TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
25 JUL 15 All :20
RITE! -3 L.
S. No.
613
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF PROTECTED 
ATTRIBUTES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The principle of equality and non-discrimination is at the heart of every human 
rights law. Despite this, it is a reality that discrimination still remains a fundamental 
problem in our modern world. As reported by Amnesty International, a group that 
commits itself to challenge discriminatory practices around the globe, "discrimination 
occurs when a person is unable to enjoy his or her human rights or other legal rights 
on an equal basis with others because of an unjustified distinction made in policy, law 
or treatment." The principle of equality thereby requires States to undertake actions 
to diminish or eliminate conditions that cause or help to perpetuate discrimination.
In the Philippine context, no less than the 1987 Constitution guarantees the 
right of every Filipino to equal protection of the laws as it likewise declares that the 
State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human 
rights (Section 11, Article II).
Regrettably, it is a reality that differing and adverse treatment on the basis of 
race, ethnicity, religion, or even involvement with the justice system still exists in a 
democratic country like ours. Like other nations around the world, social exclusion, 
intolerance, and discrimination prevail and harm the basic rights of every member of 
our society.


As part of our commitment to undertake legislative and other measures as may 
be necessary to give effect to the principles of the highest law of our land, taking into 
consideration international treaties, covenants, and human rights instruments, this bill 
is being proposed to make any act of discrimination justiciable, which means that such 
action becomes an actionable wrong with criminal and/or civil sanction.
This bill lays down the prohibited and punishable acts of discrimination against 
a person, his/her relative up to fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, or 
representative, when committed on the basis of race, color, descent, national or ethnic 
origin, religion, or religious affiliation or beliefs, or being formerly incarcerated.
Diversity is among the constants of Philippine society. There is no normative 
framework that regulates people's relations except the mores of the society which 
have continued to evolve through time.
In order to ensure that every Filipino's equality is preserved and human dignity 
is protected, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
ROBI^tfiQ0b PADILLA
X ^nator


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v:> UK ' C.
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL 15 All :20
SENATE
r> * o
s. No. O-LO
RKCcivcO L'
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF PROTECTED 
ATTRIBUTES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Tide. — This Act shall be known as the "Comprehensive Anti- 
Discrimination Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to work actively for 
the elimination of all forms of discrimination that offends the equal protection clause 
of the Bill of rights, and the State's obligations under human rights instruments 
acceded to by the Republic of the Philippines, particularly those discriminatory 
practices based on age, indigenous, cultural, racial, or ethnic origin, religious belief or 
activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, sex, sexual orientation, sex 
characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, marital relationship status, 
disability, HIV status, profession, occupation, employment status, educational 
attainment, maternity and pregnancy, deprivation of liberty, former incarceration, 
health status or medical history, language, physical features, or other status.
Toward this end, the State shall exert efforts to address all forms of 
discrimination and violence and to promote human dignity as enshrined in the United 
Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of 
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, particularly the General Recommendation 
No. 28 on Nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.


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Convention on the Rights of the Child, International Covenant on Civil and Political
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Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International
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Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the
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Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Convention on the Protection of All
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Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, United Nations Declaration on the
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Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the relevant General Comments or
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Recommendations by the concerned United Nations Treaty-Bodies, and all other
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relevant and universally accepted human rights instruments and other international
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conventions to which the Philippines is a signatory of. As such, discriminatory practices
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as defined herein shall be prescribed and penalized.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms
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shall be defined as follows:
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a. Age Discrimination refers to an act of discriminating a person, which
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includes bullying, based solely on the actual or perceived age of a
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person, whether accurate or not;
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b. Bangsamoro People are those who, at the advent of the Spanish
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colonization, were considered natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao
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and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent islands, whether of mixed or
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full blood, shall have the right identify themselves, their spouses and
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descendants, as Bangsamoro;
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c. De Facto Spouse of Another Person is defined to mean a person who
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cohabits or lives with another person in a relationship similar to marriage
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but is not legally married to that person;
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d. Disability refers to a (1) long-term physical or mental intellectual or
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sensory impairments that substantially limits one or more psychological,
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physiological, or anatomical function of an individual or activities of that
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individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; (3) or being regarded as
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having such an impairment;
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e. Discrimination constitutes any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or
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preference or other differential treatment that is directly or indirectly
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based on the protected attributes, which has the purpose or effect of
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nullifying or impairing the recognition, employment or exercise, on an


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equal footing, of the political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights. 
It also includes association with the person who has, or is believed to 
have any of these attributes. Discrimination, which also includes 
incitement to discriminate and harassment, is a result of stigma. The 
actual status of the person subjected to discrimination shall not be 
relevant for the purpose of determining whether an act of discrimination 
has been committed.
i. 
Direct Discrimination occurs where a person is treated less 
favorably than another person in the same or comparable 
circumstances on the ground of their protected attributes, as 
defined under Section 4 of this Act. Direct discrimination also 
includes detrimental acts or omissions on the basis of prohibited 
grounds where there is no comparable similar situation.
ii. 
Indirect Discrimination occurs where a law, rule, regulation, 
policy, condition, practice, or requirement, which appears neutral 
on its face, has the effect of putting a person with a particular 
protected attribute in a disadvantage which is not reasonable in 
the circumstances.
f. Education and Training refers to all types and levels of education, 
training, and other avenues for learning, and includes access thereto, 
the standard and quality thereof and the conditions under which the 
same is given;
g. Empioyment refers to all terms, conditions, and privileges relating to 
engagement in work which includes all terms, conditions, and privileges 
in public and private institutions, including recruitment policies, 
application, procedures, training, incentives, compensation, 
determination of benefits or allowances, promotion, advancement 
opportunities, transfer, dismissal, and retirement. The definition shall 
apply to all employees regardless of their status of employment. In 
legitimate contracting arrangements, the contractor/subcontractor shall 
be deemed the employer of the contractual employee. The terms of 
employment and occupation shall include access to training, access to


