FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Villa 
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“The woman, whose womb is the first home of the human race, must be respected in the 
next environment which is called the family, which is housed in a home for many reasons--- 
closeness, protection from elements, and some form of stability, and eventually, a commity, 
and they become a settlement.” 
That was the powerful statement of a remarkable Filipina, Senator Helena Z. Benitez. 
And her sentiment is widely shared by all women believing that their empowerment, equal 
treatment and high respects are the essence of womanhood. 
The fight for women parity is considered the longest revolution. Spanning centuries and 
countries, it has transcended race, religion, class and all other differences that set women apart. 
Gender equality were the same bravery that led Filipinas to fight for equal rights and take 
responsibilities with men. The saga of courage exemplified by Gabriela Silang, Melchora 
Aquino, and Gregoria de Jesus and the women of Katipunan are reflected in various ways of 
bravery in recent times. 
This legislation honours gender equality. This bill is in solidarity with the cause of 
women to accord them personal power to courageously face the future and win their various 
struggles for human dignity, progress and equality. It is a paean to the Filipino women. 
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 
(CEDAW) has been in force for twenty six (26) years, since the Philippine Senate ratified it OB 
August 5, 1981. The Filipino women, however, continue to suffer from various forms of 
discrimination and unequal relations between women and men, stemming &om the economic, 
political and social divide. 
In the Concluding Comments of the CEDAW for the Philippines during its 36Ih session 
held on August 7-25, 2006, one of the principal areas of concerns raised was the lack of 
definition of what constitute discrimination vis-his our government’s commitments. Likewise, 
there is a seeming absence of advancement in enacting legislation on comprehensive legal 
framework on gender equality. Specifically, it recommended the passage of a Magna Carta Bill 
of Women that will strengthen the promotion of gender equality in the country. 
A Magna Carta is a piece of legislation that serves as a guarantee of basic rights. The 
CEDAW, usually referred also as the “international women’s bill of rights” is the first major 
documents that contains a ban on all forms of discrimination and recommends temporary special 
measures to immediately achieve equality between men and women. 
When the Philippine government ratified the Convention, it gave the signal to 
policymakers to embody the spirit and the letter of CEDAW in the laws and policies of the land. 
Two and a half decades of waiting for the llfillment of this obligation is too long. The time has 


long been ripe for a comprehensive law that guarantees and recognizes women’s basic human 
rights. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this hill is earnestly requested. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PNILIPPMES 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
AN ACT 
RNABLING FILIPINO WOMEN TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIALS IN THE 
SERVICE OF THE NATION AND ENSURING THEIR EQUALITY WITH MEN, 
ORDAINING A MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO WOMEN THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as "The Magna Carta of Filipino 
Women of 2007". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the role of women in nation 
building and shall ensure the substantive equality of women and men. It shall promote the 
empowerment of women and men. The government must pursue equal opportunities for women 
and men as well as ensure their equal access to resources and to development results and 
outcome. 
It condemns discrimination against women in all its forms and pursues by all appropriate 
means and without delay the policy of eliminating discrimination against women in keeping with 
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) 
and other treaties, international agreements and instruments. The State shall accord to women 
the highest protection, rights and opportnnities available to every member of society. 
The State affirms women's right as human rights and shall intensify its efforts to 
recognize, respect, protect, fulfill and promote all human rights and fimdamental freedoms of 
women especially in the marginalized sectors of society to guarantee their economic, social and 
cultural well-being without distinction or discrimination on account of class, age, sex, gender 
and sexuality, language, ethnicity, religion, ideology, disability, education, wealth and status. 
The State shall provide the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the 
realization of women's right as well as adopt and undertake steps to include temporary special 
measures which encompass a wide variety of legislative, executive, administrative and other 
regulatory instruments, policies and practices aimed at accelerating the equal participation of 
women in the political, economic, socio-cultural, civic or any other field. Temporary special 
measures must be discontinued when their desired results have been achieved and sustained for a 
period of time. 


