Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Honorable Representatives 
ARLENE D. BROSAS (Gabriela Women’s Party);   
FRANCE L. CASTRO (ACT Teachers Partylist);  
and RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL (Kabataan Partylist) 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF 
SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, OR SEX 
CHARACTERISTICS (SOGIESC) AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State's commitment to upholding the dignity and equality of all persons is 
enshrined in the 1987 Constitution and in several international covenants it is signatory 
to, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 
(ICESCR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). 
It is declared in the constitution that “the State values the dignity of every human 
person and guarantees full respect for human rights” (Article 2, Section 11, 1987 
Constitution). It also imposes on the State the duty to ensure the fundamental equality 
before the law of women and men (Article 2, Section 14). The equal protection clause 
in the Bill of Rights also requires that laws are implemented and applied equally and 
uniformly on all persons under similar circumstances or that all persons must be 
treated in the same manner, the conditions not being different, both in the privileges 
conferred and the liabilities imposed. 
The Philippines is also a signatory to international agreements on the respect for 
human rights of all persons regardless of any condition, including sex or sexual 
orientation. These international agreements have consistently been interpreted by 
international institutions, such as the United Nations Human Rights Committee 
(UNHRC) and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to include 
protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. 
The UNHRC has interpreted Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights (ICCPR), which obliges States to “guarantee to all persons equal and 
effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, color, sex, 
language. religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or 
other status,” to include a protection against discrimination on the basis of ‘sexual 
October 13, 2022
2:30 pm
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orientation. The Committee on Economic. Social and Cultural Rights has also 
interpreted Article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural 
Rights (ICESCR) to include sexual orientation in the Covenant’s non-discrimination 
provisions. 
 
While the protection of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA+) 
is promised on such papers, the Philippines is no stranger to notorious cases of hate 
crimes and abuse against the community. From the murder of transgender woman 
Jennifer Laude by a US Marine on October 11, 2014 to the illegal detainment of 
transgender woman Gretchen Diez for entering and supposedly using the women's 
restroom on August 13, 2019, it is evident that the current society still is not accepting 
of the LGBTQIA+ community. 
 
Such cases have catalyzed discussion and action toward advancing the rights of the 
LGBTQIA+. In fact, workplace cs and local governments are starting to establish its 
respective anti-discrimination policies. In the local government scene, Quezon City 
has enacted a gender-fair ordinance on November 28, 2019. Prohibited acts include 
discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ in the workplace, educational institutions, and in 
delivery of goods, services, and accommodation. 
 
However, it does not end with just private and local initiatives. The LGBTQIA+ 
community in the Philippines lacks anti-discriminatory legislation and the legal 
recognition of transgender individuals available in many other countries. The bill aims 
to ensure that all people, regard less of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender 
expression, or sex charasteristics (SOGIESC) are able to exercise their rights to life, 
education, employment, and expression without fear of reprisal or discrimination. This 
bill aims to ensure that there will be no more members of the LGBTQIA+ deprived of 
basic rights, such as the right to work, the right to education, the right to access health 
services, facilities, and establishments, and others, simply because of their SOGIE. 
Discrimination has been a reality in the lives of the LGBTQIA+. While some might not 
have been discriminated against, or might not have been stigmatized, it does not 
negate the lived experiences of others who have. Its usefulness lies in its 
inclusiveness. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


