TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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'-V K * ;
of t:':' r
25 JUL 14 P3 50
SENATE
S.B. No.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
SPACES ACT" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
'SAFE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, was enacted to address 
gender-based sexual harassment in public spaces, educational and training 
institutions, workplaces, and online spaces. It is a landmark law that recognized the 
need to protect individuals—particularly women and other vulnerable persons—from 
unwanted and harmful behaviors that violate their safety, dignity, and autonomy.
Since the passage of the law, new forms of abuse and exploitation have 
emerged, particularly in the digital space. The increasing use of deepfake technology 
and artificial intelligence to produce non-consensual pornographic materials has 
created new avenues for harassment. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating 
Center (CICC) recorded over 10,000 cybercrime complaints in 2024 alone, with 3,251 
more already reported in the first quarter of 2025, many involving deepfake-related 
incidents.1
This bill seeks to expand the scope of the Safe Spaces Act to address these 
technological developments by allowing victims to seek the take-down of manipulated 
or abusive digital content that violates their rights under the Act.
Additionally, this bill aims to address recurring cases of serial sexual offenders 
in schools and training institutions. Under the current system, individuals accused or 
found guilty of sexual harassment may simply resign and transfer to another institution 
without accountability. The proposed amendments introduce safeguards to prevent 
those with a history of predatory behavior from being employed in positions that place 
them in close contact with children and students.
The bill also defines grooming as a punishable offense. Grooming is a 
manipulative process in which a perpetrator builds trust with a child or vulnerable 
individual for the purpose of later exploitation or abuse. Recognizing grooming as a
https://www.abs-cbn.eom/news/technoloQv/2025M/7/teaislators-aov-t-uroed-to-3ct-amid-widesDread-deeDfake-disruotion-1226


form of gender-based harassment ensures that the law remains responsive to the 
evolving nature of abuse, particularly in digital contexts.
Moreover, this bill proposes to increase the penalties for institutions, especially 
schools and workplaces, that fail to comply with the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act. 
The current maximum penalty of five thousand pesos (P5,000) for institutional non- 
compliance is insufficient to deter violations or compel institutions to take the law 
seriously. By increasing these penalties, the law will carry more weight and better 
serve its protective purpose.
Ultimately, this measure affirms the right of every person to be free from 
harassment in all spaces—physical or virtual—and seeks to ensure that mechanisms 
for protection and accountability evolve alongside the changing nature of harm. The 
proposed amendments build on the foundations of the Safe Spaces Act, strengthening 
its capacity to uphold respect, dignity, and safety for all.
Hence, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS 
Senator
T


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
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SENATE
of t >' -^r . ■ 't ‘ T
25 JUL 14 P3 SO
RKCEIV.D B\:
S.B. No. ^^5
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SAFE 
SPACES ACT" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be It enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as 
follows;
"Definition of terms:
XXX
(g) Public spaces refer to streets and alleys WHETHER IN URBAN OR 
RURAL AREAS, public parks, schools, buildings, malls, bars, restaurants, 
FIELDS AND FARMS, COASTAL AREAS, transportation terminals, public 
markets, MULTI-PURPOSE HALLS, spaces used as evacuation centers, 
government offices, public utility vehicles as well as private vehicles covered by 
app-based transport network services and other recreational spaces such as, 
but not limited to, cinema halls, theaters and spas; and
(H) GROOMING REFERS TO PREDATORY CONDUCT, ACT, OR PATTERN 
OF ACTS, OF ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST, OR 
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION BY ANOTHER, WITH A CHILD OR 
SOMEONE WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE A CHILD, AND/OR THE FAMILY, 
GUARDIAN, AND/OR CAREGIVERS, WHETHER IN PERSON OR VIA 
ELECTRONIC AND OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
PERPETRATING SEXUAL ABUSE OR EXPLOITATION"