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The State, in ensuring the full integration of women’s concerns in the mainstream of 
development, shall provide ample opportunities to enhance and develop their skills, acquire 
productive employment and contribute to their communities to the fullest of their capabilities. 
In pursuance of this policy, the State recognizes the right of women in all sectors to 
participate in policy formulation, planning, organization, implementation, management 
monitoring, and evaluation of all programs and projects. It shall support policies, researches, 
technology and training programs, and other support services such as financing, production and 
marketing to encourage active participation of women in national development. 
CHAPTERII 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SECTION 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the following words and phrases 
shall mean: 
(A) 
Women s empowerment refers to the provision, availability and accessibility of 
opportunities which enables women to actively participate and contribute to the political, 
economic, social and cultural development of the nation as well as those which shall provide 
them equal access to ownership, management and control of production, and of materials and 
information resources and benefits in the family, community and society; 
(B) 
Discrimination Against Women refers to any gender-based distinction, exclusion 
or restriction which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, 
enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of 
men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, 
cultural, civic or any other field; 
(C) 
Marginalization - a condition where a whole category of people is excluded from 
useful participation in political, economic, social and cultural life. 
(D) 
The marginulized refer to the basic, disadvantaged, or vulnerable persons or 
groups who are mostly living in poverty and have little or no access to land and resources, basic 
social and economic services such as health care, education, water and sanitation, employment 
and livelihood opportunities, housing, social security, physical infrastructure and justice system. 
The term includes but is not l i t e d  to small farmers and rural workers; fisherfolks and fishers; 
urban poor; 
workers or labor in both formal and informal sector including those engaged in 
intermittent employment; migrant workers; 
indigenous people and members of the cultural 
communities; 
children including those with special needs and unable to protect themselves 
from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical and mental 
disability or condition; senior citizens; persons with disabilities and similar other indi~duals 
or groups who maybe possibly oppressed or discriminated relevant to their beliefi, alternative 
lifestyles, advocacies or leanings. 
(E) 
Gender - refers to the socially differentiated roles, characteristics and 
expectations attributed by culture to women and men. It is created, produced, reproduced and 
maintained by social institutions. Gender roles and attributes are not natural nor biologically 
given. 


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(F) 
Gender Equality indicates that men and women enjoy the same status; have equal 
conditions for realizing their full human potentials to contribute to and benefit from the results of 
development. 
(G) 
Gender and Development (GAD) refers to the development perspective and 
process that are participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free fiom violence, 
respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination and actualization of human 
potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental value that should be reflected in 
development choices; seeks to integrate the significance of gender equality in society's social, 
economic and political framework; contends that women are active agents of development and 
not just passive recipients of development assistance, and stresses the need of women to organize 
themselves and participate in political process to strengthen their legal rights; 
(H) Gender Mainstreaming is the process of assessing the implications for women 
and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs, in all areas and at all 
levels. It is a strategy to consider and respect the rights of women and makes gender equality an 
integral component in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of government 
policies and programs. 
(4 
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. It shall be understood to encompass, but not limited to, the following: 
1. 
Physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence occurring in the family, 
including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, 
marital rape, and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and 
violence related to exploitation; 
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2. 
Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general 
community ,including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in 
educational institution and elsewhere, trafficking in women and prostitution; 
3. 
wherever it occurs. 
As defined in R.A. 9262, 
Physical violence shall mean bodily or physical harm. 
Sexual violence shall mean any act that is sexual in nature, including but not limited to: rape; 
sexual harassment; acts of lasciviousness; treating the women or her child as a sex object; 
making demeaning and sexually suggestive remarks; physically attacking the sexual parts of 
victim's body; forcing the victim to watch obscene publications and indecent shows; forcing the 
victim to watch obscene publications and indecent shows; forcing the victim to do indecent acts 
and/or make films thereof; forcing the wife and mistressAover to live in the conjugal home or to 
sleep together in the same room with the abuser; causing or attempting to cause the victim to 
engage in sexual activity by force, physical or other harm, coercion or threats thereof; 
prostituting the women or her child. 