In view of the need to remedy the long-standing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ in 
Philippine society, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ARLENE D. BROSAS 
Gabriela Women’s Party 
FRANCE L. CASTRO 
RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
Act Teachers Partylist 
Kabataan Partylist 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Honorable Representatives 
ARLENE D. BROSAS (Gabriela Women’s Party);   
FRANCE L. CASTRO (ACT Teachers Partylist);  
and RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL (Kabataan Partylist) 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF 
SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, OR SEX 
CHARACTERISTICS (SOGIESC) AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “SOGIESC Equality Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the fundamental right of 
every person, regardless of age, class, status, ethnicity, color, disability, religious 
and political beliefs, and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or 
Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), to be free from any form of discrimination. It shall 
therefore intensify its efforts to fulfill its duties under the Equal Protection Clause and 
the Bill of Rights provisions of the Philippine Constitution, and international and 
domestic laws to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights and dignity of every individual.  
Towards this end, the State shall exert efforts to address all forms of discrimination, 
marginalization and violence on the basis of SOGIESC, 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 Non-discrimination Based on 
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Convention on the Rights of the Child, 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on 
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and all other relevant and universally 
accepted human rights instruments and other international conventions to which the 
Philippines is a signatory. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows:  
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a. Asexual - refers to a person who does not experience attraction or experiences 
markedly reduced attraction toward individuals of any gender. 
b. Bisexual - refers to a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, 
romantic, and/or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of 
another gender;  
c. Child - refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age, or who is older than 18 
years of age but incapable of taking care of oneself as defined under Republic Act 
No. 7610, as amended;  
d. Discrimination - refers to any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference which 
is based on any ground such as SOGIESC, and which has the purpose or effect, 
whether direct or indirect, of nullifying or impairing the recognition, access to, 
enjoyment, or exercise by all persons on an equal footing of all rights and freedoms. 
The SOGIESC of the person subjected to discrimination shall not be relevant for the 
purpose of determining whether an act of discrimination has been committed. Direct 
discrimination occurs where a person is treated less favorably than another person in 
the same or comparable circumstances on the ground of their SOGIESC. Indirect 
discrimination occurs where an apparently neutral condition or requirement is 
imposed which has the effect of disadvantaging a person of diverse SOGIESC and 
which is not reasonable in the circumstances.  
e. Gay - refers to a person who either identifies oneself as a man and whose 
enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people who also 
identifies themselves as men;  
f. Gender - refers to a social construct used to categorize a person as man, woman, 
or other identity, which is usually based on one’s sex assigned at birth;  
g. Gender Expression - refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to 
others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, communication or speech pattern, or 
body characteristics;  
h. Gender Identity - refers to a person’s innermost concept of self as man, woman, or 
another non-binary identity which may or may not correspond with their sex or 
gender assigned at birth;  
i. Harassment - refers to such unwanted conduct, pattern of conduct, act, or series of 
acts which tend to annoy, insult, bully, demean, offend, threaten, intimidate, alarm, or 
create a hostile or emotionally distressing environment, or put a person or group of 
persons in fear for their safety;  
j. Hate Crimes - refer to criminal offenses committed against a person or a group of 
persons, or against such targeted person’s or group’s honor or property, motivated in 
whole or in part by the offender’s bias against people with diverse SOGIESC;  
k. Intersex - refers to people born with the sex characteristics (including genitals, 
gonads and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or 
female bodies, all of which are natural bodily variations along a spectrum;  


l. Lesbian - refers to a person who identifies oneself as a woman and whose 
enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people who also 
identify themselves as women;  
m. Marginalization - refers to a condition where a whole category of people is 
excluded from useful and meaningful participation in political, economic, social, and 
cultural life; 
n. People with diverse SOGIESC - refer to the collective of persons who are gay, 
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, or intersex, persons who fall under 
cultural non-binary categories, and/or persons whose lives convey distinct cultural 
experiences of gender and sexuality such as bakla, bading, bayot, tomboy, tibo. 
o. 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 people with diverse SOGIESC the enjoyment or 
exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental 
freedoms;  
p. Sex characteristics - refer 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. 
This is distinct from sex, which is a civil status of a person acquired by birth.  
q. 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 
genders (heterosexual orientation) or to the reduced or absent attraction towards any 
gender (asexual attraction);  
r. 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;  
s. Transgender person - refers to a person whose gender identity does not align with 
the sex or gender assigned to them at birth, frequently abbreviated to “trans”; and 
t. Queer - a term used to express a variety of identities that do not align with 
mainstream, heteronormative, and/or binary assumptions. 
SECTION 4. Communities Vulnerable to Discrimination and Abuse on the Basis of 
SOGIESC. - This Act seeks to protect individuals and communities that are at a 
greater risk of experiencing human rights violations on the basis of SOGIESC, 
including individuals and communities of diverse SOGIESC who are children, young, 
poor, disabled, of different ethnic background, or cultural background, and of various 
religious belief.  


