Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by Representatives Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Under current conventions in economics, work that is not remunerated does
not count as productive labor. Unfortunately, this category would include the work
done by housewives, stay-at-home mothers, or homemakers who care for the
dependents, both young and elderly, in their household. Cooking breakfast,
washing and preparing the clothes for the day, cleaning the home, balancing the
household budget, these are amongst the many things our mothers, sisters, and
many more do that require not only the fullest dedication but also a wide variety of
skills. And yet, society in its current form dismiss the difficult task of home-making
as nothing – since it does not get paid.
But imagine a tomorrow where suddenly, housewives and homemakers
cease to do the work they usually do. The most likely result would be that the lives
of everyday Filipinos as we know it would become commensurately more difficult.
Those considered in the productive economy would feel the extra burden of having
to do more work than they already have – becoming less productive. If doing
housework full-time is indeed “nothing”, how come it is possible that our entire
productive economy would suffer immense consequences if it does not get done?
It is thus imperative upon the State to recognize the “reproductive labor”
done by stay-at-home women, mothers, wives, and homemakers as a valuable part
of our economy. In line with the Constitutional imperatives to promote a just and
dynamic social order, to value the dignity of every human person, and to recognize
the role of women in nation-building, housewives and homemakers should be given
the equivalent of a wage. And with this, the State takes a step not only to provide a
means for families with only one breadwinner to lift themselves out of poverty – it
also takes a step to recognize the vital role that women perform from the onset of
one’s life to the twilight of their years.
It is for these foregoing premises that the approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.
ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Party-List
August 16, 2022
1:05 pm
3660


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by Representatives Alfred Delos Santos
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR COMPENSATION FOR STAY-AT-HOME SPOUSES AND
HOMEMAKERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Homemakers’
Compensation Act.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared a policy of the State
to recognize the work of stay-at-home homemakers and housewives and as an
indispensable
backbone
to
the
productive
economy.
In line with this end,
housewives and homemakers shall receive appropriate financial remuneration for
the services they render on a full-time basis.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:
a) “Homemaker” refers to any person who performs domestic work for
dependents at home as a full-time occupation and is not engaged in any
part-time
nor
home-based
work that is compensated or generates
income.
b) “Domestic work” refers to the variety of services done for children and/or
elderly dependents, which include but is not limited to: providing care for
children
and
elderly
dependents,
cooking,
cleaning and household
maintenance, and the like.
c)
“Children” refer to persons aged 0-18 years of age, or who possess the
mental ability of a child who is below 18 years of age, who form part of
the homemaker’s household and cannot take care of themselves.
d) “Elderly dependents” refer to persons aged 60 years of age or above who
form part of the homemaker’s household and cannot take care of
themselves.
SECTION 4. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all homemakers whose
household’s economic status falls below the poverty threshold, who perform
3660


domestic work for their dependents full-time, and do not have any part-time nor
home-based work that is compensated.
SECTION 5. Compensation. – Financial assistance in the equivalent of Three
Thousand Pesos per month (Php 3,000.00) shall be given to housewives and
homemakers who are covered under this Act.
The assistance will be subject to a review every three (3) years by Congress,
together
and
in
consultation
with
the
Department
of
Social
Welfare
and
Development (DSWD). At the onset of implementation, the government shall make
use of the DSWD National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction
(NHTS-PR) database to identify the initial set of beneficiaries.
After the first year of implementation, the DSWD, in coordination with local
Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDO, will set up mechanisms for the
annual update of the NHTS-PR in determining qualified beneficiaries.
SECTION
6.
Continuing
Conditions
For
Coverage.
–
The
financial
compensation shall be released by the DSWD, in coordination with the relevant
local government units (LGUs), as the case may be, subject to the following
continuing conditions:
a) The child or children is/are enrolled in public schools, where said
child/children must garner at least eighty-five percent (85%) attendance;
b) The child or children manifest responsible behavior in preparation for
eventual independence from the household;
c)
In cases of either children or elderly dependents, there are no reports nor
findings of abuse by the homemaker or their partner done to the children
or elderly dependents. Any prima facie finding of abuse done by the
homemaker or their partner will be grounds to temporarily suspend the
financial assistance provided for in this Act until a final order or
resolution is made by the relevant authorities; and
d) The
household
attends
a
quarterly
barangay
assembly
aimed
at
empowering the family to become responsible members of their locality,
and at reducing the time burden of unpaid care for women living in
poverty.
SECTION 7. Implementing Agency. – The DSWD, together with the LGUs,
shall implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days
from the approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the Department of
Interior and local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd)
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations, including the targeting and
screening of beneficiaries, for the effective implementation of this Act.
SECTION 9. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the concerned local
offices of the DSWD and LGUs in the General Appropriations Act for the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter.


Section 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,