Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Ky
9
=

pate 05 AUG 2025

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No. 3118 _

Introduced by Representative CHING BERNOS

AN ACT
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE
‘WORKPLACE AND IN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“SAFE SPACES ACT”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act 7877 otherwise known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995
was enacted to protect both women and men from unlawful sexual harassment. Twenty-
three years after its passing, Republic Act 11313, also known as Safe Spaces Act, was
enacted into law.

‘The Safe Spaces Act offers a more comprehensive scope as opposed to the Anti-
Sexual Harassment Act. It expanded the definition of sexual harassment perpetrated in
Educational and Training Institutions, to include offenders or any person who has
authority, influence, or moral ascendancy over another. Moreover, the Safe Spaces Act
broadens the coverage of sexual harassment committed in the workplace to include
those committed by peers, subordinates, students, and trainees.

However, the imposable penalty available for Gender-Based Sexual Harassment
in Educational and Training Institutions and Workplaces found in Anti-Sexual
Harassment Act and Safe Spaces Act have an insignificant amount. Considering the
gravity and impact of sexual harassment on the victims, the imposable penalty should
be greater than that provided for Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment in the Safe

1


Spaces Act, and considerably larger than that provided in the Anti-Sexual Harassment
Act.

Hence, the Safe Spaces Act should be amended to further provide appropriate
penalties for violators. These additional penal provisions shall encompass the expanded
definition provided by the Safe Spaces Act.

In light of the foregoing reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

SOMD NORTH Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3118

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative CHING BERNOS

AN ACT
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE
WORKPLACE AND IN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“SAFE SPACES ACT”

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

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 11313 is hereby amended by inserting the following new
sections after Section 19 thereof:

"SECTION 19-4. PENALTIES FOR GENDER-BASED SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE. - THE PENALTY OF PRISION
CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, OR A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN
TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00) BUT NOT MORE
THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), OR BOTH, AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE COURT, SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON
FOUND GUILTY OF ANY GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNDER
THIS ARTICLE.

IF THE PERPETRATOR IS THE HEAD OF THE WORKPLACE OR
ORGANIZATION, THE APPOINTMENT OF SUCH PERSON SHALL BE DEEMED
REVOKED UPON CONVICTION. AN ALIEN WHO COMMITS GENDER-BASED
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO
DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS AFTER SERVING A SENTENCE AND/OR
PAYMENT OF FINES.


“SECTION 19-B. PENALTIES FOR FOMENTING, PROMOTING, OR
EXHORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, MISOGYNISTIC, TRANSPHOBIC,
HOMOPHOBIC, AND SEXIST SLURS BY PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES. - ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE WHO IS FOUND GUILTY OF FOMENTING,
PROMOTING, OR EXHORTING ACTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT,
MISOGYNISTIC, TRANSPHOBIC, HOMOPHOBIC, AND SEXIST SLURS, EITHER
VERBALLY, IN WRITING, OR THROUGH DIGITAL OR SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS SHALL BE PENALIZED AS FOLLOWS:

1. THE FIRST OFFENSE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A MINIMUM FINE OF
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) TO TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND PESOS (P200,000.00), MANDATORY SUSPENSION FROM
PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN
‘SIX (6) MONTHS WITHOUT PAY, AND MANDATORY COMPLETION OF A
GENDER-SENSITIVITY AND ANTI-HARASSMENT TRAINING PROGRAM,
CERTIFIED BY AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION.

2. THE REPEAT OFFENSE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A MINIMUM FINE OF
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P200,000.00) TO THREE
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00), MANDATORY
DISMISSAL FROM OFFICE, ALONG WITH DISQUALIFICATION FROM
HOLDING ANY PUBLIC POSITION, WHETHER ELECTIVE OR
APPOINTIVE, FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE (5) YEARS; AND
A PERMANENT RECORD OF THE OFFENSE ON PUBLIC SERVICE
CREDENTIALS AND PROHIBITION FROM RECEIVING BENEFITS TIED
TO THE OFFICE.

3. THE OFFENDER IN ALL CASES UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
REQUIRED TO ISSUE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO THE AFFECTED
INDIVIDUALS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ACKNOWLEDGING THE
MISCONDUCT AND REAFFIRMING A COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING
THE SAFE SPACES ACT'S PRINCIPLES.

COMPLAINTS AND FINDINGS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
REFERRED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OR THE OFFICE OF THE

OMBUDSMAN FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT OF THESE PENALTIES.
2


ANY ACTION ARISING FROM THE VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL
PRESCRIBE IN FIVE (5) YEARS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION, AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES SHALL PROMULGATE
THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THIS SECTION AND THE
MECHANISMS FOR REPORTING, INVESTIGATING, AND PENALIZING PUBLIC
OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHO VIOLATE THIS PROVISION.”

SEC. 2. The same Act is further amended by inserting the following new Section after
Section 23 thereof:

"SECTION 23-A. PENALTIES FOR GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT
IN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS. - THE PENALTY OF PRISION
CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, OR A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TWO
HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF
THE COURT SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF ANY
GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNDER THIS ARTICLE.

IF THE PERPETRATOR IS THE HEAD OF THE EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING
INSTITUTION OR ORGANIZATION, THE APPOINTMENT OF SUCH PERSON SHALL
BE DEEMED REVOKED UPON CONVICTION. AN ALIEN WHO COMMITS GENDER-
BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AN EDUCATIONAL OR TRAINING INSTITUTION
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS AFTER SERVING A
‘SENTENCE AND/OR PAYMENT OF FINES.”

SEC. 3. If any provision of this Act is found unconstitutional or invalid, the other
provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances, and other
administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly,

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,