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employment and to particular occupations, and terms and conditions of 
employment;
h. Ethnic Origin refers to the classification of people based on common 
color, descent, racial, national, tribal, religious, ethno-linguistic or 
cultural origin or background;
i. 
Formeriy Incarcerated Person refers to a person or individual with prior 
justice system involvement, including but not limited to the following: 
one who had been accused of committing a criminal act; one who had 
been acquitted; or one who may have been previously incarcerated and 
served his or her sentence in any jail system and penal institution;
j. 
Gender refers to a social construct or a set of socially ascribed 
characteristics, norms, attributes, values and expectations categorizing 
a person as man, woman, or other identity which is usually based on 
one's sex assigned at birth and identifying the social behavior among 
them;
k. Gender Expression refers to a person's presentation of their gender 
through physical appearance, including dress, hairstyles, accessories, 
cosmetics, and mannerisms, speech, behavioral patterns, names, 
personal references and other external manifestations, among others;
l. 
Gender Identity refers to each person's deeply felt internal and individual 
experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex 
assigned at birth;
m. Goods and Services to the material and non-material products or 
things of value offered for sale to satisfy needs and wants for survival, 
comfort, or pleasure including, but not limited to, as those provided by 
restaurants, resorts, hotels, clubs, stores and shopping malls; or acts or 
services provided by credit or financial establishments, public and private 
utilities and services, professionals, maintenance and repair workers, 
laborers and similar workers;
n. Harassment refers to the unwanted treatment against a person on 
grounds of one or more protected attributes or in association with them.


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with the effect or purpose of creating unfriendly, hostile, offensive, 
humiliating or rejecting atmosphere for that person;
0. Health Status refers to a person's physical or mental health;
p. HIV Status refers to the actual or perceived presence or absence of the 
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the body of an individual;
q. Housing and Other Accommodations refer to, whether public or private, 
a house, apartment, condominium, townhouse, flat, motel, boarding 
house, hotel, dormitory, shelter, elderly home, rehabilitation facility, 
orphanage, and health facility including mental health facility, detention 
center, camping ground and other analogous places;
r. Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) shall, 
as provided under Section 3(h), Chapter II of Republic Act No. 8371 or 
"The Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997" (IPRA), refer to a group 
of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and 
ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized 
community on communally bounded and defined territory, and who 
have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, 
possessed, and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of 
language, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural traits, or 
who have, through resistance to political, social, and cultural inroads of 
colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically 
differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall likewise 
include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their 
descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time 
of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous 
religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, 
who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural, and 
political institutions, but who may have been displaced from their 
traditional domains, or who may have resettled outside their ancestral 
domains;
s. Internal Displacement refers to the standing of persons or groups of 
persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes


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or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to 
avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, 
violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who 
have not crossed an internationally recognized border;
t. Intersex refers to people who are born with physical or biological sex 
characteristics, such as sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, hormonal 
patterns and/or chromosomal patterns, that do not fit the typical 
definitions for male or female bodies. For some intersex people, these 
traits are apparent at birth, while for others they emerge later in life, 
often at puberty;
u. Language includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of 
non-spoken languages;
V. Linguistic Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of an individual 
based solely on the use of language, dialects and variations of language. 
This use of language may include the individual's native language or 
other characteristics of the person's speech, such as an accent, the size 
of vocabulary, whether the person uses complex and varied words, and 
syntax;
w. Marginaiization refers to a condition where a whole category of people 
is excluded or have limited opportunity from useful and meaningful 
participation in political, economic, social, and cultural life;
X. Maritai or Reiationship Status refers to the personal status of each 
individual in relation to the marriage laws or customs of the country. The 
categories of civil status include any of the following: single, married, 
separated, widowed, or de facto spouse of another person;
y. Occupation refers to a line of work, job, trade, or profession or any 
activity in which a person is engaged within the world of work, including 
production of goods for own final use, provision of services for own final 
use, volunteer work, and other forms of work aside from employment;
z. Persons with Disabiiities (PWDs) refer to persons who have long-term 
physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in


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interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective 
participation in society on an equal basis with others; 
aa. Physical Features refer to a person's height, size, weight or other bodily 
characteristics. It shall also include features that a person chooses to 
acquire, such as tattoos and piercings; 
bb. Political Inclination refers to a person's preference as regards 
membership or belief in a particular political candidate/personality, 
party, organization, or ideology. It covers both the holding and not- 
holding of opinions, as well as expression of views or membership within 
opinion-based associations, trade unions, or political parties; 
cc. Profession refers to a lawful occupation which requires specialized 
knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation; 
dd. Profiling refers to an act by any person, including members of the police, 
military and uniformed personnel in government service, that arbitrarily 
relies solely to the existence of any or some of the prohibited attributes, 
as mentioned in Sec. 4 of this Act, as grounds in any investigation, which 
shall include, but is not limited to: (1) unnecessary, unjustified, illegal, 
or degrading searches, inquiries, custodial investigations, and arrests to 
determine whether an individual is engaged in an activity presumed to 
be unlawful, immoral, or socially unacceptable; or (2) recording and 
analyzing a person's psychological and behavioral characteristics to 
make generalizations about a person's protected attributes or to assist 
in identifying a particular subgroup of people's protected attributes: 
Provided, That, law enforcement officers are allowed to conduct criminal 
investigations based on the commission of illegal acts and not on 
stereotypical assumptions attached to any of the protected attributes; 
ee. Protected Attributes refers to identified grounds or characteristics where 
discrimination is prohibited. These grounds or characteristics include but 
is not limited to, age, indigenous, racial, color or ethnic origin, religious 
belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, formerly 
incarcerated persons, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual 
orientation, sex characteristics, marital or relationship status, disability.