Psychological violence shall means acts or omissions causing mental or emotional suffering of 
the victim, such as but not limited to: intimidation; harassment; stalking; damage to property; 
Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetuated or condoned by the state, 


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public ridicule or humiliation; repeated verbal abuse; marital infidelity; causing or allowing the 
victim to witness the physical, sexual, or psychological abuse of a family member; causing or 
allowing the victim to witness pornography in any form; causing or allowing the victim to 
witness abusing injury to pets; unlawful or unwanted deprivation of the right to custody and/or 
visitation of common children. 
Economic vioZence shall mean acts that make a woman financially dependent, including: 
withdrawal of financial support; preventing the victim from engaging in arly legitimate 
profession, occupation, business or activity; deprivation of financial resources and the right to 
conjugal, community or property owned in common; destroying household property or 
controlling the victim’s own money or properties 
CHAPTER 111 
RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT 
SECTION 4. Human Rights of Women. - All rights recognized under treaties, internal 
agreements and instruments duly signed and ratified by the Philippines, including rights under 
the Constitution and other existing laws shall be rights of women under this Act to be enjoyed 
without discrimination. 
SECTION 5. Protectionfrom Violence - The State shall ensure that all women shall be 
piotected from all forms of violence as provided for in existing laws. Agencies of government 
shall give priority to the defense and protection to women against gender-based offenses and 
help women attain justice and healing. 
Towards this end, measures to prosecute and reform offenders shall likewise be pursued. 
(A). Within the next five years, there shall be an incremental increase in the recruitment 
and training of women in the police force and law enforcement, forensics and medico-legal, and 
legal services, energy and highly technical areas, and such other services availed by women to 
achieve full equality of women in public service including directorships in government-owned 
and controlled corporations. 
(B). Women shall have the right to protection and security in situations of armed conflict 
and militarization. The State shall observe international standards, particularly International 
Humanitarian Laws, for the protection of civilian population in circumstances of emergency and 
armed conflict. It shall not force women, especially indigenous peoples, to abandon their lands, 
territories and means of subsistence, or relocate them in special centers for military purposes 
under any discriminatory condition. 
(C). All government personnel involved in the protection and defense of women against 
gender-based violence shall undergo a mandatory training on human rights and gender sensitivity 
pursuant to this Act. 
SECTION 6. Participarion and Representation. The State shall undertake temporary 
special measures to accelerate the participation and representation of women in all spheres of 
society particularly in the decision-making and policy-making processes in government and 
private entities to fully realize their role as agents and beneficiaries of development. 
The State must undertake comprehensive program and framework that will bring to 
fulfillment the commitments of the Philippines in the Beijing Platform for Action to have at least 


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thirty three percent (33 %) or more of available opportunities in decision making bodies, 
agencies and instrumentalities in government allotted to women. 
The State shall institute affirmative action mechanism so that women can participate 
meaningfully in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies, plans and programs 
for national, regional and local development. 
(A) Empowerment in Civil Service. Within the next five (5) years, the number of 
women in third level positions in government shall be increased to achieve a fifty-fifty gender 
balance. 
(€3) Development Councils and Planning Bodies. To ensure the participation of 
women in all levels of development planning and program implementation, at least 33% of 
membership of all development councils from the regional, provincial, city, municipal and 
barangay levels shall be composed of women. 
(C) Other policy and decision-making bodies. Women’s group shall also be 
represented in international, national and local special and decision-making bodies such as, but 
not limited, to agricultural, fisheries, agrarian reform and anti-poverty councils. 
@) International bodies. The State shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that 
women, on equal terms with men and Without any discrimination, the opportunity to represent 
their Governments at the international level and to participate in the work of international 
organizations. 
(E) Integration of Women in Political Parties. Political parties must endeavor to put 
premium on women’s agenda and to encourage the active participation of women in electoral 
exercises and in their leadership and membership. It shall likewise encourage the representation 
of women in their internal policy-making structures, appointive and electoral nominating 
processes. 
(F) Women Directors in Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs). 
