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TWENTIETH CONGRESS Cs)

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1385

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
PROMOTING WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND EQUITABLE
REPRESENTATION IN AND BY POLITICAL PARTIES, GIVING
INCENTIVES THEREFOR, AND CREATING THE WOMEN IN POLITICAL
PARTIES EMPOWERMENT FUND

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provides in
Section 14, Article II that “The State recognizes the role of women in nation
building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women
and men.”

Towards this end, this bill seeks to promote women participation and
equitable representation by providing incentives to political parties which
champion women agenda and have internal policies in place to promote
women participation and equitable representation.

As already articulated by the Philippine Commission on Women, equal
representation of women and men in bureaucracy, politics and governance
results to promulgation of and improved gender responsive implementation
of policies, programs and services.

According to a policy brief that is part of the study, “Women,
Substantive Representation, and Policy Outcomes” under the Policy Studies
for Political and Administrative Reforms (PSPAR) project: “women in elective
positions are important for democracy, development, and its symbolic value
to future generations. Women’s participation in electoral politics is integral to
strengthening democracy since they comprise half of the population and
should be properly represented in political processes. If sustainable progress
is to be made, it must include women’s meaningful participation in political
life. Women’s meaningful participation in politics results in better social
welfare outcomes in terms of an increased budget for social services, among
others. Moreover, women in the political sphere create visibility for women
leaders, serving as role models for future generations.”*

: Barriers to Filipino Women’s Political Participation, Jean Encinas-Franco and Elma Laguna,
University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies


The Philippine Institute for Development Studies, however, reveals
that “In 2022, only 24% of elected position in the country were held by
women, a notable decrease from 30% in 2017."2

This measure therefore aims to counter the existing unequal gender
representation in politics by helping put more women in power through party
representation and nomination.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

IRIS MARI ITES

Kababaihan Kabatikatan para sa Kapakanan
‘at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-list

2? Women make up only 24% of elected officials in PH, highlighting gender gap in politics,
Press Release, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, April 14, 2025
(https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/press-releases/women-make-up-only-24-of-elected-
officials-in-ph-highlighting-gender-gap-in-
politics# :~:text=Women%20make%20up%20only%2024 decrease%20from%2030%25%2
0in%202017.) Accessed on 15 May 2025



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. __1335

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D, Montes

AN ACT
PROMOTING WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND EQUITABLE
REPRESENTATION IN AND BY POLITICAL PARTIES, GIVING
INCENTIVES THEREFOR, AND CREATING THE WOMEN IN POLITICAL
PARTIES EMPOWERMENT FUND

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 "Women
Participation and Representation in Political Parties Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 14, Article II of the
1987 Philippine Constitution, which recognizes the role of women in nation-
building and ensures fundamental equality before the law of men and
women, and to Section 14, Article XIII, which makes it an obligation of the
State to provide facilities and opportunities for women that will enhance and
enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation, it is
hereby declared the policy of the State to promote women participation and
equitable representation of women by providing incentives to political parties
which have women agenda, and which have internal policies which promote
women participation and equitable representation.

SEC. 3. Definition. - As used in this Act:

(a) "Campaign expenditures" shall refer to any type of expense incurred,
regardless of source and purpose, that relates directly or indirectly, to the
conduct of the electoral campaign of a woman candidate. It includes all
payments of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or
agreement to spend, for the purpose of influencing the results of the
elections. In includes the use of office space and facilities personally owned
by the woman candidate, the monetary value of which shall be assessed
based on the market rates prevailing in a particular area. Provided, That for
purposes of this Act, the term shall refer exclusively and specifically to
campaign expenditures of women candidates;

(b) "Certified political party" shall refer to a political party qualified to
receive incentives for the development and implementation of its women and
gender and development agenda and to augment funds reserved for the
campaign expenditures of its women candidates, and certified as such by the
Philippine Commission on Woinen, with the assistance of the Commission on
Elections;


(c) "Disclosure requirement' shall refer to the duty of women candidates and
political parties, as defined in this Act, to reveal the details of the incentives
and expenditures given and received by them as incentives and their share
in the Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund;

(d) “Woman member of a political party' shall refer to a natural person of
good standing in a political party who complied with the requirements of
party membership, including the payment of membership dues, and coming
from the women sector;

(e) “Political party" shall refer to a political party, party-list or an organized
group of persons duly registered with the Commission on Elections, pursuing
or advocating a platform, principles and policies for the general conduct of
government and which nominates and supports its members as candidates
for public office; and

(f) "Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund" or "Fund" shall refer to
the fund for the development and implementation of a political party's
women and gender and development agenda, and which may be used to
augment funds for the campaign activities of women candidates, as provided
for by this Act.

