penal Code shall have suppletory application in setting the penalties.
10 
Sec. 9. Strengthening GBV Preparedness and Response Systems. - GBV
11 
preparedness and response systems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and future
12 
pandemics shall be considered essential services and appropriate budgetary allotment
13 
from the emergency funding shall be ensured towards the formulation, reprogramming
14 
or continuity of said systems. Strict adherence to the following must be undertaken:
15 
(a) Women and the most vulnerable among them must be placed at the front and
16 
center of leadership and policy and decision-making positions in key processes
17 
in the formulation, planning, programming and implementation of prompt,
18 
effective and survivor-centered measures to address issues of violence against
19 
women and girl-children during COVID-19;
20 
(b) GBV services, especially temporary shelters, psychosocial services, and legal
21 
aid, shall remain functional and accessible notwithstanding the occurrence of a
22 
public health emergency.
23 
Local Inter-agency Task Forces against COVID-19 shall ensure that GBV
24 
services are available to women staying in any detention, quarantine or
25 
Isolation facilities where prolonged stay is required or necessary;
26 
(c)This process must be based on data and evidence and must Integrate first
27 
responder systems to properly respond in the time of COVID19;
28 
(d)The State shall utilize a multisectoral/interdisciplinary, all-of-government, and
29 
all-of-society approach wherein the State collaborates with non-state actors to
30 
achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness;
31 
(e)The national government, through the Department of Interior and Local
32 
Government, shall assume the key leadership role but shall also empower local
33 
authorities and local communities to address the pandemic, including provision
34 
of resources, support and incentives, and enabling decision-making authorities
35 
and responsibilities;
11


1 
(f) Communication systems, with emphasis on iocaiized communication down to
2 
the ievei of barangays, must be estabiished in coordination with the
3 
Department of Information and Communications Technoiogy and Nationai
4 
Teiecommunications Commission, for education and information dissemination
5 
on pandemic and emergency risks and access to sociai protection, safety nets,
6 
referrai systems, protection measures and other appropriate measures in cases
7 
of GBV, which shaii inciude traditionai modes of communication to reach
8 
women iiving in remote areas or areas with iimited access such as newspaper,
9 
pamphiets, and radio. Provided, that, reievant ianguage, format, and reievant
10 
channeis that are cuituraiiy appropriate shaii be taken into consideration to
11 
ensure effective communication with individuais and communities;
12 
(g)The State must give premium to the aspect of preparedness and eariy
13 
information and communication campaigns about the pandemic or emergency
14 
towards and informed pubiic to affect attitudes and behaviors and shaii
15 
encourage private investments on these areas, more than on post-disaster
16 
response and recovery;
17 
(h) Effective and meaningfui giobai partnership must be fostered and existing
18 
internationai cooperation strengthened.
19 
The Department of Interior and Locai Government, in coordination with the LGUs, is
20 
mandated to ensure that the rights of women and services accorded them are to remain
21 
avaiiabie and accessibie in aii stages of the emergency responses to a pubiic heaith crisis.
22 
Section 10. Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Rights and Essential Services
23 
Package. - It shaii be the duty of nationai and iocai authorities to prioritize specific heaith
24 
needs of aii women and giris at the community ievei, inciuding in countries of destination
25 
for women migrants, particuiariy access to sexuai and reproductive heaith services,
26 
inciuding pre- and post-natai heaithcare, access to essentiai services as defined above
27 
and physicai rehabiiitation during pandemics and other pubiic heaith concerns,
28 
emergencies and disasters. The preparedness and response systems must inciude, but
29 
not iimited to:
30 
(a) Avaiiabie staff, funds and other resources;
31 
(b) Unhampered mobiiity and avaiiabie pubiic and safe transportation;
32 
(c) Avaiiabiiity and continuity of reproductive heaith services and essentiai services
33 
packages for women and giris of aii ages;
34 
(d) Knowiedge and awareness of women of these avaiiabie services;
35 
(e) Gender-sensitive support to frontiine heaith workers on both faciiity and
36 
community ievei;
12