Full equality of women shall be advanced in public corporate management through appointments 
of women in various government-owned and controlled-corporations including those that are 
considered highly technical or technologically-oriented. Initially, thirty three percent (33 %) of 
the available directorship positions be allotted to women and withm five years after the 
effectivity of this Act, the fifty-fifty gender balance must be achieved. 
(G) Private sector. The State shall take measures to encourage women leadership in 
the private sector in the form of incentives. 
SECTION 7. Equal Treatment before the Law. The State shall take steps to review and 
when necessary, amend andor ‘repeal existing laws that are discriminatory to women within 
three years from effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Equal Access and Elimination of Discrimination in Education, Scholarships 
and Training. 
(A) 
The State shall remove gender stereotypes and images in educational materials 
anh cirrcula. Gender-sensitive language shall be used at all times. Capacity-building on gender 
iind development (GAD), peace and human rights, education for teachers and all those involved 
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in the education sector shall be pursued toward this end. Partnerships between and among 


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players of the education sector, including the private sector and ChurcWfaith groups shall be 
encouraged. 
(B) 
Enrollment of women and men in non-traditional skills training in vocational and 
tertiary levels shall be encouraged. 
(C) 
Expulsion, non-readmission, prohibition of enrolment and other related 
discrimination of women students due to pregnancy outside of marriage shall be outlawed. 
SECTION 9. Non-discriminatory Portrayal of Women in Media and Film and In Other 
Fbrms of Information Technology. - The State shall formulate policies and programs for the 
advancement of women in collaboration with media-related organizations &om the private 
sector. It shall likewise endeavor to raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing 
the dignity of a woman, and the roles and contributions of women in the family, community and 
the society through the strategic use of mass media and information technology. 
For this purpose, the State shall provide incentives to encourage programming that 
appropriately present women’s needs, issues and concerns in movies, television shows, 
advertisements and print media, and support media watch groups, media professional 
associations and women’s organizations. Similarly, gender-sensitivity training (GST) programs 
for all media practitioners including producers, directors, managers, journalists, news editors, 
news reporters, publishers as well as those in the movie and advertising industries shall be 
organized by their respective organizations and publishers to encourage the creation and use of 
non-stereotyped, balance, diverse and positive images of women in media. The use of gender-fair 
language shall also be encouraged specifically in the practice of their profession. 
The MTRCB and other government agencies engaged in information dissemination shall 
revise its rules and regulations to discourage unfair or derogatory portrayal of women in both 
media and film and all other materials in information technology. 
SECTION 10. Access to Women’s Health Information; 
(A) Comprehensive Heulth services. - The State shall at all times provide for 
comprehensive gender responsive health services and programs covering all stages of a woman’s 
life cycle and ensure access to the following: 
1. Maternal care services; 
2. Nutrition services; 
3. Accepted health services pertaining to responsible parenthood and reproduction geared 
towards the total development of Filipino family; 
4. Adolescent and youth health services; 
5. Women and children protection services; 
6. Screening and appropriate management of reproductive tract infections (RTIS) 
including sexually transmitted infections (STIS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), breast and reproductive tract cancers, and other 
gynecological conditions; 
7. Healthy lifestyle activities; 
9. Care of the elderly; 
10. Health services for women with disabilities; 
1 1. Post-menopausal services; 


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12. VAW Services - Women victims and survivors shall be given provision and access to 
comprehensive services which include psychosocial therapeutic interventions and assistance 
toward healing, recovery and empowerment. Perpetrators of VAW should also be given access 
to psychological therapy and rehabilitation. 
(B) Comprehensive Health Information and Education. - The State shall make it 
accessible to women and all citizens an accurate information and relevant materials on women’s 
health. 
branches and all 
government hospitals must provide informational references discussing responsible parenthood 
and health values including but not limited to the important role of parents in the total formation 
of their children; the formation of a person’s sexuality that affms human dignity; issues 
covering unwanted pregnancy, sexual behaviour, contracting sexually transmitted diseases and 
prevention, among others. 