For this purpose, discrimination on the grounds of a person’s SOGIESC intersecting 
or compounded by other grounds and factors such as age, racial or ethnic origin, 
religious belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, marital or 
relationship status, disability, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, health 
status or medical history, language, physical features, or other status shall be 
considered a discriminatory practice. 
SECTION 5. Discriminatory Practices. - It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or 
juridical, to engage in discrimination as defined in this Act, which shall include: 
a. Advertising, producing, and publishing in the media, in educational textbooks, and 
other medium that has the effect of promoting and encouraging stigma or inciting 
violence, sexual abuse and discrimination against any person or group on the basis 
of SOGIESC;  
b. Denying access to public services to any person on the basis of SOGIESC; 
c. Including SOGIESC, as well as the disclosure of one’s SOGIESC, in the criteria 
for hiring, promotion, transfer, designation, work assignment, reassignment, 
dismissal of workers, and other human resource movement and action, performance 
review, and in the determination of employee compensation, access to career 
development opportunities, training, and other learning and development 
interventions, incentives, privileges, benefits or allowances, and other terms and 
conditions of employment: Provided, that this provision shall apply to employment 
and skills training in both the private and public sectors, including military, police, and 
other similar services: Provided further, that this prohibition shall likewise apply to the 
contracting and engaging of the services of juridical persons;  
d. Refusing admission or expelling a person from any educational or training 
institution, such as police and military academies or training institutions, on the basis 
of SOGIESC. This includes discriminating against a student or trainee due to the 
SOGIESC of the student’s parents or guardian, court-appointed or otherwise; 
e. Imposing disciplinary sanctions, requirements, restrictions, prohibitions, or 
penalties harsher than customary or similar punishments, as a result of bias or 
prejudice on the basis of SOGIESC that infringe on the rights of the students, 
including discriminating against a student or trainee due to the SOGIESC of the 
student’s parents or guardian, court-appointed or otherwise;  
f. Acts which hamper or restrain the right to organize on the basis of SOGIESC, such 
as dissolving existing organizations, or refusing or revoking the accreditation, formal 
recognition, registration, or establishment of any organization, group, political party, 
institutions like educational institutions, workplaces, communities, and other settings, 
on the basis of the SOGIESC of their members or of their target constituencies, 
whether explicit or otherwise;    
g. Denying a person access to public or private medical and health services on the 
basis of such person’s SOGIESC;  


h. Denying an application for or revoking a professional or other similar kinds of 
license, clearance, certification, or any other similar document, issued by the 
government due to the applicant’s SOGIESC;  
i. Denying a person access to or the use of establishments, facilities, utilities, or 
services, including housing, open to the general public on the basis of SOGIESC: 
Provided, that the act of giving inferior accommodations or services shall be 
considered a denial of access or use of such facility or service; Provided, further, that 
this prohibition covers acts of discrimination against juridical persons solely on the 
basis of the SOGIESC of their members or of their target constituencies;  
j. Subjecting or forcing any person to undertake any medical or psychological 
examination to determine or alter, or both, the person’s SOGIESC without the 
express approval of the person involved. Provided, That in cases where the person 
involved is a minor and below the age of discernment and who agrees to undertake 
the examination, prior approval of the appropriate Family Court shall be required. In 
this case, the child shall be represented in the proceedings by the Solicitor General 
or the latter’s authorized representative. In no case shall a minor be forced to 
undertake said examination against their will and consent.   
k. Harassment, coercion, or threats committed on the basis of one’s SOGIESC by 
those involved in the enforcement of laws, regulations, or directives, and the 
protection of rights of any person whether they belong to the public or private sector. 
Among other cases, prohibited acts under this section include arresting or placing 
under custody, and subjecting a person to extortion, physical, verbal abuse, or 
sexual abuse, regardless of whether such arrest has legal or factual basis. 
Harassment, coercion, or threat of juridical persons on the basis of the SOGIESC of 
their members, stockholders, benefactors, clients, or patrons is likewise covered by 
this provision;  
l. Publishing information intended to “out” or reveal the SOGIESC of persons without 
their consent, whether or not done in good faith, when such has not been made 
known by the person/s concerned;  
m. Engaging in public speech meant to shame, insult, vilify, or which tends to incite 
or normalize the commission of discriminatory practices against People with Diverse 
SOGIESC, and which acts or practices in turn, intimidate them or result in the loss of 
their self-esteem; 
n. Subjecting persons or groups of persons to harassment which is motivated in 
whole or in part by the offender’s bias, belief, or perception regarding the offended 
party’s SOGIESC, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct. Such 
prohibited act may include physical assault, stalking, or making derogatory 
comments, slurs or lewd propositions, and may be conducted through any form of 
medium, including but not limited to, visual representation, broadcast 
communication, correspondence or communication through mail or any 
telecommunication device, or through the internet or cyberspace;  
o. Subjecting any person, natural or juridical, to gender profiling or to any 
investigatory activities, which includes (1) unnecessary, unjustified, illegal, or 