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Sec. 2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11313 shail be amended to read as
foliows;
Section 12. Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment -Gender-based online 
sexual harassment includes acts that use information and communications 
technology, INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER 
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, in terrorizing and intimidating victims through 
physical, psychological, and emotional threats, unwanted sexual misogynistic, 
transphobic, homophobic and sexist remarks and comments online whether 
publicly or through direct and private messages, invasion of victim's privacy 
through cyberstalking and incessant messaging, uploading and sharing without 
the consent of the victim, any form of media that contains photos, voice, or 
video with sexual content, any unauthorized recording and sharing of any of 
the victim's photos, videos, or any information online, impersonating identities 
of victims online or posting lies about victims to harm their reputation, or filing, 
false abuse reports to online platforms to silence victims.
Sec. 3. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as follows:
XXX
INTERNET INTERMEDIARIES SHALL IMMEDIATELY BLOCK ACCESS 
TO, REMOVE OR TAKE DOWN THE INTERNET ADDRESS, UNIFORM 
RESOURCE LOCATOR (URL), WEBSITES OR ANY CONTENT THEREOF 
CONTAINING MATERIAL CONSTITUTING VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT, 
WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS FROM RECEIPT OF NOTICE 
FROM A COMPETENT AUTHORITY: PROVIDED, THAT THESE 
INTERMEDIARIES SHALL PRESERVE WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS FROM 
THE DATE OF THE TRANSACTION EXTENDIBLE FOR ANOTHER SIX (6) 
MONTHS OR DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE CASE, ALL 
SUBSCRIBER'S OR REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND TRAFFIC 
DATA IN ITS CONTROL AND POSSESSION: PROVIDED 
FURTHER, THAT IN THE CASE OF CONTENT DATA, THE SAME SHALL 
BE PRESERVED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR, AND UPON NOTICE BY THE 
COMPETENT AUTHORITY, THE PRESERVATION SHALL BE 
EXTENDIBLE FOR ANOTHER SIX (6) MONTHS: PROVIDED FINALLY, 
THAT THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY SHALL, AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, 
EXPRESSLY IDENTIFY AND SPECIFY SUCH RELEVANT EVIDENCE 
THAT NEEDS PRESERVATION."
Sec. 4. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
follows:


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XXX
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 
SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE PENALIZED BY IMPRISONMENT OF 
NOT LESS THAN ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS, 
OR A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000) NOR 
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000)), OR 
BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.
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Sec. 5. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
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follows:
"Section 19. Liability of Employers. — In addition to liabilities for committing 
acts of gender-based sexual harassment, employers may also be held 
responsible for:
a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section 17 of this Act, as 
provided in the penal provisions; or
b) Not taking action on reported acts of gender-based sexual harassment 
committed in the workplace.
Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, shall upon conviction, 
be penalized with a fine of not less than [five] ONE HUNDRED thousand pesos 
(P 100,000.00) nor more than [Ten] THREE HUNDRED thousand pesos
(P ti] 300,000.00).
Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section, shall upon conviction, 
be penalized with a fine of not less than [Ten] THREE HUNDRED thousand 
pesos (P 300,000.00) nor more than [Fifteen] FIVE HUNDRED thousand 
pesos (P fT} 500,000.00).
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTIONS (A) OR (B) OF THIS 
SECTION SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE MADE LIABLE TO PAY 
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00)."
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Sec. 6. A new Section 21 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below
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it renumbered accordingly:
SECTION 21. GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN 
EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS. -THE CRIME OF


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GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN EDUCATIONAL AND 
TRAINING INSTITUTIONS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
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(A) AN ACT OR SERIES OF ACTS INVOLVING ANY UNWELCOME 
SEXUAL ADVANCES, REQUESTS OR DEMAND FOR SEXUAL 
FAVORS OR ANY ACT OF SEXUAL NATURE, WHETHER DONE 
VERBALLY, PHYSICALLY OR THROUGH THE USE OF 
TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS TEXT MESSAGING OR ELECTRONIC 
MAIL OR THROUGH ANY OTHER FORMS OF INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS;
(B) A CONDUCT OF SEXUAL NATURE AND OTHER CONDUCT- 
BASED ON SEX AFFECTING THE DIGNITY OF A PERSON, WHICH 
IS UNWELCOME, UNREASONABLE, AND OFFENSIVE TO THE 
RECIPIENT, WHETHER DONE VERBALLY, PHYSICALLY OR 
THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS TEXT 
MESSAGING OR ELECTRONIC MAIL OR THROUGH ANY OTHER 
FORMS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, 
INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES;
(C) A CONDUCT THAT IS UNWELCOME AND PERVASIVE AND 
CREATES AN INTIMIDATING, HOSTILE OR HUMILIATING 
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RECIPIENT: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
CRIME OF GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT MAY ALSO BE 
COMMITTED BETWEEN PEERS AND THOSE COMMITTED TO A 
SUPERIOR OFFICER BY A SUBORDINATE, OR TO A TEACHER BY 
A STUDENT, OR TO A TRAINER BY A TRAINEE; PROVIDED 
FURTHER, THAT THE OFFENSE NEED NOT TAKE PLACE WITHIN 
THE PHYSICAL JURISDICTION OF THE SCHOOL, OR DURING 
SCHOOL-SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES, IF THE VICTIM AND THE 
OFFENDER ARE STUDENT/S, EMPLOYEES, SERVICE 
PROVIDERS, OR OFFICERS OR ADMINISTRATORS OF THE 
SCHOOL. (D) CONDUCT THAT CONSTITUTES GROOMING IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM REFERS TO A SYSTEM 
FOR GENERATING, SENDING, RECEIVING, STORING OR OTHERWISE 
PROCESSING ELECTRONIC DATA MESSAGES OR ELECTRONIC 
DOCUMENTS AND INCLUDES THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OR OTHER 
SIMILAR DEVICES BY OR IN WHICH DATA ARE RECORDED OR 
STORED AND ANY PROCEDURE RELATED TO THE RECORDING OR


