SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
1722 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 14 provides: 
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SEP'18 P4 :12 
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, 
and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. 
Women have historically been underrepresented in scientific and engineering 
occupations, and although progress has been made over the last several decades, there is still 
room for improvement. Female students eam fewer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in 
science and engineering. Among recent bachelors of science and bachelor of engineering 
graduates, women are less likely to be in the labor force, to be employed full-time, and to be 
employed in their field than are men. Moreover, a substantial salary gap exists between men and 
women with doctorates in science and engineering. Limited access is the first hurdle faced by 
women seeking industrial jobs in science and engineering. 
While progress has been made in recent years, common recruitment hiring practices that 
make extensive use of traditional networks often overlook the available pool of women. Once on 
the job, many women find paternalism, sexual h"rassment, allegations of reverse discrimination" 
different standards for judging the work of men and women, lower salary relative to their male 
peers, inequitable job assignments, and other aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile to 
women. They, to a greater extent than men, find limited opportunities for advancement, 
particularly for moving into management positions. 
This bill seeks to establish a commission that would examine these issues and help (1) to 
focus attention on the importance of eliminating artificial barriers to the recruitment, retention, 
and advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology, and in all 
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employment sectors of the Philippines; (2) to promote workforce diversity; and (3) to encourage 
the replication of successful recruitment and retention programs by universities, corporations, 
and agencies in employing women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. * 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
2 


SCtl.l!tt 
tI}U,;r t,f Hli j.f'rTrlnr~ 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
SEP 18 P 4 :12 
SENATE 
, 
S. No. 1722 
RECEIVED By:_ .. r . 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT. 
2 
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN 
3 
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECl-INOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Commission on the 
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Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act." 
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SECTION 2. Commission on the Advancement of Women in Engineering, Science and 
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Technology Development. - There is established a commission to be known as the "Commission 
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on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development" (in this 
9 
Act referred to as the "Commission"). 
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SECTION 3. Duty of the Commission. - The Commission shall review available research, 
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and if determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional research, to-
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(A) 
Identify the number of women in the Philippines in specific types of occupations 
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in science, engineering, and technology development; 
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(B) 
Examine the preparedness of women to pursue careers in science, engineering and 
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technology development; and advance to positions of greater responsibility within the academia, 
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industry, and government; 
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(C) 
Describe the practice and policies of employees and labor unions relating to the 
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recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, and 
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technology development; 
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(D) 
Identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers to, the recruitment, retention, 
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and advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology development in 
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academia, industry, and government; 
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(E) 
Compile a synthesis of available research on lawful practices, policies, and 
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programs that have successfully led to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in 
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science, engineering, and technology development; 
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(F) 
Issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies that government (including. 
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Congress), academia, and private industry can follow regarding the recruitment, retention, and 
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advancement of women in science, engineering, and technology development; 
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(G) 
Identify the disincentives for women to continue graduate education in the fields 
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of science, engineering, and technology development; 
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(H) 
Identify university undergraduate programs that are successful III retaining 
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women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology development; and 
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(I) 
Identify the disincentives that lead to a disproportionate nnmber of women 
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leaving the fields of science, engineering, and technology development before completing their 
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undergraduate education, 
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SECTION 4. Membership. - The Commission shall be composed of six members to be 
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appointed by the President as follows: 
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(A) 
Two (2) members from among for-profit entities that hire individuals in the fields 
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of engineering, science, or technology development; 
21 
(8) 
Two (2) members from among institutions in education or academia in the fields 
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of life science, physical science, or engineering; and 
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(C) 
Two (2) members from among nongovernment organizations, people's 
24 
organizations, or any similar entities that promote and advance the welfare of women. 
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The Secretary of Science and Technology shall automatically sit as chair of· the 
26 
Commission in an ex-offiCio capacity. Each member shall be appointed for the life of the 
27 
Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
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1 
appointment was made. Members shall not be paid by reason of their service on the Commission. 
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Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in an amount to be determined by 
3 
existing law and rules. A maj ority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum 
4 
for the transaction of business. 
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The Commission shall meet not fewer than five (5) times in connection with and pending 
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the completion of the repOli described in this Act. The Commission shall hold additional 
7 
meetings for such purpose if the Chair or a majority of the member~ of the Commission requests 
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additional meetings in writing. 
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SECTION 5. Directors and Staff of the Commission; Experts and Consultants. -
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(A) 
Director. - The Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a Director and 
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additional personnel as the Commission considers appropriate. 
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(B) 
Experts and Consultants. - The Commission may procure temporary and 
13 
intermittent services to assist in the discharge of the Commission's functions. 
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SECTION 6. Powers of the Commission. -
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(A) 
Hearings and Sessions. - The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out 
16 
this Act, hold hearings, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 
17 
appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing 
18 
before it. 
19 
(B) 
Powers of Members and Agents. - Any member or agent of the Commission may, 
20 
if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take by 
21 
this section. 
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(C) 
Obtaining Official Data. - The Commission may secure directly from any 
23 
department or agency of the govermnent information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. 
24 
Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall 
25 
furnish that information to the Commission. 
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1 
(D) 
Mails. - The Commission may use mails in the same manner and under the same 
2 
conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
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(E) 
Contract Authority. - To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, 
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the Commission may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons 
5 
for the purpose of conducting research or surveys necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
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out its duties under this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Report. - Not later than two (2) years after the enactment of this Act, the 
8 
Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a written report containing the 
9 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission resulting from the study 
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conducted under section 3. 
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SECTION 8. Use of Information Obtained. - No information obtained from any 
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nongovernment entity, such as businesses, colleges, universities, fonndations, or research 
13 
organizations, by the Commission may be used in connection with any employment-related 
14 
litigation. 
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SECTION 9. Termination; Access to Information. - The Commission shall terminate 
16 
thirty (30) days after submitting the reports required in this Act. On or before the date of the 
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telmination of the Commission, the Commission shall provide to the Department of Science and 
18 
Technology the information gathered by the Commission in the process of carrying out its duties 
19 
under this Act. The Department shall act as a central repository for such information and shall 
20 
make such information available to the public, including making such information available 
21 
through the Internet. 
22 
SECTION 10. Authorization of Apprapri(ltirms. - These are authorized to be appropriated 
23 
to carry out this Act-
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(A) 
Three Million Pesos (P3,OOO,OOO,OO) for the fiscal year during which this Act is 
2 
approved; and 
3 
(B) 
Three Million Pesos (P3,OOO,OOO.OO) for the next succeeding fiscal year. 
4 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
5 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
6 
valid and subsisting. 
7 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
8 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
9 
with the provisions of thi.s Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
10 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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