FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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J[IL -2 ?!i 
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First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Senate Bill No. 5 0 7 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The prevalence of crimes against women has created a frightening and 
traumatic experience upon the person of every Filipina. It leaves a devastating 
effect not only on their physical but on their emotional and mental being, as well, 
which at times, is irreversible. This in turn, impairs the woman-victim's ability to 
live normally and productively as a citizen of this nation. 
The continuous occurrence of increasing violence perpetrated against the 
female populace results not only to meaningless loss of lives but also affect our 
nation's efforts in the establishment of a just and humane society committed 
towards sustained development and progress. 
This bill seeks to equip women with a means to defend themselves 
against all forms of assault. 
Because not until we have implemented and 
enhance the mechanism by which we protect our female population, the 
government will have no more chance of doing a noble job to empower each and 
every Filipina out there. 
Thus, the approval of this bill is urgently requested. 
IT0 ESTRADA 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE MOVEMENT TO HELP ERADICATE RAPE AND OTHER 
FEMALE 
ABUSES 
“(MOTHER)”, 
MANDATING THE 
COMPULSORY 
TEACHING OF SELF DEFENSE TO ALL FEMALE CONSTITUTENT, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “MOV€M€NT TO HELP 
ERADICATE RAPE AND OTHER FEMALE ABUSES (MOTHER) ACT OR 
“MOTHER RAPE PREVENTION ACT” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. Article 2 of the Constitution, Sec. 14 
states that “the state recognizes the role of women in nation-building and 
small ensure the fundamentally equality before the law of women and 
men.” 
This Act therefore seeks to prevent sexual harassment, assault and 
other forms of abuses by enabling females to have a defense mechanism, 
based on the principle that self-defense is an instinct which needs to be 
developed. With [roper technique, knowledge of self-defense results in 
self-confidence, good disposition and quick reflexes in the face of 
imminent danger. It is high time that the state addresses from this 
perspective the issue of violence and other crimes perpetuated against 
our females. 
A suitable basic and non-complicated program of self-defense 
accessible to all females will be incorporated in a training course under the 
respective public and private entities: 
(a) as part of the Physical Education program of the Department of 
Education (DepEd) for female students in the Primary, 
secondary and Tertiary Schools; 
(b) as part of the technical and vocational Technical Education and 
Technical and Vocational Education for female students of 
schools and training centers under the supervision of the Skills 
Development Authority; 
(c) as part of the day-tooday routine of female employees as well 
as the out-of-school female constituents in each Baranggay, 


Municipality, Provincial, of the Department of Interior and Local 
Government (DILG); 
(d) all female employees of the private, government and semi- 
government offices under the supervision of the Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE); 
(e) all female employees of a government offices under the 
supervision of the Civil Service Commission (CSC); 
(f) the overseas Filipino contract workers (OCWs) under the 
jurisdiction 
of 
the 
Philippines 
Overseas 
Employment 
Administration (POEA); 
(9) all females traveling abroad as migrants, whether on short or 
long term journeys, supervised by the Department of Foreign 
Affairs; 
(h) all females associated in any group, organization, NGOs under 
their respective umbrella organizations. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms: For purposes of this Act. 
(a) 
“Basic Self-Defense” means the ability of an individual 
female to discern “at-risk situations and the instinctive 
reaction using reflexes and judgment for protection 
against an impending danger. 
“Females: are girls of and beyond school age, young and 
old, regardless of socio-economic and marital status, 
calling, sect and location of residence; 
“MOTHER is the self-defense discipline designed taking 
into consideration the characteristics of a Filipina; 
“Government Agencies” are the branches of Government 
which are the implementing arms of this Bill: the 
Department of Education (DepEd); the Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Department of 
Foreign Affairs (DFA); all private, government, semi- 
government sectors that 
have an authority power to 
mandate this Act to females under their respective 
jurisdictions; 
(e) 
Female Group are the NGOs, schools, workplace, 
congregations, an associations, safe house, halfway 
houses, orphanages, were females abound, not included 
in the above classifications; 
“Public and Private Schools” mean the elementary, 
primary, secondary and tertiary learning institutions 
operating outside the jurisdiction of DepEd; and 
“Advance Self-Defense Training” means the rigid training 
for female to enable those deployed in high-risk areas, 
overseas employment to defend themselves. 