SEC. 4. Development and Implementation of a Women and Gender and
Development Agenda. — Political parties are mandated to craft and
implement a clear women and gender and development agenda and
program consistent with their party philosophy and ideals. The members of
the political party shall endeavor to act in accordance with this agenda and
pursue programs to fulfill party commitments.

SEC. 5. Participation and Equitable Representation in Political Parties. —
Women representation in a political party shall refer to the integration of
women in the leadership of a political party and its internal policy-making
structures. Provided, That such leaders are bona fide women members of
the political party. Provided, further, That women representation in a
political party shall be equitable whenever women leaders occupy at least
thirty percent (30%) of the leadership and internal policy making structures
of the political party. Provided, finally, That the Philippine Commission on
Women, with the assistance of the Commission on Elections, shall certify the
equitable nature of representation in a political party.

SEC. 6. Participation and Equitable Representation by Political Parties. —
Women representation by a political party shall refer to the nomination of
women as Official candidates of the political party to elective positions in the
government. Provided, That such nominees are bona fide women members
of the political party. Provided, further, That women representation by a
political party shall be equitable whenever at least thirty percent (30%) of
women are nominated as official candidates of the political party. Provided,
further, That the Philippine Commission on Women, with the assistance of
the Commission on Elections, shall certify the equitable nature of
representation by a political party.

SEC. 7. Incentives for Equitable Representation In and By a Political
Party. — A political party registered with the Commission on Elections, and
certified by the Philippine Commission on Women to have equitable
representation as stated in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act, shall be allowed to


access the Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund, established by
virtue of this Act, to fund their women and gender and development agenda,
and to augment funds for the campaign expenditures of their women
candidates.

SEC. 8. Establishment of the Women in Political Parties Empowerment
Fund. — There is hereby established a Women in Political Parties
Empowerment Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "Fund," which shall be
the source of incentives for political parties complying with Section 7 of this
Act. The incentives given to political parties from the Fund shall be used
directly and exclusively for the following purposes:

(a) Development and implementation of the political party's women
and gender and development agenda, and

(b) Finance of the campaign activities of the political party's women
candidates.

The share of each of the political parties from the Fund shall be released
only upon proof that the concerned political party has raised an amount
specifically for the development and implementation of the political party’s
women and gender and development agenda: Provided, That the
notwithstanding Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this Act, no political party shall be
given its share in the Fund until it has given proof that there are political
party funds segregated and reserved for the political party's women and
gender and development agenda: Provided, further. That the amount to be
released shall be equal to the amount so segregated and reserved. Provided,
finally, That unreleased amounts because of the political party's failure to
segregate and reserve such amounts, if any, shall be forfeited and reverted
to the General Fund of the government.

For purposes of this Act, all releases from the Fund during a non-election
year shall be used exclusively for the political.party’s women and gender and
development agenda. Amounts released from the Fund during an election
year shall be divided as follows: (1) sixty percent (60%) shall be used for
campaign expenditures, and forty percent (40%) shall be used for women
and gender and development agenda. The political parties availing of the
incentives from the Fund shall maintain a separate financial account for the
amounts given them by virtue of this Act.

SEC. 9. Allowable Women and Gender and Development Activities. — The
Commission on Elections and the Philippine Commission on Women shalt
provide a comprehensive list of specific activities which shall be considered
as a development and implementation activity under Section 8 of this Act.

SEC. 10. Certification. — A political party which conforms with Section 5
and 6 of this Act, and which desires to be entitled to the incentives, rights
and privileges and to perform the responsibilities, provided in this Act, may
ask for a Certification from the Philippine Commission on Women, under
such rules and regulations as the Philippine Commission on Women shall
prescribe consistent with the provisions of this Act. The criteria in Sections 5
and 6 of this Act shall set the eligibility requirement for the said Certification.
A duly-certified political party shall be entitled to the incentives, rights and


privileges and to perform the responsibilities, as provided in Section 7 and
Section 11 of this Act.

SEC. 11. Full Disclosure. — The Officials of a political party certified by
the Philippine Commission on Women to be eligible and which, in fact, has
availed of the incentives under Section 7 of this Act, shall be required to
submit with the Philippine Commission on Women, the Commission on
Elections and the Commission on Audit a public disclosure of the amounts it
received and the expenditures made thereon at the end of every fiscal year.

SEC. 12. Failure to Comply with Disclosure Requirements. — Failure of a
certified political party to comply with the provisions of this Act, particularly
with Section 11, will result in its disqualification from receiving a share in the
Fund and the forfeiture of all rights and privileges to which the said political
party would have been entitled under this Act.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation
of the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 14. Lead Agency, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The
Philippine Commission on Women is hereby mandated as the regulatory and
certifying agency charged with enforcing the provisions of this Act, and shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause. — If any part, section or provision of this
Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or other issuances, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act, particularly those in Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the
Magna Carta of Women, if any, are hereby repealed, amended or modified

accordingly

SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shail take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,