1 
(f) Additional financial, human, or logistical support to female health workers to
2 
offset the additional burden of household management; and
3 
(g) Systematic coordination and planning of addressing the gaps in accessing SRH
4 
services;
5 
(h) Adoption of a strategy to ensure access of pregnant women to ante and post-
6 
natal care during lockdowns with corresponding precautions to protect them
7 
from risks of exposure such as, but not limited to, provision of maternal health
8 
information, provision of online check-ups, and updated referral hospitals and
9 
lying-in clinics during the lockdowns;
10 
(i) Provision to women deprived of liberty of sufficient and regular access to sexual
11 
and reproductive health information, services, and products inside the
12 
detention and correctional facilities;
13 
G) Measures to protect pregnant women deprived of liberty and their unborn child
14 
as well as women who have just given birth and their newborn infant, such as
15 
but not limited to, house arrests, furloughs to attend to physical/medical
16 
checkups, release on recognizance, among others.
17 
(k) Provision of reasonable accommodation to ensure women with disabilities'
18 
access to SRH services
19 
The Department of Health and each Barangay Health Emergency Response Team are
20 
mandated to ensure that the specific health needs, especially sexual health and
21 
reproductive needs, women and girls are included in the implemented essential health
22 
packages, systems and protocols in their constituency, including universal health
23 
coverage, during pandemics, subject to other existing laws.
24 
Sec. 11. Gendered Approach to Vaccination. - The procurement, allocation,
25 
distribution, delivery, facilitation and administration of vaccines must be transparent and
26 
must take into account gender-based differences in immunological responses, care
27 
burden or work of women both paid and unpaid, security of women against gender-based
28 
violence and other forms of attacks and other factors that increase women's vulnerability.
29 
Safe, efficacious and free vaccines or medications, including newly-approved ones for the
30 
current pandemic or health emergency, must be available and accessible to women,
31 
taking into account intersectional considerations that may impede such access and
32 
vulnerabilities of women that affect their right to life, health and security; provided that
33 
such access shall be in accordance with the priority and health protocols of the Philippines
34 
or relevant COD, and is rights-based, non-discriminatory, voluntary and based on
35 
Informed consent. Information on vaccination and the scientific evidence behind it must
36 
be clear and effectively communicated. These gendered approach must be integrated In
13


1 
legal, policy and program Implementation of vaccinations to address COVID 19 and other
2 
public health concerns, emergencies and disasters.
3 
In policy and decision-making affecting vaccine availability, quality and access, including
4 
prioritization and development of criteria, representation and participation of women
5 
must be guaranteed.
6 
Sec. 12. Social Protection. - It shall be the duty of national and local authorities
7 
such as the Department of Social Welfare and Protection, Department of Labor and
8 
Employment, and Department of Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the
9 
various Local Government units, to target the most vulnerable and economically
10 
marginalized sectors of women, taking into account their various intersectionality, and
11 
ensure that social protection and safety nets are afforded to them, with emphasis on
12 
victims of gender-based violence. The measures shall include, but not limited to:
13 
(a) Empowering women through their access to sustainable livelihood and/or
14 
employment as may be practicable, such as through the capacity-building and
15 
other services rendered by local Public Employment System Offices and work-
16 
from-home programming, and access to flexible financing and loans;
17 
(b) Ensuring the unimpeded provision of safety nets and cash-based interventions
18 
to vulnerable and poor women;
19 
(c) Prioritizing gender alongside disability, age, and other overlapping
20 
Vulnerabilities in the assessments of needs and decisions on targeting;
21 
(d) Ensuring that women victims have adequate access to counselling and shelters
22 
that hav access to adequate resources for the needs of women;
23 
(e) Providing women access to opportunities such as trainings and seminars
24 
pertinent to their capacity to sustain themselves;
25 
(f) Ensuring that work environments, including work-from-home arrangements,
26 
are VAW-free through continuous monitoring of the situations of vulnerable
27 
women and their protection, guaranteeing accountability of the perpetrators
28 
and holding of regular seminars to educate on VAW issues and standards
29 
especially during a pandemic, among others;
30 
(g) Ensuring effective and inclusive grievance redressal mechanisms embedded in
31 
social protection programming which are designed to be accessible and
32 
inclusive of girls, women, persons with disabilities, children, older people, and
33 
other at-risk individuals and groups;
34 
(h) Providing work-from-home setup for women subjected to violence in their
35 
workplaces until the perpetrator has been held accountable;
14