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HIV status, profession or occupation, health status or medical history, 
language, physical features and other status; 
ff. Reasonable Accommodation means necessary and appropriate 
modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue 
burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with 
disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of 
all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 
gg. Religious Belief or Activity refers to the conviction declaration or display 
of faith, values attitude and practices of a chosen religion or belief 
system that may be publicly or privately manifested in worship 
observance, practice and teaching;
hh. Religious Expression refers to teachings and preaching of religious 
leaders on the basis of their faith, whether it conforms to or opposes 
one's view or belief, which are made within the confines of their religious 
service, ceremony or gathering and which are in accordance with the 
most deeply held fundamental religious convictions of the religion to 
which they belong;
ii. Sex refers to the civil status of a person acquired by birth, having a 
system of reproduction corresponding to that belonging to male, female, 
or intersex;
jj. Sex Characteristics refers to a person's physical traits that indicate their 
biological sex, such as chromosomes, external genitalia, gonads, 
hormones, and internal reproductive organs. Traits present at birth are 
called primary sex characteristics, whereas those that develop during 
puberty are called secondary sex characteristics; 
kk. Sexual Orientation refers to the direction of emotional, sexual attraction, 
or conduct towards people of the same gender (homosexual orientation) 
or towards people of more than one gender (bisexual orientation), or 
towards people of different gender (heterosexual orientation) or to the 
absence of sexual attraction (asexual attraction);


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II. Social Class refers to groupings of individuals usually based on wealth, 
educational attainment, occupation, income, and membership in a 
subculture or social network;
mm. Statelessness refers to the standing of a person, known as a 
stateless person, who is not considered as a national by any state under 
the operation of its law;
nn. Stereotype refers to a generalized view preconception about the 
attributes or characteristics that are or ought to be possessed by, or the 
roles that are or should be performed by vulnerable communities or 
about an individual's protected attributes, vulnerable communities or 
about an individual's protected attributes, regardless of whether such 
thoughts or beliefs accurately reflect reality;
00. Stereotyping refers to the practice of ascribing to a person or a 
vulnerable community specific attributes, characteristics, or roles by 
reason only of their protected attributes;
pp. Stigma refers to the dynamic devaluation and dehumanization of an 
individual in the eyes of others which may be based on attributes that 
are arbitrarily defined by others as discreditable or unworthy, and which 
result in discrimination when acted upon.
qq. Vulnerable Communities refer to communities or sectors that encounter 
stigma and discrimination based on the grounds enumerated in Section 
4; and
rr. Other Status refers to other forms of differential treatment or grounds 
of discrimination which either undermines human dignity, causes or 
perpetuates systemic disadvantage, or adversely affects the equal 
enjoyment of a person's rights and freedoms in a serious manner that is 
comparable to the protected attributes enumerated in Section 4 of this 
Act. These grounds include, but are not limited to the following: 
association and relation with persons with protected attributes, 
pregnancy or maternity/paternity status, family responsibilities, health 
status or medical condition, or criminal record.


