SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
Second Regular Session ) 18 MAR -6 AID 333

SENATE mcs ZZ

SENATE BILLNO. 1729

Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 40 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9710,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women,
provides the legal basis for the planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation for
Gender and Development (GAD), stating in part that:

“Section 36. Gender Mainstreaming as a Strategy for Implementing the
Magna Carta of Women. — ... The development of GAD programs shall
proceed from the conduct of a gender audit of the agency or the local
government unit and a gender analysis of its policies, programs, services
and the situation of its clientele; the generation and review of sex-
disaggregated data; and consultation with genderiwomen's rights
advocates and agency/women clientele. The cost of implementing GAD
programs shall be the agency's or the local government unit's GAD
budget which shall be at least five percent (5%) of the agency's or the
local government unit's total budget appropriations.”

However, in as much as mechanisms are in place to monitor agency and local
government units’ (LGUs) compliance in ensuring full utilization of the appropriated
5% of the total budget for their respective GAD programs, the overall statistics show
that utilization of the appropriated GAD budget has not reached its full potential. Some
implementing agencies fall behind in fulfilling this obligation. The Commission on



Audit, for instance, noted that out of nineteen (19) GAD programmed activities in the
Office of the President in 2016, only six (6) were implemented with a total cost of
532,406.00 or 0.019% of the total appropriations of the agency’.

Gender mainstreaming is a strategy which aims for the inclusion and
prioritization of women’s concerns and perspectives within agencies through the
creation of gender-responsive programs tailored to positively impact both women and
men?. Government is mandated by R.A. No. 9710 to successfully integrate and
implement this strategy in their areas of development, and it is imperative for all
agencies and LGUs to fulfill their obligation to efficiently utilize the prescribed 5% of
the appropriated budget towards implementing programs, plans and actions that
contribute to gender mainstreaming.

If any, this failure to utilize the appropriated budget for gender mainstreaming
reflects on the work that has still to be done in order to inculcate the value and
importance of gender equality and women’s struggles in the government workplace
and in society in general. Now, more than ever, under an administration leadership
that not only appears to lack the necessary attention and respect for women, but also
debases them through consistent attacks in public and official events, gender
mainstreaming must be accomplished with urgency, so as not to institutionalize the

current administration leadership's dehumanization of women in society, particularly
of women leaders in government.

Only through a consistent and conscious implementation of the Magna Carta of
Women can government and Philippine society be truly rid of gender bias and the
rampant misogynism that have presently reared their ugly heads in our midst once
again. Towards this effort, our present laws on the protection of women and the
programmatic education and mainstreaming of gender equality should not only be
enforced and followed to the letter, but moreover, strengthened and accelerated. Only
in this manner will we be able to counter the unapologetic exhibition of anti-women

* Roxas, Joseph Tristan, 12 July 2017. GMA News Online, COA: Palace only spent 0.0199 of P14-M budget for gender
Programs in 2016. Retrieved from http

Philippine Commission on Women. 10 November 2017. PCW and COA strengthen call for gender mainstreaming
uring the 2017 GAD Budget Fora, Retrieved from hip://www pcw.gov.phVaricle/pce-and-constrengthen-call



rhetoric that has dominated official government discourse since the start of the present
administration.

This bill seeks to create a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to
strengthen mechanisms to monitor progress, compliance and implementation of R.A.
No. 9710. Such is to complement the Commission on Human Right's function as
Gender and Development Ombud, whose chairperson shall be designated as an ex-
officio member of the oversight committee.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earrfestly sought.

ki M. DE 1 IMA



SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) . 7
Second Regular Session ) 18 MAR -6 AO 33

SENATE RECEIVED 3¥: Ze

SENATE BILLNO._1729

Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 40 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9710,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. A new section will be inserted after Section 40(a) of the Magna Carta of
Women, to be read as follows:
“SECTION 40. _ Monitoring Progress and Implementation and Impact
of this Act. — The PCW, in coordination with other state agencies and
the CHR, shall submit to Congress regular reports on the progress of the
implementation of this Act highlighting the impact thereof on the status
and human rights of women
XXX

SECTION 40-A. JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. - THERE
IS HEREBY CREATED A JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO
OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.

THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPOSED
OF FIVE MEMBERS EACH FROM THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE IN ADDITION TO THE CHAIRS OF THE
COMMITTEES ON WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND GENDER
EQUALITY, WHO SHALL BE CO-CHAIRS OF THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR EVERY HOUSE SHALL AT LEAST HAVE
TWO OPPOSITION OR MINORITY MEMBERS. THE JOINT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE ITS OWN



INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS SHALL BE AN EX-
OFFICIO MEMBER.”

See. 2. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 3. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,