1 
(i) Enforcing other laws and issuances which may be enacted by virtue of the
2 
existence of such public health emergency, which contain services and
3 
protection afforded to women, particularly on social protection.
4 
Sec. 13. Protection for Locally Stranded Individuals. - The Department of Interior
5 
and Local Government, in coordination with Local Government Units and the respective
6 
designated barangays, shall ensure the safety and security of all displaced migrants or
7 
individuals and at-risk individuals and groups due to the pandemic. This shall include an
8 
efficient mechanism for immediate delivery of food (in full respect for the individual's
9 
dietary restrictions by reason of health or religion), shelter and medical supplies for
10 
women and children, including assisting mothers with breastfeeding, feed and care for
11 
their babies and other support.
12 
Sec 14. Economic Empowerment- The Department of Labor, together with local
13 
government units and offices, including the Public Employment Systems Offices, shall
14 
enact mechanisms and procedures to address the difficulties faced by women in the
15 
employment sector during the pandemic such as job loss and business closure. All
16 
measures shall tend to the continuous employment of women. These should Include
17 
considerations regarding the workplace arrangements, marketplace and community
18 
supply chain, and the women working in the informal economy. For this purpose, said
19 
units and offices must be well-equipped and capacitated to perform all measures
20 
necessary to address the livelihood and employment concerns of their constituents, with
21 
special attention to vulnerable women and the protection afforded to them under other
22 
laws.
23 
The Department of Labor is mandated to ensure that women are afforded flexible work
24 
arrangements during a public health emergency. They shall provide for rules and
25 
regulations for this purpose, taking Into account the specific needs and concerns faced
26 
by women under such circumstances.
27 
The Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and
28 
Industry, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other relevant
29 
agencies shall also bolster entrepreneurship and provide adequate livelihood
30 
opportunities and skills development to women.
31 
Sec. 15. Protection of Rural Women and Indigenous Women. -The concerned
32 
local government unit shall ensure that women in rural and indigenous communities
33 
belonging to their jurisdiction have adequate and unimpeded access to health, legal, and
34 
socio-economic services. This guarantee for indigenous women must be undertaken with
35 
due respect to their indigenous health systems, practices and beliefs. They shall be
15


1 
furnished with the same, if not more, opportunities and faciiities as those of their urban
2 
counterparts, as far as may be practicable.
3 
Sec 16. Utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). - This
4 
Act mandates the emphasis on the enhancement of the capacity of ICT systems to
5 
facilitate and aid the implementation of provisions under this Act. The Department of
6 
Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications
7 
Commission, in coordination with public utilities and telecommunication providers, shall
8 
provide assistance to ensure the accessibility of the services provided through the use of
9 
ICT system including, but not limited to, immediate assistance from the Philippine
10 
National Police, information dissemination through short message service, and other
11 
services. ICT assistance shall include strengthening ICT literacy of women especially in
12 
poor communities and remote areas, reasonable accommodation for persons with
13 
disabilities, such as provision of Filipino Sign Language, among others.
14 
Section 17. Protection for Women Migrant Workers and their Children - Interagency
15 
bodies such as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (lATF),
16 
Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children (lACVAWC), Inter-
17 
Agency Council Against Trafficking (lACAT) and the Sub-Committee on International
18 
Migration and Development (SCIMD), as well as government agencies part of the OCTA
19 
(one-country team approach in countries of destination) such as the Department of
20 
Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Social Welfare
21 
and Development are mandated to ensure that women migrant workers are given
22 
adequate resources and access to legal, medical, and social services in the receiving
23 
State, during transit and upon return, especially during repatriation. Relevant embassies
24 
and foreign affairs personnel must ensure the protection of women migrant workers and
25 
their children during pandemic and other emergencies. Coordination among these bodies
26 
is imperative, taking into account, but not limited to, the following:
27 
a) Responsibility to prevent and reduce GBV in migrant women and their children,
28 
including through international, regional, and bilateral cooperation;
29 
b) Development of consistent and coherent frameworks and protocols between
30 
the host country and country of origin for the expedited process of seeking
31 
redress by women subjected to violence;
32 
c) Global partnership and international cooperation such as through drafting
33 
agreements on the extension of stay permits of the women migrant workers
34 
and their children between the host country and the country of origin 
and
35 
through the relaxation of migrant workers' requirements to access social
36 
services;
16


1 
d) Migrants and marginalized and other at-risk individuais or groups shouid be
2 
included in the pubiic health strategies with due consuitation with them;
3 
e) Grant of biiaterai incentives between countries to encourage empioyers to
4 
renew contracts for existing workers in the host country;
5 
f) Labor, economic liveiihood, and sodai protections for migrant;
6 
g) Freedom of movement;
7 
h) Non-discrimination;
8 
i) Access to Heaith, especiaiiy sexuai and reproductive heaith rights services;
9 
j) Access to Justice; and
10 
k) Access to Sodai Protection and Sodai Services.
11 
Sec. 18. Specific protective measures for Women Migrant Workers and their
12 
Chiidren. - In reiation to the preceding section, the foiiowing measures shaii be
13 
undertaken, among other appropriate measures:
14 
a) During crisis preparation:
15 
1. Track information on conflicts and natural disasters and potentiai impact
16 
on migrants and their chiidren;
17 
2. Coiiect and share information on women migrant workers and their
18 
children, subject to privacy, confidentiaiity, security, and safety of
19 
migrants;
20 
3. Incorporate women migrant workers and their chiidren in the
21 
prevention, preparedness, and emergency response systems and
22 
contingency pianning;
23 
4. Communicate effectiveiy with migrants;
24 
5. Estabiish coordination agreements beforehand; and
25 
6. Buiid capacity and iearn iessons from emergency response and post-
26 
crisis action.
27 
b) During emergency response:
28 
1. Communicate widely with women migrant workers and their chiidren on
29 
evoiving crises and how to access heip;
30 
2. Faciiitate migrants' abiiity to move safely;
31 
3. Provide humanitarian assistance without discrimination;
32 
4. Establish clear referral procedures and systems;
33 
5. Relocate women migrant workers and their chiidren, when needed;
34 
6. Uphold the principles of non-refoulement and refugee and stateless
35 
protection.
36 
c) After the crisis:
17


