THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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26 f j :Q: 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
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S.B.NO. 
4472 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 14 provides: 
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 earn fewer bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in science 
and engineering. Among recent bachelors of science and bachelors 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 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 and 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 harassment, 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 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, and the number of women who have achieved the top 
levels in corporations is much lower than would be expected. 
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 employment sectors of the Philippines; 
(2) to promote work force diversity; 
(3) to sensitize employers to the need to recruit and retain women and minority 
scientists, engineers and computer specialists; and 
(4) to encourage the replication of successful recruitment and retention programs 
by universities, corporations and agencies having difficulties1 in employing women in the 
fields of science, engineering and technology. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
‘1)4 .iU!_ 26 P 1 103 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE’ ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN 
IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House ofRepresentatives ofthe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Commission on the 
Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology 
Development Act.” 
SECTION 2. Establishment. - There is established a commission to be known as 
the “Commission on the Advancement of Women and ‘Minorities in Science, Engineering 
and Technology Development” “Commission”). 
SECTION 3. Duty ofthe Commission. - The Commission shall review available 
research and, if determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional research to: 
(1) identify the number of women, minorities and individuals with disabilities in 
the Philippines in specific types of occupations in science, engineering and technology 
development; 
(2) examine the preparedness of women, minorities and individuals with 
disabilities to: 
(a) pursue careers in science, engineering and technology development; and 
(b) advance to positions of greater responsibility within academia, industry 
and government; 
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(3) describe the practices andi policies of employers and labor unions relating to 
the recruitment, retention and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with 
disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and teohnology development; 
(4) identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers to, the recruitment, 
retention and advancement of women, minorities and !individuals with disabilities in the 
field of science, engineering and technology development in academia, industry and 
government; 
(5) compile a synthesis of available research on lawful practices, policies and 
programs that have successfully led to the recruitment, retention and advancement of 
women, minorities and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering and 
technology development; 
(6) issue recommendations with respect on lawful policies that government 
(including Congress), academia, and private industry can follow regarding the 
recruitment, retention and advancement of women, minorities and individuals with 
disabilities in science, engineering and technology development; 
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(7) identify the disincentives for women, minorities and individuals with 
disabilities to continue graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics and 
computer science; 
(8) identify university undergraduate programs that are successful in retaining 
women, minorities and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering 
and technology development; 
(9) identify the disincentives that lead to a disproportionate number of women, 
minorities and individuals with disabilities leaving the fields of science, engineering and 
technology development before completing their undergraduate education; 
SECTION 4. Membership. - 
(1) MEMBER AND APPOINTMENT - The Commission shall be composed of 
six (6) members to be appointed by the President as follows: 


(a) two members from among for-profit entities that hire individuals in the fields 
of engineering, science and technology development. 
(b) two members from among institutions inieducation or academia in the fields 
of life science, physical science, or engineering. 
(c) two members from among non-governmental organizations, people's 
organizations or any similar entities that promote and advance the welfare of women, 
minorities and individuals with disabilities. 
(2) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology shall 
automatically seat as chairman of the Commission in an ex-oficio capacity. 
(3) TERMS. 
(i) IN GENERAL. - Each member shall1 be appointed for the life of the 
Commission. 
(ii) VACANCIES. - A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made. 
(4) PAY OF MEMBERS. Members shall not be paid by reason of their service 
on the Commission. 
(5) TRAVEL EXPENSES. - Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
includingper diem in an amount to be determined by existing law. 
(6) QUORUM. - A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum for the transaction of business. 
(7) MEETINGS. - The Commission shall meet not fewer than five (5) times in 
connection with and pending the completion of the report described in this Act. The 
Commission shall hold additional meetings for such purpose if the Chairperson or a 
majority of the members of the Commission requests the additional meetings in writing. 
SECTION 5. Directors and Staffof the Commission; Experts and Consultants. 
(1) DIRECTOR - The Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a Director and 
additional personnel as the Commission considers appropriate. 


(2) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS - The Commission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services to assist in the discharge of the Commission's functions. 
SECTION 6. Powers of the Commission, - 
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS. - The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may 
administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. 
(2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS - Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take by this section. 
(3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA - The Commission may secure directly from 
any department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon 
request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency 
shall furnish that information to the Commission. 
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(4)' MAILS. - The Commission may use mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
(5) CONTRACT AUTHORITY - To the extent provided in advance in 
Appropriations Acts, the Commission may contract with and compensate government 
and private agencies or persons for the purpose of conducting research or surveys 
necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Report. Not later than one (1) year after the date on which the initial 
appointments are completed, the Commission shall ,submit to the President and the 
Congress a written report containing the findings, conclusions and recommendations of 
the Commission resulting from the study conducted under Section 3. 
SECTION 8. Construction; Use of Information: obtained. - 


(1) IN GENERAL - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any non- 
governmental entities such as a business, college or university, foundation, or research 
organization to provide information to the Commission concerning such entity’s 
personnel policies, including salaries and benefits, promotion criteria and affirmative 
action plans. 
(2) USE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED - No information obtained from any 
entity by the Commission may be used in connection with any employment-related 
litigation. 
SECTION 9. Termination; Access to information. - 
(1) TERMINATION. The Commission shall terminate thirty (30) days after 
submitting the report required by this Act. 
(2) ACCESS TO INFORMATION - On or before the date of the termination of 
the Commission under subsection (I), the Commission shall provide the Department of 
Science and Technology the information gathered by the Commission in the process of 
carrying out its duties under this Act. The Department shall act as a central repository for 
such information and shall make such information available to the public, including 
making such information available through the Internet. 
SECTION 10. Review of Information provided by the Department ofScience and 
Technology and other agencies. - 
(1) PROVISION OF INFORMATION - At the request of the Commission, the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and any other department or agency 
shall provide to the Commission any information determined necessary by the 
Commission to carry out its duties under this Act, including data on academic degrees 
awarded to women, minorities and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering 
and technology development and workforce representation and the retention of women, 
minorities and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering and 
technology development; and 


(2) REVIEW OF INFORMATION - The Commission shall review any 
information provided under subsection (1) and shall include in the report required undeI 
Section 7 - 
recommendations on how to correct any deficiencies in the collection of the 
types of information described in that subsection, and in the analysis of such data, which 
might impede the characterization of the factors which affect the attraction and retention 
of women, minorities and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, 
engineering and technology development. 
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SECTI(3N 1 1. Authorization of AppropriaHons. 
There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act - 
(1) THREE MILLION PESOS (P3,000,000) for fiscal year 2004, and 
(2) THREE MILLION PESOS (P3,000,000) for fiscal year 2005. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative !order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is heqeby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 14. Eflectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
Fn: 1379