NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Of t“nc
23 MAR 30 P3 39
S.B. No.
RECEIVED
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT CRAFTING A NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE POLICY 
AND PRESCRIBING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEVELOPING, COORDINATING, 
AND IMPLEMENTING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR WOMEN'S ENTERPRISE
Explanatory Note
According to Article 2, Section 14, of the Philippine Constitution, women are 
integral in nation-building and require the State to provide them with opportunities to 
enhance their skills and potential. With that being said, it is imperative that the 
development of women in business flourish through the creation of a national women's 
business enterprise policy which is tasked with creating actions for developing, 
coordinating, and implementing a national program for women's enterprise.
This proposed measure seeks to empower women in business by developing a 
national program and an interagency committee on women's business enterprises. 
Moreover, this bill aims to establish the Women In Business Development Program, 
specifically for indigent women, where they are able to be provided training and 
mentoring in enhancing their entrepreneurial endeavors.
In light of this, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
Raffv T. Tulfo
enator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SEN^Tffc:n
;.B. No. cUdU
23 MAR 30 P3 ^0
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT CRAFTING A NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE POLICY 
AND PRESCRIBING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEVELOPING, COORDINATING, 
AND IMPLEMENTING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR WOMEN'S ENTERPRISE
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 "Women in Business
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Development Act".
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Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
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to advance the entrepreneurial skills and interests of Filipino women by providing them
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opportunities to facilitate, enhance, and strengthen their business endeavors and
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ensure their full participation in the free enterprise system.
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Sec 3. Definition of Women-OwnedBusiness. - This refers to a business
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that is 51% owned by a woman or women who also control and operate it. "Control"
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refers to exercising power and making policy decisions. "Operate" refers to being
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actively involved in day-to-day management;
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Sec 4. Inter-agency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise -
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There is hereby established an Inter-Agency Committee on Women's Business
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Enterprise.
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a. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be appointed by the President
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of the Philippines. They shall be the presiding officer of the Committee
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and shall have such duties prescribed in this Act or by the Committee in


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its rules of procedure. The Chairperson may also represent his or her
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department, agency, or office on the committee.
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b. The Committee shall be composed of the Chairperson and other
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members appointed by the heads of departments and agencies from
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among high-level policymaking officials. The following departments and
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agencies shall pick one (1) representative to be a member of the
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committee:
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1. Department of Agriculture;
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2. Department of Commerce;
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3. Department of National Defense;
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4. Department of Energy;
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5. Department of Health;
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6. Department of Local Government and Interior;
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7. Department of Justice; and
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8. Department of Labor and Employment
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c. The Committee shall meet quarterly at the call of the Chairperson, and
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at such other times as may be determined to be useful according to the
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rules of procedure adopted by the Committee.
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Sec 5. Functions of the Committee. - The Committee shall in a manner
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consistent with the law:
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a. Promote, coordinate, and monitor the plans, programs, and operations
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of the departments and agencies of the Executive Branch which may
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contribute to the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of
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women's business enterprise with the cooperation of the departments
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and agencies.
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b. Establish such policies, definitions, procedures, and guidelines to
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govern the implementation, interpretation, and applications of
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this Act, and generally perform such functions and take such steps
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as the Committee may deem to be necessary or appropriate to
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achieve the purposes and carry out the provision hereof.


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c. Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of the State 
and local governments, business and trade and associations, 
private Industry, colleges and universities, foundations, 
professional organizations, and volunteer and other groups 
toward the growth of women's business and enterprise, and 
facilitate the coordination of the efforts of these groups with those 
of the departments and agencies.
d. Make an annual assessment of the progress made in the 
government toward assisting women's business enterprises to 
enter the mainstream of business ownership and provide 
recommendations for further actions to the President.
e. Convene and consult as necessary with persons Inside and outside 
the government and private sector Investigations and studies of 
the problems of women entrepreneurs, and promote further 
research into such problems.
f. Consider the findings and recommendations of government and 
private sector investigations and studies of the problem of women 
entrepreneurs, and promote further research into such problems.
g. Design a comprehensive and innovative plan for a joint 
government and private sector effort to develop increased 
numbers of new women-owned businesses. The plan should set 
specific, reasonable, and Identifiable costs and should provide for 
the measurement of progress toward these targets at the end of 
two to five years. Related outcomes such as income and tax 
revenues generated, jobs created, new products and services 
introduced, or new domestic or foreign markets created should 
also be projected and measured In relation to costs wherever


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possible. The Committee shall submit the plan to the President for 
approval within six months of the effective date of this Order.
Sec 6. Responsibilities of the Executive Departments and Agencies. - 
Within the constraints of statutory authority and otherwise permitted by law:
a. Each department and agency of the Executive branch shall take the appropriate 
action to facilitate, preserve, and strengthen women's business enterprises and 
ensure full participation by women in the free enterprise system.
b. Each department and agency shall take affirmative action in support of 
women's business enterprise in appropriate programs and activities including 
but not limited to:
I. 
Management, technical, financial, and procurement assistance;
II. 
Business-related education, training, counseling, and information 
dissemination; and
III. 
Procurement
c. Each department or agency empowered to extend government financial 
assistance to any program and activity shall issue regulations requiring the 
recipient of such assistance to take appropriate affirmative action in support of 
women's business enterprise on the ground of gender. For purposes of this 
section, financial assistance means assistance extended by way of grant 
cooperative agreement, loan, and guaranty. These regulations shall prescribe 
sanctions for non-compliance. Unless otherwise specified by law, no agency 
sanctions shall be applied until the agency or department concerned has 
advised the appropriate person or persons of the failure to comply with its 
regulations and has determined that compliance cannot be secured by 
voluntary means.
d. For purposes of this Act, affirmative action may include but is not limited to 
creating or supporting new programs responsive to the special needs of 
women's business enterprises, collecting and disseminating information in 
support of women's business enterprises, and Insuring women's business


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enterprise knowledge of and ready access to business-related services and
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resources. If in implementing this Act, an agency undertakes to use or to
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require compliance with numerical set-asides, or similar measures, it shall state
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the purpose of such measure, and the measure shall be designed on the basis
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of pertinent factual findings of discrimination against women's business
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enterprise and the need for such measure.
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Sec 7. Establishment of Women in Business Development
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Program for Indigents. - With the assistance of the Department of Trade, a
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Women in Business Development Program shall be conducted once a year and
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aims to provide local training and mentoring to low-income women with
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entrepreneurial ventures.
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Sec 8. Legal Guidance. - In carrying out their responsibilities under
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Section 6, the departments and agencies shall consult the Department of
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Justice and the latter shall provide legal guidance concerning these
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responsibilities.
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Sec 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial
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Implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the budget of the Department
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of Trade and Industry (DTI). Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
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the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the succeeding
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General Appropriations Act.
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Sec 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
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(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of
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Trade and Industry shall, In consultation with the Philippine Commission on
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Women and other appropriate agencies and stakeholders, issue the
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec 11. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this
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Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, parts or provisions of this Act which
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are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec 12. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, presidential
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decrees. Implementing Rules, and Regulations inconsistent with this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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Sec 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication In the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
3 
circulation.
Approved,