(b) 
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(d) 
(f) 
(9) 
SEC. 4. Establishment of the Movement to Help Eradicate Rape and 
Other Female Abuses (MOTHER). To achieve the above objectives, the 
Movemetn to Help Eradicate Rape (MOTHER), having the rank of a Committee 
is hereby established (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”). 
The Committee shall be an independent entity separate from the DepEd, 
DFA. DILG and DOLE, and attached to the Office of the President for 
administrative purposes only. Its coverage shall be both public and private 
institutions as stipulated in this Act. 


SEC. 5. Components. The components of the MOTHER program are: 
(a) 
Prevention through Basic Self Defense and Practical Rape 
Prevention Techniques: 
As an introductory program, comprising of theories discussed in 
a seminar with hand-outs and film showings as well as the use 
of mass media; to provide the techniques lectures to create 
Awareness, Education Mental Preparednedd, Do's and Don'ts; 
Developing one's strength; Enhancing of weakness; Creating 
opportunities for escaping threatening situations. 
Advance training - comprised of hands-on and actual drills, 
practicum an continuous training; 
Continuing education, Refresher Courses Crisis Intervention; 
and 
Certification - to indicate proof of training, participants of the 
Self-Defense basic and advanced training course will be 
certified after completion of the corresponding requirements. 
SEC. 6. Composition of the Committee. The Committee shall be 
composed of five (5) full time members. During the transition period, which 
begins upon approval of this Act, the President may appoint the Interim 
Chairman for a maximum period of one (1) year. Thereafter, the President shall 
appoint a Chairman of the Committee and four (4) Commissioners who shall be 
holders of earned doctorate(s) who have been actively engaged in self-defense 
training or equivalent qualifications. They shall be educators known for their high 
degree of professionalism and integrity who have distinguished themselves as 
authorities in the self-defense field. In no case shall any of the Commissioners 
appoint representatives to act on their behalf. 
SEC. 7. Term or Office. The President shall appoint the full-time chairman 
and the Commissioners for a term of four (4) years, without prejudice to their 
reappointment. The term of the initial appointees shall be on a staggered basis: 
the full-time chairman shall hold for a term of four (4) years, the next two years. 
SEC. 8. Board of Advisers. There shall be constituted a board of Advisers 
which shall meet with the Committee at least once a year to assist it in aligning 
its poglicies and plans with the cultural political, and socio-economic 
development needs of the nation and with the demands of the project. The board 
of Advisers shall be composed of the Secretaries of DECS, DFA, DILG, DOLE, 
the Chief of the Philippine national Police, and the Administrator of the Philippine 
Overseas Employment Administration. 
SEC. 9. Power and Functions of the Commitfee. The Commission shall 
(b) 
(c) 
( 4  
have the following powers and functions: 
(a) 
Through the assistance of the Philippine National Police, to 
oversee the formulation, recommendation, and enforcement of a 
suitable selfodefense module for females which will be called 
"MOTHER 
Ensure that the program is introduced and implemented on a 
gradual, Staggered basis to all females in the various 
government agencies, monitor and evaluate the performance of 
the program; 
Formulate rules and regulations and exercise other powers and 
functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the 
purpose and objectives of this Act; and 
(b) 
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Perform other functions as may be necessary for its effective 
operations and for the continued enhancement, improvement or 
development of the program. 
SEC. I O .  Basic or Central Provisions. Article 2, Section 14 of the 
Constitution declares: the State the role of women in nation-building, and shall 
ensure the fundament equality before law of women and men. Violence against 
women has a devastating impact on women’s physical and emotional health and, 
and as an answer to the needs of the changing times, the State clearly 
recognizes the need to fight against all forms of abuse perpetrated against 
women as part of its duty and obligation to serve and protect them. 
The preventive measures provided under this Act encompass the State’s 
response to increase incidents of sexual harassment and abuse committed on 
women in today’s society. 
(d) 
SEC. 11. Rape Awareness and Preventive Week. The second Sunday of 
May every year shall usher the Rape awareness and Prevention week, 
coinciding with the celebration of Mother’s Day. 