The Department of Health through all its satellite offices and 
SECTION 1 1. Equal rights in all matters relating to marriage and family relations. The 
State shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters 
relating to marriages and family relations and shall ensure: 
(1) The same right to enter into and leave partnership or relationships consistent 
with the provisions on family and women in the 1987 Philippine Constitution and those referred 
to in the Family Code of the Philippines; 
(2) The same right to choose freely a spouse and to enter into marriage only with 
their free and full consent. The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect. 
(3) The joint decision on the number and spacing of their children and to have 
access to the information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights; 
(4) The same personal rights as husband and wife, including the right to choose 
freely a profession and occupation; 
(5) The same rights for both spouses in respect of the ownership, acquisition, 
management, administration, enjoyment, and disposition of property. 
(6) The same rights to properties and resources, whether titled or not, and 
inheritance, whether formal or customary. 
Customary laws shall be respected provided, however, that they do not contradict the 
above-enumerated rights. 
CHAPTER IV 
RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT OF MARGINAJJZED SECTORS 
Women are guaranteed all the rights-civil, political, social and economic recognized, 
promoted and protected under existing laws, including but not limited to the Indigenous Peoples’ 
Rights Acts, Urban Development and Housing Act, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, 
Fisheries Code, Labor Code, Migmnt Workers Act, Solo Parents welfare Act and Social reform 
and Poverty Alleviation Act. 
SECTION. 12. The State shall recognizes the contribution of women to food production 
and shall therefore ensure sustainability and sufficiency of its activities in the household and 
community levels. To address this, the state shall ensure: 
(A)Right to Food and Nutrition - The State shall guarantee the availability of food in 
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quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals and the physical and 


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economic accessibility of everyone to adequate food that is culturally acceptable and free from 
unsafe substances. 
(B) Right to Resources for Food Production 
The State shall promote the ri&t to adequate food by proactively engaging in activities 
intended to strengthen access to and utilization of resources and means to ensure women’s 
livelihood, including food security: 
1. Equal status shall be given to men and women, whether married or not, in the titling 
of the land and issuance of stewardship contracts and patents; 
2. Equal treatment shall be given to men and women beneficiaries of the agrarian reform 
program, wherein vested right of a woman agrarian reform beneficiary is defined by the 
woman’s relationship to the tillage, i.e. her direct and indirect contribution to the development of 
the land; 
3. Customary rights of women to the land, including access to and control of the h i t s  
and benefits, shall be recognized in circumstances where private ownership is not possible such 
as ancestral domain claims; 
4. Information and assistance on claiming rights to the land shall be made available to 
women at all times; 
5. Equal rights of women to the enjoyment, use and management of land and water and 
other natural resources within their communities or ancestral domains; 
6. Equal access to the use of management and fisheries and aquatic resources, and all 
the rights and benefits accruing to stakeholders in the fishing industry; 
7. Equal status shall be given to men and women in the issuance of stewardship or lead 
agreements and other fishery rights that maybe granted for the use and management of coastal 
and aquatic resources. In the same manner, women’s organization shall be given equal treatment 
as with other marginalized fishers organizations in the issuance of stewardship or lease 
agreements or other fishery rights for the use and management of such coastal and aquatic 
resources which may include providing support to women-managed coastal resources; 
8. There shall be no discrimination against women in the deputization of the fish 
wardens. 
9. Women-friendly agriculture technology shall be designed based on accessibility and 
viability shall be designed in consultation with women’s organizations; 
10. Access to small farmers-based and controlled seeds production and distribution shall 
be ensured; 
1 1. Indigenous practices of women in seed storage and cultivation shall be recognized; 
12. Provide opportunities for empowering women fishers to be involved in the control 
and management not only of the catch and production of aquamarine resources but also to 
engage in entrepreneurial activities which will add value to production and marketing ventures; 
13. Provide economic opportunities for the indigenous women, particularly access to 
market for their produce. 
SECTION 13. Right to Decent Shelter. - The State shall develop a decent shelter 
program for women that are localized, simple, accessible, secure, with viable employment 
opportunities and affordable amortization. In this regard, the State shall consult women and 


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involve them in community planning and development especially in matters pertaining to land 
use, zoning and relocation. 