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Sec. 4. Protected Attributes. — Discrimination that is directly or indirectly based
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on the actual or perceived characteristics, which include age, culture, indigenous,
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racial or ethnic origin, religious belief or activity, political inclination or conviction,
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social class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, gender identity,
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gender expression, marital or relationship status, disability, HIV status, profession or
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occupation, health status, language, physical features, employment status, maternity,
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pregnancy, educational attainments, deprivation of liberty , former incarceration,
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internal displacement, refugee status, statelessness, or other status is prohibited. For
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purposes of this Act, these personal characteristics shall be collectively termed as
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"Protected Attributes" or "prohibited grounds for discrimination."
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The protected attributes that may be subjected to differentiation or any form
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of discrimination shall be interpreted in their most common or universal definitions
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and with due regard to the promotion of meaningful implementation to the policy of
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non-discrimination.
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In determining whether a person is distinguished by one or more of the
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protected attributes, identification shall, if no justification exists to the contrary, be
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based upon self-identification by the individual concerned.
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Sec. 5. Acts of Discrimination, Uniawfui. — Subject to Section 7 of this Act, the
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acts of discrimination include, but are not limited to, the following:
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a. Inflicting stigma.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any acts that
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promote, encourage,inflict, and perpetuate stigma based on the grounds
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referred to in Section 4. Content in all forms of the media, including
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social media, in educational textbooks, or in other medium that aims to
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promote, encourage, inflict, and perpetuate stigma, by any means, is
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likewise prohibited.
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b. Inciting violence or sexual abuse against any person or group on the
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basis of the grounds referred to in Section 4.
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c. Denying dvii and political rights.
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It shall be unlawful to deny a person enjoyment of his or her civil
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and political rights based on the ground referred to in Section 4. Further,
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any person shall be held liable for the commission of any of the following
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discriminatory acts involving the political rights of a person, which shall 
include but are not limited to;
i. 
Preventing, impeding, prohibiting, obstructing or intervening in 
the exercise of political rights by another including, but not limited 
to, the right to vote in a national or local election, both regular or 
special, or in a plebiscite, both initiative or referendum;
ii. 
Imposing onerous terms before these political rights are granted, 
preserved or protected; or
iii. 
Subjecting another person who wishes to exercise a political right 
to any act of discrimination.
d. Denying economic, sociai, and cultural rights
i. 
It shall be unlawful to deny a person enjoyment of economic, 
social, and cultural rights based on the grounds referred to 
section 4; or
ii. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to refuse to 
acknowledge, respect, or value cultural practices, traditions, and 
heritage of persons or groups, whether explicit, through actions 
or polities, or implicit, through messages that downplay its 
existence or render it non-existent: Provided, That such 
acknowledgment, respect, or valuation shall not justify or result 
in any acts of discrimination against others based on protected 
attributes: Provided, further, That the legal recognition of 
Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities and 
the rights associated with such recognition shall nonetheless be 
subject to applicable laws, including but not limited to the 
Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA).
e. Denying the right to education.
It shall be unlawful for any person to;
i. Refuse admission to or expel a person from any educational or 
training institution on the basis of the grounds defined in section 
4, without prejudice to the right of educational or training
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II.
III.
IV.
institutions to determine the academic qualifications and non- 
academic training requirements of their students or trainees; 
Grant or refuse to grant honors, scholarship/s, or other forms of 
assistance on the basis of the grounds defined in Section 4; 
Impose disciplinary sanctions, penalties, requirements, 
restrictions, or prohibitions that infringe on the rights of the 
persons other than that which is reasonable on the basis of the 
grounds identified in Section 4;
Fail to make reasonable efforts to make facilities accessible to 
persons with disabilities; or
V. Subject a person to any act of discrimination and intolerance 
related to education and training, 
f. Denying the right to work.
i. 
It shall be unlawful for any employer or head of a firm, company, 
or organization to:
ii. 
It shall be unlawful for any person acting as job contractor or 
recruitment or placement agency, or agent in procuring workers 
for a principal or an employer to treat an applicant seeking 
employment less favorably than another person in the same 
circumstances who is likewise seeking employment on the basis 
of the protected attributes under Section 4 of this Act.
Any person acting as principal or agent of an organization of 
employers or employees, or any person acting or purporting to 
act on behalf of such organization, shall be liable for 
discrimination by preventing or seeking to prevent another person 
to continue one's employment.
It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to:
1. Deny employment in government institutions, including 
police and military service, based directly or indirectly on 
the grounds referred to in Section 4;
III.
IV.
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2. Refuse to enter into contract or agreement with persons 
or group of persons based solely or partly on the grounds 
provided in Section 4; or
3. Deny an application for or revoke a professional license 
issued by the government, directly or indirectly, due to the 
grounds provided in Section 4 of this Act.
g. Denying the right to access to goods and services.
It shall be unlawful for any person, solely on the basis of the 
grounds in Section 4, to:
i. 
Refuse or fail on demand to supply goods or services available to 
the general public, such as but not limited to, private and public 
insurance, housing and other forms of accommodation, and 
medical and health insurance, including health maintenance 
organization (HMO)-provided medical plans, on the basis of the 
grounds referred to in this Act;
ii. 
Refuse entry to or evict a person from any public or private 
establishment, facility, or utility that is open to the general public, 
such as but not limited to, restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping 
malls, gyms, facilities, and modes of transportation;
iii. 
Refuse or fail on demand to supply those goods and services 
except on less favorable terms or conditions, not otherwise 
offered to others in the same circumstances: Provided, that, the 
act of giving inferior goods or services shall also be deemed a 
denial of access or use of such goods or service;
iv. 
Cause undue and unjust deferral of services; or
v. 
Deny application for a license, clearance, certification or any other 
document issued by government authorities or other entities, with 
no lawful, valid or reasonable grounds.
h. Denying the right to organize.
It shall be unlawful to prohibit, prevent, or revoke the 
accreditation, formal recognition, and/or registration of any 
organization, group, political party, institution, or establishment, in
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educational institutions, workplaces, communities, and other settings, 
based partly or solely on the grounds, as provided in Section 4 of this 
Act.
Discrimination is also committed when additional requirements 
beyond the customary are imposed directly or indirectly due to the 
grounds provided in Section 4 of this Act.
Inflicting harm on health and well-being.
It shall be unlawful to subject any person, without full, free, 
informed, and prior consent, to any unnecessary medical or physical 
examination, psychological treatment, faith-based practices, and other 
similar procedures based solely or partly on any of the grounds referred 
to in Section 4 that aim to change identity or physical attributes or 
impose behavior or expressions.
Engaging in profiling.
It shall be illegal for any person, including members of the military 
and law enforcement agencies, to engage in profiling based solely or 
partly on the protected attributes or grounds provided in Section 4 of 
this Act.
k. Harassing to curtail freedom of movement, association or assembly or 
extorting.
It shall be unlawful for any government agency, including local 
government units, police, military, and immigration agencies, to harass 
verbally or physically, to curtail freedom of movement, or to extort from 
a person or a group of persons on the basis of the protected attributes 
or grounds provided in Section 4 of this Act.
This prohibition applies to similar abuses committed by private 
persons.
l. 
Unlawfully detaining and confining a person.
It shall be unlawful to detain and confine a person or groups of 
persons based directly or indirectly on the grounds under Section 4.
m. Inciting and/or doing acts of hatred or violence.
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It shall be unlawful to incite hatred or violence based on any of 
the grounds included in Section 4, by use of words or behavior, such as 
but not limited to delivering speeches or making utterances, and doing 
acts of hatred or violence against any person or group, or mocking or 
ridiculing the same person or group through the display of written 
material, publishing or distributing written material; the public 
performance of a play; distributing, showing or playing a recording; 
broadcasting or including a program in a program service, and 
possession of inflammatory material: Provided, That the test to 
determine incitement to hatred or violence should be whether the 
speech or work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, 
or scientific value.
n. Discrimination in pubiications and advertisements in media.
It shall be unlawful for a person to publish or display, or cause or 
permit to be published or displayed, a publication or advertisement that 
indicates or could reasonably be understood as an incitement to or act 
of discrimination, as provided in Section 4 of this Act.
0. Denying the right to expression.
It shall be unlawful to deny a person of his or her freedom of 
opinion and expression based on the grounds included in Section 4. This 
includes the expression of identity or personhood through speech, 
deportment, dress, bodily characteristics, choice of name, or other 
means, as well as the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information 
and ideas of all kinds through any medium.
p. Retaliating and coercing.
No person, whether natural or juridical, shall discriminate against 
an individual who made a charge, assisted, reported, or testified, in any 
investigation, proceeding, and/or hearing under this Act.
No person, whether natural or juridical, shall coerce, intimidate, 
threaten, and/or harass any individual regarding the latter's exercise or 
enjoyment of any right granted and/or protected under this Act.
q. Denying the right against wrongful portrayal.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to portray, intimate, depict, or 
describe in learning institutions, instructional materials, teaching 
devices, books, and reference materials, especially in civics and history, 
and in mass media, including social media, certain individuals and/or 
group/s as inferior, or encouraging the commission of any of the acts of 
discrimination against any person and/or group as provided in this Act: 
Provided, That the test to determine wrongful portrayal should be 
whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, 
political, or scientific value.
Information regarding the dignity and diversity of the cultures, 
traditions, histories, and aspirations of the ICCs/Ips should be 
appropriately reflected in all forms of education, public information, 
cultural-educational exchange, and information education campaigns 
including the use of social media platforms, 
r. Denying the right to reasonable accommodation.
i. Any person acting as principal or agent providing accommodation 
shall be liable for discrimination through the following acts:
1. Failing to make reasonable efforts to make facilities 
accessible to persons with disabilities sectors requiring 
them, such as but not limited to persons with disabilities;
2. Refusing or failing to accept or process the application for 
any land or interest thereof, housing and other 
accommodations;
3. Disposing of such land or interest, housing and other 
accommodation to another person on less favorable terms 
and conditions than those which would otherwise be 
offered;
4. Treating another person who is seeking to acquire or has 
acquired an estate, land or interest thereof, housing and 
other accommodation less favorably than to others in the 
same circumstances;
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5. Refusing to permit another person to occupy any estate,
2 
land, housing and other accommodation;
3 
6. Terminating any estate, land or interest thereof of another
4 
person or the right of another person to occupy any estate,
5 
land or housing and other accommodation;
6 
7. Subjecting an applicant to any other act of discrimination
7 
in the acquisition, possession, utilization, lease or disposal
8 
of estate, land or interest thereof, housing 
and 
other
9 
accommodation; or
10 
8. Denying accommodations against refugees, evacuees and
11 
internally displaced 
persons by reason of natural tragedy
12 
or armed conflict.
13 
ii. Any person acting as principal or agent shall also be liable for
14 
discrimination by imposing or seeking to impose on another
15 
person any term or condition that limits the person or class of
16 
persons who may be the clients, visitors or guests of any estate,
17 
land, housing and other accommodation.
18 
The abovementioned acts or omissions shall also be discriminatory when they
19 
are committed against juridical persons on the basis of the actual or perceived
20 
protected attributes of their members, officers, board of directors or trustees, or their
21 
target constituencies.
22 
s. Other analogous circumstances.
23 
Any analogous act, which has the effect or purpose of impairing
24 
or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise of the person's
25 
human rights and fundamental freedoms, consistent with relevant and
26 
universally accepted human rights instruments and other international
27 
conventions to which the Philippines have ratified, are also prohibited.
28 
Sec. 6. Persons Liable. — Any person, natural or juridical, or their
29 
representatives, including government instrumentalities and agencies, or government-
30 
owned and -controlled corporations, or any private corporation, institution or company
31 
who commit discrimination, through any of the unlawful acts provided in Section 5,
32 
shall be held liable under this Act.
17