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STORAGE OF ELECTRONIC DATA MESSAGES OR ELECTRONIC 
DOCUMENTS.
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL, 
UPON CONVICTION, BE PENALIZED BY IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS 
THAN ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS, OR A FINE 
OF NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000) NOR MORE 
THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000)), OR BOTH, AT 
THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT. IF THE PERPETRATOR IS AN ADULT 
AND THE VICTIM IS A CHILD, THE PENALTY OF IMPRISONMENT 
SHALL BE IMPOSED MANDATORILY.
WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE PASSAGE OF THIS ACT, THE 
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE 
COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE CHILD WELFARE 
COUNCIL (CWC) SHALL FORMULATE RULES FOR THE 
INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF A PRE-HIRING SAFETY CLEARANCE 
MECHANISM TO ENSURE THAT ADULTS REGULARLY WORKING IN 
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MINORS, SUCH AS TEACHERS AND OTHER 
SCHOOL PERSONNEL, HAVE NO HISTORY OF ABUSIVE OR 
PREDATORY BEHAVIOR. THIS PRE-HIRING SAFETY CLEARANCE 
SHALL NOT BE UNDULY BURDENSOME TO APPLICANTS, AND SHALL 
BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF DUE PROCESS AND CHILD SAFETY.
GENDER SENSITIVITY AND CHILD PROTECTION TRAININGS SHALL 
BE MANDATORY FOR ALL STAFF.
Sec. 7. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended as follows:
'Section
In addition to liabilities for committing acts of gender-based
sexual harassment, principals, school heads, teachers, instructors, professors, 
coaches, trainers, or any other person who has authority, influence, or moral 
ascendancy over another in an educational or training institution, may also be 
held responsible for:
a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section 21 of this Act, as 
provided in the penal provisions; or
b) Not taking action on reported acts of gender-based sexual harassment 
committed in the workplace; OR
c) VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF THE VICTIM AGAINST 
RETRIBUTION AND TO CONFIDENTIALITY.


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Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, shall upon conviction, 
be penalized with a fine of not less than [five] ONE HUNDRED thousand pesos 
(P {5} 100,000.00) nor more than [Teft] THREE HUNDRED thousand pesos (P 
300,000.00).
Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section, shall upon conviction, 
be penalized with a fine of not less than [Teft] THREE HUNDRED thousand 
pesos (P 300,000.00) nor more than [Fifteen] FIVE HUNDRED thousand 
pesos (P 500,000.00).
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTIONS (A) OR (B) OF THIS 
SECTION SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE MADE LIABLE TO PAY 
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00)."
Sec. 8. Protection Orders. A new Section shall be inserted as follows:
"IN ADDITION TO THE RELIEFS PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT, VICTIMS 
SHALL ALSO BE ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR A PROTECTION ORDER FOR THE 
PURPOSE OF PREVENTING FURTHER VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT.
APPLICATIONS FOR BARANGAY PROTECTION ORDERS SHALL FOLLOW THE 
RULES ON VENUE UNDER SECTION 409 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 
OF 1991. AN APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT PROTECTION 
ORDER MAY BE FILED IN THE TRIAL COURT WITH JURISDICTION OVER 
THE APPLICANT/VICTIM.
WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE PASSAGE OF THIS ACT, THE 
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND 
DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON WOMEN, SHALL 
FORMULATE RULES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROVISION. THE 
RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262 SHALL APPLY IN A 
SUPPLETORY MANNER."
Sec. 9. Section 36 of Republic Act No. 11313 is likewise amended to read as 
follows:
"Section 36. Prescriptive Period. — Any action arising from the violation of any of the 
provisions of this Act shall prescribe as follows:
a) XXX
b) XXX
c) XXX


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d) XXX
e) Offenses committed under Sections 16 and 21 of this Act shall prescribe in [five
(5^] TEN (10) years."
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in 
full force and effect.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, and rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,