SECTION 14. Right to Employment, Livelihood, Credit, Capital and Technology - The 
State shall ensure that women shall be provided with the following: 
(A) Equal access to formal sources of credit and capital at concessional rates; 
(B) Equal share to the produce of the farms and aquatic resources; 
(C) Support services and gears to protect them from occupational and health hazards. 
(D)Support services that will enable women to balance family obligations and work 
responsibilities; 
(E) Membership in unions regardless of status of employment and place of employment; 
(F) In recognition of the temporary nature of overseas work, the State shall exert all 
efforts to address the causes of out-migration by developing local employment and other 
economic opportunities for women and by introducing measures to curb violence and forced and 
involuntary displacement of local women. The State shall ensure the protection and promotion of 
the rights and welfare of migrant women regardless of their work status; 
(G) Protection against discrimination in wages, conditions of work and employment 
opportunities in host countries; 
, 
(H)Employment opportunities for returning women migrant workers taking into account 
their skills and qualifications. Corollarily, the State shall also promote skills and 
entrepreneurship development of returning women migrant workers. 
SECTION 15.Right to Educafion and Training - The State shall ensure the following: 
(A) Participation in trainings and extension services related to rights enumerated in 
Sections 6 and 8 of this Act; 
(B) Gender-sensitive ttainings and seminars; 
(C) Equal opportunities in scholarship, especially to those interested in research and 
development aimed towards women-friendly farm technology. 
SECTION. 16. Right to Representution and Participaiion - The State shall ensure 
women’s participation in policy-making or decision-making bodies in the regional, national, 
and international levels. It shall also ensure the participation of at least thirty three percent 
(33%) grassroots women leaders in decision and policy making bodies in their respective 
sectors, including but not limited to, Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) and local 
counterparts; community-based resource management bodies or mechanisms on forest 
management and stewardship; National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council 
(NFARMC) and local counterparts; National Commission on Indigenous peoples, Presidential 
Commission for the Urban Poor and where applicable, local housing boards; and National 
Anti-Poverty Commission. 
SECTION 17. Rights to Information - Access to information regarding policies on 
women, including programs, projects and budget shall ensured. 
SECTION 18. Social Protection - 
(A)The Social Security System (SSS) and the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation ( Philhealth ) shall support indigenous and community-based social protection 
schemes. 


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economic accessibility of everyone to adequate food that is culturally acceptable and free from 
unsafe substances. 
(B) Right to Resources for Food Production 
The State shall promote the right to adequate food by proactively engaging in activities 
intended to strengthen access to and utilization of resources and means to ensure women’s 
livelihood, including food security: 
1. Equal status shall be given to men and women, whether married or not, in the titling 
of the land and issuance of stewardship contracts and patents; 
2. Equal treatment shall be given to men and women beneficiaries of the agrdan reform 
program, wherein vested right of a woman agrarian reform beneficiary is defined by the 
woman’s relationship to the tillage, Le. her direct and indirect contribution to the development of 
the land; 
3. Customary rights of women to the land, including access to and control of the fruits 
a& benefits, shall be recognized in circumstances where private ommhip is not possible such 
as ancestral domain claims; 
4. Information and assistance on claiming rights to the land shall be made available to 
women at all times; 
5. Equal rights of women to the enjoyment, use and management of land and water and 
other natural resources within their communities or ancestral domains; 
6. Equal access to the use of management and fisheries and aquatic resources, and all 
the rights and benefits accruing to stakeholders in the fishing industry; 
7. Equal status shall be given to men and women in the issuance of stewardship or lease 
agreements and other fishery rights that maybe granted for the use and management of coastal 
and aquatic resources. In the same manner, women’s organization shall be given equal treatment 
as with other marginalized fishers organizations in the issuance of stewardship or lease 
agreements or other fishery rights for the use and management of such coastal and aquatic 
resources which may include providing support to women-managed coastal resources; 
8. There shall be no discrimination against women in the deputization of the fish 
wardens. 