1 
1. Address migrants' and their children's immediate needs and support
2 
them to rebuild their lives;
3 
2. Ensure rehabilitation, integration and other interventions;
4 
3. Support migrant women's and their children's host communities.
5
6 
CHAPTER III.
7 
COORDINATION MECHANISMS IN A PANDEMIC
8
9 
Sec. 19. National Preparedness and Response Program to Address the Gender-
10 
differentiated Needs of Women during the Pandemic. - To ensure access to essential
11 
services including access to justice and remedial measures and to mitigate the impact of
12 
any public health concern, emergency or disaster on the economy, a coherent,
13 
appropriate, efficient, developmental, evidence-based and survivor-centered national
14 
program against GBV and addressing gender-differentiated needs of women especially
15 
from marginalized sectors must be developed to inform, direct and coordinate its
16 
implementation at all levels and to ensure accessibility, availability and quality of services
17 
at the community level. For this purpose, a Task Force, to be co-headed by the National
18 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Philippine
19 
Commission on Women (PCW), in coordination with the lATF, shall come up with said
20 
national plan, to be cascaded to the local government units, and must be automatically
21 
integrated into the national strategy to manage the pandemic. This plan shall be
22 
subjected to review every two (2) years. It shall address GBV and gender-differentiated
23 
needs at all stages of the pandemic management, and anticipating pandemic related
24 
events and factors that might impede the functioning of legal, medical, social, remedial
25 
and other protection measures and mechanisms, to include, but not limited to:
26 
(a) Understanding the nature and risks of the COVID19 pandemic to be able to
27 
address the specific barriers and obstacles faced by women during COVID19
28 
pandemic that manifest In GBV, taking into account intersecting vulnerabilities
29 
and the multiple burdens they experience, and addressing stigma and
30 
discriminatory practices, attitudes and behaviors resulting in GBV, and providing
31 
for their food and nutrition security as well as access to essential services and
32 
government social protection and safety nets;
33 
(b) Gathering, managing, and utilizing data concerning the risks and incidence of
34 
GBV to inform policies and programs to achieve gender inclusive responses and
35 
address gaps and lapses in ensuring access by women of protection
36 
mechanisms;
18


1 
(c) Providing prompt, accurate, disaggregated, accessibie, up to date,
2 
comprehensibie, science based, and transparent data on women;
3 
(d) Deveioping protocois and guideiines of conduct relating to the delivery of service
4 
to women in the context of COVID19;
5 
(e) Strengthening protection from sexual exploitation and abuse through capacity
6 
building for service providers and governmental workers on early identification
7 
and mitigation of such risks as well as strengthening nationwide helplines and
8 
community-level referral to ensure they are functional to prevent and respond
9 
to cases including chain management and service provision plans for these
10 
services to stay open during the outbreak;
11 
(f) Providing a clear channel of communication with GBV service providers and
12 
actors as well as women's organizations and local GBV service providers and
13 
survivor-centered referral systems through the utilization of technology;
14 
(g) Assisting in the planning of national, local and community units by developing,
15 
identifying and sharing best practices;
16 
(h) Providing technical assistance, training, and consultation to improve
17 
preparedness and response capabilities, with focus on the needs of women and
18 
other vulnerable groups. Including to support the achievement of evidence-
19 
based benchmarks and objective standards to monitor, assess and measure
20 
levels of preparedness, response and recovery;
21 
(i) Improving systems of public, private, and civil society collaboration and
22 
partnership to formulate, and address gaps and Inefficiencies in the, policies,
23 
plans and programs to address GBV during pandemic; and
24 
(j) Carrying out other duties related to preparedness, response and recovery
25 
activities for women, as the Task Force may deem appropriate.
26 
(k) Representation and participation of women in coordination and decision-making
27 
bodies
28 
Sec. 20. Capacity-building of LGUs. - The Department of Interior and Local
29 
Government, with the local government units, shall be given the appropriate and
30 
sufficient funding by the national government to properly carry out the designated
31 
provisions under this Act. They shall be capacitated to be able to develop their pandemic
32 
preparedness protocols through a gender-differentiated localized response, taking into
33 
account the local contexts and concerns of the different women sectors in their area. This
34 
includes protocols and systems for assistance to gender-based violence, provisions for
35 
access to sexual and reproductive health needs, and ensuring availability of basic services
19