degrading searches to determine whether they are engaged in an activity presumed 
to be unlawful, immoral, or socially unacceptable; and (2) recording and analyzing 
the psychological and behavioral characteristics of a person or members or 
constituents of a juridical person to make generalizations about their SOGIESC or to 
assist in identifying a particular subgroup of people’s SOGIESC;  
p. Preventing a child under parental authority, custody, or guardianship, whether 
court appointed or otherwise, from exhibiting or expressing one’s sexual orientation 
or gender identity; or manifesting rejection of such child’s SOGIESC by inflicting or 
threatening to inflict bodily or physical harm against the child or by causing mental or 
emotional suffering of the child through intimidation, harassment, public ridicule or 
humiliation, repeated verbal abuse, or other similar means, or in general, commit any 
act or omission prejudicial to the welfare and interest of the child as a result of the 
bias against the SOGIESC of the child;  
q. Adopting a measure or practice of general or neutral application which fails to 
provide for mechanisms to offset or address SOGIESC-based disadvantages or 
limitations as a result of which people with diverse SOGIESC are denied or restricted 
in the recognition and protection of their rights and in their access to and enjoyment 
of opportunities, benefits, or privileges otherwise available to other persons. 
Provided, That this provision includes denial of reasonable accommodation; 
Provided further, That such prohibited acts may include, among others, social 
services or assistance programs extended only to families traditionally consisting of 
heterosexual couples, whether de facto or legally recognized, to the exclusion of 
couples of diverse SOGIESC; and  
r. Subjecting a person to any other analogous acts that shall have the effect or 
purpose of impairing or nullifying the enjoyment, recognition, or exercise of a 
person’s rights and freedoms. 
SECTION 6. Privacy Rights. - No person shall be burdened, prejudiced, or 
prosecuted by reason of the exercise of the right to personal privacy. 
SECTION 7. Administrative Sanctions. - Refusal of a government official or 
employee or those involved in the enforcement of law whose duty it is to implement 
any part of this act, investigate, prosecute, comply with the directive of the 
Commission on Human Rights, or otherwise act on a complaint for a violation of this 
Act or causing unreasonable delay to perform such a duty without a valid ground 
shall constitute gross negligence on the part of the official who shall suffer the 
appropriate penalty under civil service laws, rules and regulations. 
SECTION 8. Penalties. - A person who commits any discriminatory practice 
described in SECTION 5 shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not less 
than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) but not more than Five hundred 
thousand pesos (P500,000) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not 
more than twelve (12) years or both, at the discretion of the court. In addition, the 
court may impose upon a person found to have committed any of the prohibited acts 
the rendition of community service in terms of attendance in human rights education, 
familiarization with, and exposure to the plight of the victims.  


If the violation or offense is committed on the grounds of a person’s SOGIESC 
intersecting or compounded by other grounds and factors mentioned in Section 4, 
the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum.  
If the violation or offense is committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership, 
association or other entities, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officials, 
officers, or employees without prejudice to the civil liabilities of the entity arising from 
the criminal offense. Any action arising from the violation of the provisions of this Act 
shall prescribe in three (3) years.  
Nothing in this Act shall preclude the victim from instituting a separate and 
independent action for damages and other affirmative reliefs or such other cases for 
violation of other applicable penal laws.  
The penalties provided under this Section shall be meted without prejudice to the 
imposition of administrative liability for government officials and employees. 
SECTION 9. Special Aggravating Circumstance. - If any civil, criminal, or 
administrative offense, not falling under this act, is committed and proven to be 
motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate based on SOGIESC, said offense shall be 
aggravated and the corresponding penalty provided thereto shall be imposed in its 
maximum. 
SECTION 10. Redress Mechanisms for SOGIE-related cases. -  
A. Inclusion of SOGIE Concerns in All Police Station Activities and Services. - The 
Women and Children’s Desks now existing in all police stations shall be renamed as 
Women, Children and People with Diverse SOGIESC Protection Desk, which shall 
also act on and attend to complaints/cases covered by this Act. In this regard, police 
handling said desks shall undergo appropriate trainings with human rights-based 
approach to include among others gender sensitivity and awareness in proper 
terminology and in the dynamics of relationships existing between people with 
diverse SOGIESC as applied in hate crime investigations, case handlings, and case 
documentations.  
Complainant-minors can be represented by parents, guardians, or a non-government 
organization of good standing and reputation.  
B. Role of the Civil Service Commission - In appropriate cases, the Civil Service 
Commission (CSC) shall, by regulation, require government establishments, 
including government-owned and controlled corporations and financial institutions to 
establish a grievance mechanism to address discriminatory practices in the 
workplace and in the provision of services to the public.  
C. Role of the Department of Labor and Employment - In appropriate cases, the 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall, by regulation, require private 
establishments to establish a grievance mechanism to address discriminatory 
practices committed in the workplace and in the provision of services to the public.  