SEC. 12. Implemenfafion. In collaboration with the cooperating 
government institution of this Act by the various government agencies 
concerned, to wit: 
the Department of Education (DepEd) - shall ensure that all 
female students have an access to the MOTHER self-defense 
program, iricorporated in their physical education (PE) 
curriculum in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels; 
the department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - shall 
ensure that all female employees in all the DILO-attached 
agencies, including the out-of-school youth I every Barangay 
have access to the self-defense training sessions; 
the Department of Labor and employment females employed in 
the private and government provided the opportunities to 
undertake the necessary (DOLE) - shall mandate that all 
sectors, locally or overseas. 
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration -shall 
mandate that all prospective female OCWs; who are applying 
for foreign employment, are mandated to undergo training as 
part of the orientation prior to taking up their assignment; 
The Department of Foreign Affairs - shall require that every 
Filipina wishing to go out of the Country for any purpose is 
required to have a basic self-defense knowledge; and 
All other government agencies, private corporations, and those 
not covered by the above Departments, shall enable their 
female constituents to acquire the basic self-defense 
knowledge. 
(a) 
(b) 
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(e) 
(9 
SEC. 13. Collaboration with NGOs. There shall be MOTHER Chapter to 
be formed in collaboration with NGOs which will support the maximum 
awareness and implementation of the program. 
SEC. 14. The Secretariat. The Committee shall be assisted by a 
secretariat, headed by an executive officer, subject to the national compensation 
and position classifications, responsibilities and functions, as well as the 
compensation scheme of the positions to be created upon the recommendation 
of the execufive officer. It shall also prepare and approve its budget. 


SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders letter of instruction, rules and regulations inconsistent with 
provisions of this act are hereby repealed. 
SEC. 16. Appropriafions. A fund hereafter referred to as “Prevention 
against rape and other female abuses or MOTHER Fund” is hereby established 
exclusively for the implementation of the self-defense training program in the 
entire country. 
(a) The Governments contribution to the Fund shall be the following: 
(1) 
Appropriate from the National Treasury: for the initial 
operation of the Committee, such sum as may be necessary 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. Thereafter, the sum necessary for the continuous 
operation for the program shall be included in the 
appropriations for the respective government agencies 
concerned, namely: the 
Department of 
Labor and 
Employment, the Department of 
Interior and 
Local 
Government, the Department of Education and the 
Department of Foreign Affairs; and 
An amount equivalent to one percent (1%) of the gross rates 
of the lotto operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes 
Office (PCSO) shall be contributed to the Committee for its 
operational expenses. 
(2) 
Starting the fiscal year 2001 and every year thereafter, government 
financing institutions identified and requested by the Committee may 
contribute to the Fund an amount as deemed necessary for the 
implementation of the program. 
(c) The fund shall have a private component to be raised form donations, 
gifts, and other conveyances by gratuitous title including material, 
equipment, properties and services. 
SEC. 17. Mnagement and Administration of the MOTHER fund. The fund 
shall be administered by the Committee and judicious management of the Fund, 
Committee shall appoint a reputable government financial institution as a 
portfolio manager of the Fund, subject to the conditions set by the Committee. 
As administrator of the Fund, the committee shall prepare the necessary 
guidelines for its use, subject to the conditions set by the Committee. 
No part of the seed capital of he fund, including earnings, there 
of shall be used to undetwrite overhead expenses for 
administration; 
Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donors, anly earnings 
of private contributions shall be used for administrative 
expenses; 
The commission shall appoint and organize a separate staff 
which shall be independent administratively and in its budget, 
from the Committee Secretariat; and 
The Fund shall be utilized equitably according to regions. 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
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SEC. 18. Technical Committees. The Committee shall reconstitute andlor 
organize a technical panel whose job description is to formulate, review, 


evaluate, restructure, and improve the module of self-defense discipline based 
on the criteria; 
(a) The model self-defense program shall be called “MOTHER 
(b) The MOTHER Self-Defense discipline shall give due consideration to 
(c) Due consideration shall be given to the strength, weakness and other 
(d) Discipline will be the primordial that will be inculcated in each and 
SEC. 19. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby 
shall remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 20. Effectivity Date. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
the cultural heritage and image of the Filipina and her culture. 
qualities of the individuals. 
every MOTHE-trained participant. 
the date of its publication at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,