1 
Any person, natural or juridical, or their representatives, who requests,
2 
instructs, includes, encourages, authorizes or assists another to commit acts of
3 
discrimination under Section 5 shall also be held liable under this Act.
4 
Any person, natural or juridical, who fails, without justifiable reason, to take
5 
appropriate action in response to reported incidents of discrimination shall also be
6 
held liable under this Act.
7 
The failure or refusal to act of a head of agency or government official or
8 
employee, or any person whose duty is to prosecute or otherwise act on a complaint
9 
for violation of this Act may be deemed prima facie as sanctioning the discriminatory
10 
act on the part of said head of agency, official, or employee, and the latter may
11 
consequently be held equally liable for discrimination under this Act.
12 
All government officers and workers are obliged to promote nondiscriminatory
13 
acts in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
14 
Sec. 7. Exceptions. — Any action or conduct, otherwise prohibited under
15 
Section 4 and 5 of this Act, shall not be unlawful and shall not be considered as
16 
discrimination where a difference in treatment based on a protected attribute is
17 
reasonable and objective, and if the aim is to achieve a legitimate purpose.
18 
There is valid classification when the acts enumerated under this section do not
19 
contravene to the rights to due process and the equal protection, as guaranteed under
20 
the Constitution.
21 
a. Where any of the protected attributes is a bona fide occupational
22 
qualification (BFOQ) reasonably necessary to the normal operation of
23 
the particular business or where the differentiation is based on clearly
24 
established reasonable factors;
25 
b. Where distinction, exclusion, or preference in respect of a particular job
26 
is based on inherent requirement, which is a proportionate means of
27 
achieving a legitimate aim;
28 
c. Where the deeply held fundamental religious doctrines, dogma, or
29 
beliefs of a person or of a Body established exclusively for religious
30 
purposes require or compel such person or Body to perform acts or
31 
practice necessary to avoid injury to the religious sensitivities of
32 
adherents of that religion: Provided, That such acts or practices should
18


1 
be in accordance with law, public order, or public policy; Provided,
2 
further, That such acts or practices do not result in the disruption of
3 
public service or promote discrimination against protected sectors under
4 
this Act; and
5 
d. Where the act or omission is done in good faith for the purpose of
6 
assisting or advancing a person or group of persons who need or may
7 
reasonably be supposed to need assistance or advancement in order to
8 
achieve an equal place in society with other members of the community,
9 
or of complying with the measures of equality or affirmative action
10 
programs as provided under Section 13 of this Act.
11 
The exceptions shall be without prejudice to the existing laws
12 
prohibiting discrimination on account of the protected attributes such as
13 
State principles and mandates underscored in relevant existing laws,
14 
rules and regulations.
15 
Sec. 8. Penalties. — Any person liable under Sections 4 and 5 of this Act shall
16 
be penalized by imprisonment of not less than nine (9) months but not more than
17 
twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
18 
(P100,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), or
19 
both, upon the discretion of the court.
20 
The penalty provided under this Section shall be imposed in its maximum period
21 
if any of the following circumstances occur:
22 
a. If the offender has been previously convicted under this Act;
23 
b. If the offender is a direct ascendant or descendant, a relative within the
24 
fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, a step-parent or a step-child
25 
or a guardian or a ward of the victim;
26 
c. If the offender is the manager or owner of an establishment which has
27 
no license to operate or whenever such license has expired or has been
28 
previously revoked;
29 
d. If the offender is a public official, officer, or employee: Provided, That
30 
the penalty of suspension shall also be imposed. An accessory penalty
31 
of perpetual disqualification to hold public office is likewise imposed on
32 
the public official, officer, or employee; or
19