D. Role of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). - The CHR shall investigate 
and recommend the filing of a complaint against any person violating this Act. If the 
CHR has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is 
committing acts penalized in Section 5 of this Act, the CHR shall recommend a legal 
action in the appropriate prosecutor’s office or court.  
The CHR shall also direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a 
public officer or employee at fault or who neglects to perform an act or discharge a 
duty required under this Act, and recommend the revocation of license, removal from 
office or employment, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution, and 
ensure compliance therewith. The refusal or delay in the compliance with the 
directive of the CHR, without valid cause, to revoke the license, remove, suspend, 
demote, fine, censure, or prosecute an officer or employee who is at fault, or who 
neglects to perform an act or discharge a duty required under this Act, shall be a 
ground for disciplinary action against said officer.  
The CHR shall also document cases of discrimination on the basis of SOGIESC and 
shall include these documented cases in its annual human rights report. The 
Commission shall actively provide recommendations to different branches of 
government on how to address and eliminate discrimination on the basis of 
SOGIESC. 
SECTION 11. Government Programs and Policies. - The State shall pursue 
initiatives and programs that seek to establish and maintain an environment free of 
stigma and discrimination. It shall direct the machinery and resources of the State to 
promote non-discrimination and shall encourage other sectors of the society 
toengage and participate in these efforts. Towards this end, the Council, shall, by 
rules and regulations, develop, prescribe and administer incentive and award 
scheme to encourage public and private establishments to provide programs that 
defend the human rights of people with diverse SOGIESC and contribute to their 
empowerment.  
The State shall ensure the implementation of the following programs:  
A. Social Protection Programs (SPP). - The national government shall ensure that 
communities vulnerable to stigma and discrimination on the basis of SOGIESC are 
integrated into government-run social protection programs.  
B. Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Trainings (DIPT). - All government 
agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, local 
government units (LGUs), private companies, public and private educational 
institutions, and other entities, whether public or private, shall establish diversity and 
inclusion programs and shall endeavor to provide or conduct trainings for their staff, 
employees, students and trainees, and constituents on human rights, gender 
sensitivity and awareness, and sensitization on the issue of violence and abuse to 
ensure that human rights violations and violence on the basis of SOGIESC are 
prevented. Such institutions may incorporate these activities into existing gender 
sensitivity and development training programs or school curricula. Finally, the above-
listed agencies, companies and institutions shall create an internal redress 


mechanism to address cases of discrimination and develop administrative remedies 
or sanctions for such cases.  
c. Information and Education Campaign (IEC). - All government agencies and 
instrumentalities are mandated to develop and implement SOGIESC-specific gender 
sensitivity education and information dissemination. They shall endeavor to produce 
and publish information and educational campaign materials on gender and human 
rights. 
SECTION 12. Empowering Portrayal of people with diverse SOGIESC in Media. - 
The positive and empowering portrayal of people with diverse SOGIESC by media 
shall be encouraged to counter existing stereotypes and misconceptions that often 
lead to discriminatory practices. Towards this end, incentive and award scheme shall 
be provided to programs that defend the human rights of people with diverse 
SOGIESC and contribute to their empowerment, pursuant to Sec. 11 of this act. 
SECTION 13. SOGIESC Congressional Oversight Committee. - For the effective 
implementation of this Act, there shall be created a Congressional Oversight 
Committee, hereinafter referred to as the SOGIESC Equality Congressional 
Oversight Committee (SECOC), within sixty (60) days after the enactment of this Act. 
The SECOC shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and the 
House of Representatives, which shall include the Chair of the Senate Committees 
on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, and of Justice and 
Human Rights, and the Chair of the House of Representatives Committees on 
Women and Gender Equality, and of Human Rights. The members from the Senate 
and the House of Representatives shall be appointed by the Senate President and 
the Speaker, respectively, with at least one (1) member representing the minority. 
The SECOC shall be chaired jointly by the Chair of the Senate Committee on 
Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality and the House Committee 
on Women and Gender Equality. The position of Vice-Chair of the SECOC shall be 
jointly held by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and 
the House Committee on Human Rights. The Secretariat of the SECOC shall come 
from the Secretariat personnel of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
concerned.  
The SECOC shall monitor the compliance of public institutions to the provisions of 
this Act. Within three (3) years after the enactment of this Act, the SECOC shall 
conduct an audit of national and local policies that discriminate on the basis of 
SOGIESC, and shall submit a report to Congress, the Office of the President, and 
the Supreme Court, on this subject. Thereafter, the Council shall submit to Congress 
an annual report on the implementation of this Act.  
SECTION 14. Inter-Agency Council on SOGIESC Equality. - In pursuance of the 
abovementioned government programs and policies, there is hereby established an 
inter-agency Council on SOGIESC equality, hereinafter known as the Council, which 
shall be composed of the following agencies and organizations:  
A) Commission on Human Rights (CHR);  