9. Women-friendly agriculture technology shall be designed based on accessibility and 
viability shall be designed in consultation with women’s organizations; 
10. Access to small fmers-based and controlled seeds production and distribution shall 
be ensured; 
I 1. Indigenous practices of women in seed storage and cultivation shall be recognized; 
12. Provide opportunities for empowering women fishers to be involved in the control 
and management not only of the catch and production of aquamarine resources but also to 
engage in entrepreneurial activities which will add value to production and marketing ventures; 
13. Provide economic opportunities for the indigenous women, particularly access to 
market for their produce. 
SECTION 13. Right to Decent Shelter. - The State shall develop a decent shelter 
program for women that are localized, simple, accessible, secure, with viable employment 
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opportunities and affordable amortization. In this regard, the State shall consult women and 


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(B) The State shall endeavor to reduce and eventually eliminate transfer costs of 
remittance from abroad through negotiations. It shall likewise provide access to investment 
opportunities for remittances in line with national development efforts; 
(C) The State shall establish alternative social security system and health insurance 
program for senior citizens. 
SECTION 19.Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Identity//mntegrity - The State 
recognizes and respect the rights of women in indigenous and cultural communities to practice, 
pmmote, protect and preserve their own culture, traditions and institutions and to consider these 
rights in formulation and implementation of national policies and programs. To this end, the 
State shall adopt measures in consultation with the sectors concerned to protect their rights to 
their indigenous knowledge system and practices, traditional livelihood and other manifestations 
of their cultures and ways of life provided that these cultural systems and practices are not 
discriminatory to women as defined in this Act. 
SECTION 20. Peace and Development - Peace process shall be pursued with the 
following considerations: 
(A) Increase the number of women participating in decision making in the peace 
process, including membership in peace panels; 
(B) Ensure the development and inclusion of the women’s peace agenda in the over- 
all peace strategy and women’s participation in the planning, implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation of rehabilitation and rebuilding of conflict-affected areas; 
(C) Include peace perspective in the education curriculum and in other educational 
activities 
(D) Recognize and support women’s role in conflict-prevention and peacemaking 
and in indigenous systems of conflict resolution 
SECTION 21. Protection of Girl-children - 
(A)The State shall pursue measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against 
girl-children in education, health and nutrition and skills development. 
(B) Girl-children shall be protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation caused 
by negative cultural attitudes and practices as well as in the economic exploitation of child labor. 
(C)Equal access of girl children and those from the cultural communities in the 
Madaris, schools of living culture and traditions and the regular school, shall be ensured, 
(D) Gender-sensitive curriculum, including legal literacy, books and curriculum in the 
Madaris and school of living culture and tradition, shall be developed. 
(E) Sensitivity of regular schools to particular indigenous practices and cultural 
communities, such as fasting in the month of Ramadhan, choice of clothing (including the 
wearing of hijab), halal food shall be ensured. 
SECTION 22. Protection ofSenior Citizens - The State shall protect women senior- 
citizen from neglect, abandonment, domestic violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination. 
Towards this end, the State shall ensure special protective mechanisms and support services 
against violence, sexual abuse, exploitation and discrimination of older women. 
CHAPTER V 
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS 


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SECTION 23. Gender Mainsfreaming as the strategy for implementing the Magna 
Carta of Women. All agencies, national and local, State colleges and universities, government 
o p e d  and controlled corporations including local government units, shall adopt gender 
mainstreaming as the strategy to eliminate gender discrimination in their systems, structures, 
policies, programs, processes and procedures that shall include but not be limited to the 
following: 
(A) Articulation of gender concerns in national plans and programs, Gender issues 
and concerns shall be articulated and addressed in the following national policies and plans: 
1. Macro-economic policies and plans such as the Medium-Term Philippine 
development Plan and Medium-term Philippine Investment Plan; 
2. Other national programs such as poverty-alleviations and hunger mitigation; 
3. Plans and programs of local government units such as the comprehensive 
development plans, comprehensive land use plans, annual development plans and 
annual investment plans. 