1 
for women through all phases of the national response regarding the public health
2 
emergency.
3 
The Local Government Units shall ensure that they have capable and trained personnel
4 
to provide the essential services package for women and are oriented about the policies,
5 
principles and procedure regarding gender equality, prohibition against gender-based
6 
violence, and gender sensitivity as well as those governing the management of the
7 
pandemic and other public health emergencies. They are also mandated to use data-
8 
gathering and data-analytics to further improve and strengthen their services. They shall
9 
also provide an accessibie feedback mechanism to further guide their practice.
10 
Sec. 21. Community Engagement - Subject to COVID-19 protocols, the Local
11 
Government Units, in coordination with dvii society organizations, non-government
12 
organizations, private sector and other stakeholders, shall conduct regular dialogues and
13 
information drives with the community to educate them on gender issues as a preventive
14 
measure to prevent gender-based violence and adress gender-differentiated needs.
15 
Through this multi-sectoral mechanism, women can participate and put forth their specific
16 
needs for integration in the locai government pandemic programming and management.
17
18 
CHAPTER IV.
19 
FINAL PROVISIONS
20
21 
Sec. 22. Appropriation. - The funds appropriated from the Calamity Fund for
22 
disaster risk reduction management and calamities amounting to 100 million, as well as
23 
from portions of the Gender and Development (GAD) budget or special health funds of
24 
agencies or local government units, may be used for the purposes above including for
25 
the impiementation of the National Preparedness and Response Program to Address the
26 
Gender-differentiated Needs of Women during the COVID-19, and other pandemics,
27 
emergencies and disasters;. Should the amount be insufficient to cover the necessary
28 
expenses, further financiai support will come from the national government, subject to
29 
the guidelines of the Department of Finance in coordination with the Department of
30 
Interior and Local Government.
31 
Sec. 23. Penalties. - Any pubiic officer, employee of an agency or any private
32 
individual mandated to implement this Act, who shall fail to perform in accordance with
33 
the mandates, duties, tasks and other acts imposed by this law shall be administratively
34 
liable for neglect in the performance of duty during the COVID-19, and other pandemics,
35 
emergencies and disasters. Should damage or injury be inflicted on any person by reason
36 
of such neglect, the aggrieved party can have recourse against the erring pubiic officer.
20


1 
employee or private individual for appropriate legal remedies as the law may provide or
2 
afford, including criminal cases. In case of gender-based violence amounting to a crime
3 
or offense is committed by a public officer or employee while in the performance of any
4 
acts covered herein, penalties next higher in degree shall be imposed, including sexual
5 
harassment, especially in quarantine facilities, and against persons belonging to at risk
6 
individuals and those adversely affected by the pandemic.
7 
Sec. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The PCW, as the lead agency,
8 
shall, in coordination with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Inter-Agency Task
9 
Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Interior and Local Government,
10 
Department of Health, Commission on Population and Development, Department of Labor
11 
and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Foreign
12 
Affairs, National Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department
13 
of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice Philippine
14 
National Police and all concerned government departments and agencies, with the
15 
participation of civil society organizations, academe, private sector, public health
16 
practitioners and other key actors and stakeholders, formulate the implementing rules
17 
and regulations (IRR) of this Act within thirty (30) days after its effectivity.
18 
Sec. 25. Congressional Oversight - Both Houses of Congress, particularly the
19 
Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality of the Senate
20 
and Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the House of Representatives shall
21 
oversee the implementation of this Act. The CHR, as Gender Ombud, shall likewise review
22 
the implementation after one (1) year, and subsequently, every year, in accordance with
23 
the recovery and rehabilitation plans of the government.
24 
Sec. 26. SuppletoryApplications. -The applicable provisions of the Revised Penal
25 
Code shall have suppletory application insofar as they are consistent with the provisions
26 
of this Act.
27 
Sec. 27. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid
28 
or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.
29 
Sec. 28. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
30 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, or is shown
31 
to facilitate or enable the commission of gender-based violence are hereby repealed,
32 
amended, or modified accordingly.
33 
Sec. 29. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
34 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,
21