1 
e. If the offended party is below eighteen (18) years of age or those over
2 
but are unable to fully take care of themselves from discrimination
3 
because of physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability or
4 
condition.
5 
If the person liable for the discriminatory act is a juridical person, an accessory
6 
penalty of cancellation of Certificates of Registration and/or licenses shall be imposed.
7 
An offender who is a foreigner shall be deported immediately after service of
8 
sentence and shall be barred entry into the country.
9 
Whenever the courts determine that a fine shall be imposed pursuant to the
10 
criminal case filed under this Act, the fine thus collected shall be remitted by the court
11 
to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) which shall administer the fund for the
12 
assistance of victims of discrimination.
13 
Nothing in this Act shall preclude the victim from instituting a separate and
14 
independent action for damages and other affirmative reliefs.
15 
The Administrative remedies provided under this Act do not bar prosecution of
16 
civil claims in proper courts for an act of discrimination committed under this Act.
17 
If any crime penalized under the Revised Penal Code is committed in pursuit of
18 
discrimination, the penalty provided under the Revised Penal Code shall be applied
19 
and the discrimination committed shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance.
20 
Sec. 9. Restorative Measures. — In addition, the court, administrative agency,
21 
or quasi-judicial body shall require the offender to undergo appropriate anti-
22 
discrimination training, such as gender and culture sensitivity training, human rights
23 
education, familiarization with and exposure to the plight of the victims, or any of the
24 
circumstances enumerated under this act. The offender may also be required to render
25 
community service.
26 
Sec. 10. Reparation to Victims. — In addition to existing laws and procedural
27 
23 rules or reparation to victims, the following measures shall be undertaken:
28 
a. The court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial body shall follow the
29 
principles relating to the reparations to, or in respect of, victims,
30 
including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation. In their decisions,
31 
the court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial body may, either upon
32 
request or on their own volition, in exceptional circumstances, determine
20


1 
the scope and extent of any damage, loss or injuty to the victims, stating
2 
therein the principles on which they are acting;
3 
b. The court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial body may make an
4 
order directly against a person convicted by a judgment that has become
5 
final and executory, specifying appropriate reparation to, victims,
6 
including restitution, compensation and guarantees of non-repetition,
7 
and public apologies; and
8 
c. Before making an order under this section, the court, administrative
9 
agency or quasi-judicial body shall invite and shall consider
10 
representations from, or on behalf of, the convicted person, victims or
11 
other interested persons.
12 
d. The DSWD shall provide rehabilitative counseling and treatment to
13 
offenders toward a better understanding of human rights. If necessary,
14 
the court shall direct the offender to submit to psychiatric treatment or
15 
confinement. Counseling shall also be provided to victims for their
16 
recovery and well-being.
17 
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prejudicing the rights and
18 
remedies of victims under national or international laws.
19 
Sec. 11. Redress Mechanisms for Discrimination Cases. —
20 
a. Inclusion of Discrimination Concerns in All Police Stations. — The
21 
Women and Children's Desks now existing in all police stations shall also
22 
act on and attend to complaints/cases covered by this Act. In this regard,
23 
the police officers handling said desks shall undergo training on human
24 
rights and sensitization on the issues of violence and abuse on the basis
25 
of the grounds referred to in this Act.
26 
Complainant-minors can be represented by parents, guardians,
27 
social workers, or a non-government organization of good standing and
28 
reputation.
29 
b. Inter-agency Technical Council on Non-Discrimination and Equal
30 
Opportunity. —
31 
Pursuant to the government programs and policies herein
32 
provided, an Inter-Agency Council on Non-discrimination and Equal
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Opportunity, hereinafter known as the Council, shall be established. The 
Council shall be composed of the following agencies and organizations: 
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as the lead agency; 
Representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ);
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); 
iv. National Commission on Disability Affairs (NCDA);
V. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF);
vi. 
Philippines Commission on Women (PCW);
vii. 
National Youth Commission (NYC);
viii. 
Civil Service Commission (CSC);
ix. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
X. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
xi. 
Department of Education (DepEd);
xii. 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
xiii. 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
xiv. 
Department of Health (DOH);
XV. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);
xvi. 
Department of Information and Communications Technology 
(DICT);
xvii. 
Philippine National Police (PNP); and
xviii. At least three (3) representatives from Civil Society Organizations 
(CSOs) with proven expertise and track record on concerns 
regarding the protected attributes under Section 4 of this Act. 
The Council shall be constituted and shall act as an advisory and 
recommendatory body on establishing developmental programs that will 
promote non-discrimination and management of diversity, in 
consultation with CSOs with proven expertise and track record on 
concerns regarding the protected attributes under Section 4, and other 
stakeholders.
The Chair of the CHR shall be the permanent Chair of the Council, 
and the Secretary of Justice as its permanent Vice-Chair. The Council 
members may designate their permanent representative who shall have
22