(B)Regular Preparation of GAD plan and budget. GAD plans based on the 
government agency’s/local government unit’s (LGU’s) mandates or charter designed to empower 
women and gender issues, in accordance with R.A. 7192 and the national Framework Plan for 
Women for the period, shall be developed. The development of the GAD plan shall proceed from 
the conduct of gender analysis of policies, programs, and situation of the agency’s or LGU’s 
clientele and the collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated data in consultation with 
gendedwomen’s rights advocates and agency women clientele. Programs on economic 
empowerment and strengthening of women bargaining powers in globalized economy as well as 
micro-finance and micro-enterprise development for women; poverty alleviation and effective 
reduction of violence against women shall receive priority allocation. The cost of 
implementation of the GAD plan shall be at least five percent (5%) of the agency’s total budget 
appropriations; 
(C) GAD focal points. Key fulltime and permanent personnel with a rank not lower 
than a director or its equivalent shall be appointed as GAD focal point in each government entity, 
agency and LGU. Sheihe shall serve as the catalysts andor advocates that will facilitate the 
implementation of this Act. Sheihe shall likewise lead in the conduct of GAD-related initiatives 
in their respective agencies; 
(D)Sex-disaggregated dafa. All government entities, agencies and LGU’s shall 
develop and maintain their own database of sex-disaggregated that have been systematically 
gathered. Their data shall be regularly updated and subjected to gender analysis for planning, 
programming and policy formulation; 
In partnership with all relevant government agencies and institutions, non- 
government and people’s organizations and the private sectors, the NCRFW shall develop a 
National Framework Plan for Women aimed at empowering women as well as men to achieve 
gender equality, to be used as a guide in the formulation of the abovementioned plans and 
programs. 


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Local government units (LGU’s) shall likewise be encouraged to develop and pass 
their respective GAD Codes, with the meaningful participation of women’s rights and gender 
advocates, in their respective units. 
SECTION 24. An officer duly trained on gender and development shall be designated 
as the gender focal point in the consular section of Philippine embassies or consulates. Said 
officer shall be primarily responsible in handling gender concerns of women migrant workers. 
Attached agencies shall cooperate in strengthening the Philippine foreign posts’ program for the 
delivery of services to women migrant workers; 
SECTION 25. The National Commission on the Role Of Filipino Women (NCRFW). 
As the primary coordinating agency and policy advisory on women and gender concerns under 
the Office of the Presidents, the NCRFW shall be the overall monitoring body to ensure the 
implementation of this Act. As such, 
it shalt direct all agencies to regularly submit an 
accomplishment report on the implementation of this Act and immediately respond to the 
problems brought to their attention in relation to the implementation of this Act. IC shall also lead 
in ensuring that government entities and agencies are sufficiently and effectively capacitated on 
effective implementation of this Law 
SECTION 26. The Gender and Development (GAD) Monitor. A gender and 
development Monitor shall be established in the Commission on Human Rights. The GAD 
Monitor shall: 
(1 .)supervise and oversee the strict implementation of this Act, in coordination with 
NCRFW, 
(2,)on its own or on report or complaint, have the power to require information, 
investigate or hear administrative complaint involving the possible violations of 
this Act; 
(3.)use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the facts in the report or 
complaint, in all instances observing due process; 
(4.)recommend to president or the Civil Service Commission any possible 
administrative action based on non-compliance or failure to implement the 
provisions of this Act; 
(S.)direct agencies to immediately respond to the problems brought to their attention 
in relation to the implementation of this act and report to the Conncii on action 
taken; assist in filing of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions or 
establishment that violate the provision of this Act. 
SECTION 27. Incentives and awards - there shall be established an incentives and 
awards system which shall be administered by a board under such rules and 
regulations as may be promulgated by the NCRFW to deserving entities, govermnent 
agencies and local government units for their outstanding performance in upholding 
the rights of women and effective implementation of gender-responsive programs. 
CHAPTER VI 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - As the lead agency, the 
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agencies formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act within ninety (90) 
days after its effectivity. 
SECTION 29. Sepurability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shaIl remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 30. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 3 1. Effectivity Clause -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication ,in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,