B) Department of Justice (DOJ);  
C) Civil Service Commission (CSC);  
D) Philippine National Police (PNP);  
E) Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT);  
F) National Youth Commission (NYC);  
G) Philippine Commission on Women (PCW);  
H) Commission on Population (POPCOM);  
I) Department of Labor And Employment (DOLE);  
J) Department of Education (DEPED);  
K) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);  
L) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); 
M) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);  
N) Department of Health (DOH); and  
O) At least three (3) representatives from civil society organizations (CSOS) with 
proven expertise and track record on SOGIESC concerns.  
The Chairperson 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 a rank not lower than an 
assistant secretary or its equivalent, and shall receive emoluments as may be 
determined by the Council in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules 
and regulations.  
The CSOS forming part of the Council shall be selected based on proven expertise 
and track record on SOGIESC concerns, subject to the implementing rules and 
regulations (IRR) of this act. The representatives of the CSOS shall serve for a term 
of three (3) years renewable at the discretion of the chair upon recommendation of 
the Council for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.  
The Council shall meet at least once every quarter. the presence of the Chairperson 
or the Vice-Chair of the Council, and at least ten (10) other representatives of the 
Council members shall constitute a quorum to do business, and a majority vote of 
those present shall be sufficient to pass resolutions or render decisions. 
SECTION 15. Powers and Functions of the Council. - the Council shall have the 
following powers and functions:  


a. Develop DIPTS and IECS for the national government;  
b. Provide overall direction to the DIPTS, and IECS of the national government, and 
guidance and technical assistance to agencies in the implementation of the DIPTS, 
IECS, and SPPS in their respective agencies;  
c. Encourage LGUs to issue ordinances promoting DIPTS and IECS within their 
respective jurisdictions;  
d. Ensure that branches, departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and 
instrumentalities of the government, including GOCCs, SUCs and LGUs, undertake 
appropriate measures, subject to existing laws, rules and issuances, relative to the 
violation of nondiscrimination laws or issuances, and/or filing of appropriate action 
against erring persons;  
e. Establish a system for monitoring the progress of branches, departments, 
bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including 
GOCCs, SUCs and LGUs, in the implementation of DIPTS, IECS and SSPs;  
f. Enlist the support and assistance of other government agencies and 
instrumentalities in the attainment of the objectives of Sec. 10 of this act; and  
g. Submit to the SECOC regular reports on the progress of the implementation of 
this act, highlighting the impact thereof on the status and human rights of people with 
diverse SOGIESC and recommend possible legislation to address gaps in existing 
laws. 
SECTION 16. Secretariat to the Council. - The Commission on Human Rights shall 
establish the necessary secretariat for the Council consisting of personnel with the 
necessary technical expertise and capacity that shall be conferred permanent 
appointments, subject to civil service rules and regulations. The secretariat shall be 
headed by an Executive Director who shall be under the direct supervision of the 
Chair of the Council. 
The secretariat shall perform the following functions:  
a. Coordinate and manage the day-to-day affairs of the Council;  
b. Assist in the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of DIPTs, and IECs;  
c. Provide technical assistance, support and advisory services to the Council and its 
external partners;  
d. Assist the Council in identifying and building internal and external networks and 
partnerships;  
e. Coordinate and support the efforts of the Council and its members to mobilize 
resources; and  
f. Provide administrative support to the Council. 


SECTION 17. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The 
National and Local Government Agencies shall be authorized to utilize their 
mandatory Gender and Development (GAD) budget. In addition, LGUs may also use 
their mandatory twenty percent (20%) allocation of the annual National Tax 
Allotments (NTAs) for local development projects as provided under Section 287 of 
Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code Of 1991". 
SECTION 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.