1 
a rank not lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, and shall
2 
receive emoluments as may be determined by the Council in accordance
3 
with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations.
4 
The CSOs forming part of the Council shall be identified by the
5 
government agency representatives of the Council. The representatives
6 
of the CSOs shall serve for a term of three (3) years renewable at the
7 
discretion of the chair upon recommendation of the Council for a
8 
maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.
9 
The Council shall meet at least once every quarter. The presence
10 
of the Chair or the Vice-Chair of the Council, and at least ten (10) other
11 
representatives of the Council members shall constitute a quorum to do
12 
business, and a majority vote of those present shall be sufficient to pass
13 
resolutions or render decisions.
14 
c. Role of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). — The CSC, in consultation
15 
with the Inter-agency Technical Council, shall modify the existing rules
16 
on grievance machinery to address discriminatory practices committed
17 
in, and by officers or employees of, government agencies,
18 
instrumentalities, and in government-owned and -controlled
19 
corporations (GOCCs) and other offices under its jurisdiction.
20 
d. Role of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). — The DOLE,
21 
in consultation with the Inter-agency Technical Council, shall promulgate
22 
the rules and regulations necessary to enhance anti-discrimination
23 
protection in workplaces, including the establishment of a grievance
24 
mechanism to address discriminatory practices committed in the
25 
workplace.
26 
Sec. 12. Secretariat to the Council. — The CHR shall establish the necessary
27 
secretariat for the Council consisting of personnel with the necessary technical
28 
expertise and capacity that shall be conferred permanent appointments, subject to
29 
civil service rules and regulations. The secretariat shall be headed by an Executive
30 
Director who shall be under the direct supervision of the Chair of the Council.
31 
The Secretariat shall perform the following functions:
32 
a. Coordinate and manage the day-to-day affairs of the Council;
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1 
b. Assist in the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of DIPTs and lECs;
2 
c. Provide technical assistance, support and advisory services to the council
3 
and its external partners;
4 
d. Assist the Council in identifying and building internal and external
5 
networks and partnerships;
6 
e. Coordinate and support the efforts of the council and its members to
7 
mobilize resources; and
8 
f. Provide administrative support to the Council.
9 
Sec. 13. Programs to Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. — It shall be the
10 
duty of every person, natural or juridical, public or private, to ensure nondiscrimination
11 
and equal opportunity for ail persons in relating to actual or prospective employees,
12 
students, tenants, customers or clients, and that no discriminatory acts, as defined
13 
herein, is committed by them or their agents in the areas defined under Section 5 of
14 
this Act.
15 
The State shall endeavor to eliminate all forms of discrimination and shall
16 
therefore pursue initiatives and programs that seek to enable an environment free of
17 
stigma and discrimination, including ensuring reasonable accommodation is provided
18 
for disadvantaged and marginalized sectors. It shall direct the machinery and
19 
resources of the State to ensure non-discrimination and promote equality and shall
20 
encourage other sectors of the society to engage and participate in these efforts. The
21 
Inter-Agency Technical Council shall, by rules and regulations and in consultation with
22 
the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), develop, prescribe and administer incentive
23 
and award schemes to encourage public and private establishments to provide
24 
programs that promote nondiscrimination and contribute to the empowerment of
25 
vulnerable and marginalized groups. Further, it shall ensure the establishment of the
26 
following programs:
27 
a. Social Protection Program. — The national government shall ensure the
28 
integration of the communities affected by or vulnerable to stigma and
29 
discrimination into the social programs of the government.
30 
b. Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Training (DIPTs). — All
31 
government agencies, including government-owned and —controlled
32 
corporations, local government units (LGUs), and private establishments
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and entities shall develop plans of action to address discrimination and 
establish diversity and sensitivity programs and shall endeavor to 
provide or conduct trainings for their staff, employees, students, 
trainees, and constituents to ensure that discrimination and abuse are 
prevented and addressed, as follows:
i. 
Create an internal redress mechanism address cases of 
discrimination and grant administrative remedies or sanctions for 
such cases;
ii. 
Conduct human rights education and training programs for public 
officials, including judges and candidates for judicial 
appointments, in coordination with the CHR. The DepEd, and the 
CHED, in particular, shall integrate teaching on the principles of 
equality and non-discrimination in formal and non-formal 
inclusive and multicultural education, with a view to dismantling 
notions of superiority or inferiority based on protected attributes 
and to promote dialogue and tolerance between different groups 
in society; and
Hi. Endeavor to provide or conduct human rights education, gender 
sensitivity, and culture sensitivity training programs for their staff, 
employees, students and trainees, and constituents to ensure 
that discrimination and abuse are prevented in their institutions. 
Monitoring and Evaluation. — All government agencies and 
instrumentalities shall monitor the implementation of measures to 
promote non-discrimination and equality. Assessment of the steps taken 
and the results achieved in the elimination of discrimination shali be 
conducted annually. Annual reports in this regard shall be submitted to 
the Congress and the CHR.
d. Disaggregation of Data. — All government agencies and 
instrumentalities shall ensure that all national strategies, policies, and 
plans shall use appropriate indicators and benchmarks, disaggregated 
on the basis of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
c.
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The rights of individuals or groups of individuals, who may be
2 
distinguished by one or more of the prohibited grounds, to participate in
3 
the decision-making processes over the selection of measures to
4 
promote non-discrimination and diversity shall always be upheld by the
5 
government in the implementation of the programs enumerated above.
6 
e. Information and Education Campaign (lEC). — All government agencies
7 
and instrumentalities are mandated to develop and implement
8 
information dissemination on any of the prohibited forms of
9 
discrimination. They shall endeavor to produce and publish information
10 
campaign materials on discrimination.
11 
f. Affirmative Action. — The State shall develop a system of affirmative
12 
actions towards protecting the rights of ICCs/IPs, other cultural minority
13 
groups, and other vulnerable groups. Support and protection for
14 
research and development and learning materials on cultural heritage
15 
preservation and sensitivity for other vulnerable groups shall be provided
16 
to all State Universities and Colleges.
17 
All entities, agencies, corporations, companies, organizations,
18 
and educational/training institutions, whether private or public, shall
19 
ensure the implementation of this Section.
20 
Sec. 14. Enforcement — Criminal complaints brought under this Act shall be
21 
filed with the proper court. In addition to the criminal complaint, a person who has
22 
been subjected to any acts of discrimination as defined in this Act may file a complaint
23 
with the CHR. For this purpose, the CHR may investigate, motu proprio on on
24 
complaint by any person, acts or omissions in violation of this Act.
25 
In all cases under investigation, the Commission may issue legal and preventive
26 
measures, as well as provisional remedies. These measures or remedies shall include,
27 
but not limited to, general writs of injunction, restraining orders, status quo ante
28 
orders, cease and desist orders, protection orders, or such other orders to protect the
29 
life and security of persons, preserve evidence, protect properties, and other
30 
considerations to ensure the efficient investigation of the alleged violation of this Act.
31 
The Commission shall also direct the officer concerned to take appropriate
32 
action against a public officer or employee at fault or who neglected to perform an act
26


1 
or discharge a duty required under this Act. Refusal by any officer, without just cause,
2 
to comply with an order of the Commission or who neglects to perform an act or
3 
discharge a duty required under this Act, shall be a ground for disciplinary action
4 
against the said officer.
5 
The CHR, consistent with its mandate under this Act, shall designate a focal
6 
commissioner and/or create an Anti-Discrimination Center/Office to be primarily
7 
responsible for formulating and implementing programs and activities relating to the
8 
right of all persons against discrimination, including the investigation and handling of
9 
complaints of violations of this Act.
10 
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, NCIP shall have concurrent
11 
jurisdiction with the CHR over the conduct of investigations on the basis of complaints
12 
filed by ICCs/IPs against natural or juridical persons believed to have violated ICCs/IPs
13 
rights.
14 
Sec. 15. Administrative Proceedings andSanctions against Public Officiais and
15 
Empioyees. — Pursuant to Section 13 of this Act, which makes it a duty of the CHR to
16 
investigate alleged cases of discrimination, a finding by the CHR, or the NCIP, in cases
17 
of discrimination or complaints filed against ICCs/IPs that a department, agency, or
18 
instrumentality of the government, a government-owned and -controlled corporation,
19 
or a local government unit has violated any provision of this Act and its implementing
20 
rules and regulations, shall carry with it a recommendation to the CSC and/or the DILG
21 
for the imposition of sanctions under administrative law, civil service, or other
22 
appropriate laws. Such recommendations shall include the names of the person
23 
directly responsible for the violation, and a statement that the sanctions be imposed
24 
upon the person directly responsible and the head of the agency or local chief
25 
executive.
26 
Nothing in this Act shall preclude the filing of a separate criminal or civil action
27 
in proper courts for an act of discrimination committed under this Act, nor the filing of
28 
complaints with government agencies exercising quasi-judicial functions.
29 
Sec. 16. Fines against Private Persons, Provisionai Remedy. — Upon a prima
30 
facie finding that any provision of this Act was violated and upon its issuance of a
31 
cease and desist order, the CHR may impose a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos
27


1 
(P20,000.00), for every day that the act of discrimination complained of has not
2 
ceased. The fine collected shall be for the assistance of victims of discrimination.
3 
For purposes of this Section, the CHR may seek the assistance of the
4 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
5 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd),
6 
and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among
7 
others.
8 
Sec. 17. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. — For the effective
9 
implementation of this Act, the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Anti-
10 
Discrimination (JCOC-AD) shall be created within sixty (60) days after the enactment
11 
of this act for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the effective implementation
12 
of this Act as well as other Acts that affect the right of persons against discrimination.
13 
The JCOC-AD shall be composed of five members each from the Senate and
14 
the House of Representatives.
15 
The Senate Panel shall be composed of the Chair of the Committee on Social
16 
Justice, Welfare and Rural Development as Chair of the Senate Panel, the Chair of the
17 
Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, the Chair of
18 
the Committee on Cultural Communities, and the remaining seats to other members
19 
of the Senate regardless of the Committee with at least one member from the
20 
minority.
21 
The House of Representatives Panel shall be composed of the Chair of the
22 
Committee on Human Rights as Chair of the House of Representatives Panel, the Chair
23 
of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality, the Chair of the Indigenous Cultural
24 
Communities and Indigenous Peoples, and the remaining seats to other members of
25 
the House of Representatives with at least one member from the minority.
26 
The JCOC-AD shall be chaired jointly by the Chair of the Senate Committee on
27 
Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and the House Committee on Human
28 
Rights. The position of Vice-Chair of the JCOC-AD shall be the Senate Committee on
29 
Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality and the House Committee on
30 
Women and Gender Equality. The Secretariat shall come from the Secretariat
31 
personnel of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
28


1 
All government agencies shall submit to the JCOC-AD annual reports on the
2 
monitoring and evaluation of measures to promote non-discrimination and equality
3 
which shall include recommendations for Congress.
4 
The JCOC-AD shall convene regularly, at least once a year, to review the annual
5 
reports from government agencies and to evaluate the effectivity and effective
6 
implementation of this Act and other relevant Acts. It shall invite the Inter-agency
7 
Technical Council in all its meetings.
8 
The JCOC-AD shall submit a report to Congress on its review and evaluation of
9 
relevant Acts and its recommendations.
10 
The JCOC-AD shall monitor the compliance of public institutions, agencies,
11 
corporations, companies and educational institutions, whether private or public, to the
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provisions of this act. Within three (3) years after the enactment of this Act, the
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JCOCAD shall conduct an audit of national and local policies that discriminate on the
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basis of the protected attributes as provided in this Act, and shall submit a report to
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the Congress, the Office of the President, and the Supreme Court.
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Sec. 18. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of
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this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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Sec. 19. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. — The Inter-Agency Technical
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Council, in consultation with appropriate CSOs and other stakeholders, shall
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promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days
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from the effectivity of this Act. Further, this Act shall be fully implemented with or
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without the implementing rules and regulations.
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Sec. 20. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or part hereof
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be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall
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remain valid and effective.
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Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. — This Act shall be without prejudice to the existing
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special laws prohibiting discrimination on account of the protected attributes such as
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State principles and mandates underscored in R.A. No. 7277, as amended, entitled,
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"Magna Carta for Disabled Person", R.A. No. 8371 entitled, "The Indigenous Peoples’
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Rights Act of 1997", R.A. No. 9710 entitled, "The Magna Carta of Women", R.A. No.
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10911 entitled, the "Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act", and P.D. No. 442,
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as amended, entitled "Labor Code of the Philippines".
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All Other laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions thereof, which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 22. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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