FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Violence against women creates a devastating effect not only on their physical 
and emotional well-being. It affects not only the victim herself, but the people around her, 
as well as future generations. To address this concern, the State needs a program to 
implement and enhance the protection of females. Toward this end, the State shall 
provide a more responsive scheme of prevention. 
Without a defense mechanism, the physically weaker gender is likely vulnerable 
to assault, harassment, rape and other violence. The pain, trauma, humiliation and 
damage inflicted on the victims are irreversible. 
This bill seeks to mandate that basic self-defense techniques be taught to enable 
females to protect themselves in the event of imminent danger. This is based on the 
principle that self-defense is an instinct that needs to be developed. 
The alarming upsurge of such (heinous) crimes has resulted not only in the loss 
of human lives and wanton destruction of property, but has also affected then nation's 
efforts towards sustainable economic development and prosperity. At the same time, it 
has undermined the people's faith in the Government and the latter's ability to maintain 
peace and order in the country. 
female. 
Thus, there is an urgent need to impose that self-defense be taught to every 
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IOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF TIHE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T  7 
S.B. 19 Sfi 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE RIGHTS 
OF FILIPINO 
WOMEN 
13Y 
I'ROVIDING ITS FREE ACCESS TO FEMALE CONSTITUENTS, AND 
FOR OTIIER PURPOSES 
INTEGRATING 
THE 
TEACHING 
OF 
SELF-DEFENSE 
AND 
SECTION 1. Title. 
This Act shall be known as the "Women in the 
Further Eradication of Rape and Violence through Self-Defense". 
For its easy recognition, it shall be popularized as "The MOTHER Act" 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
It is hereby declared that the State 
policy on the role of women in nation-building and their fundamental equality 
h c h e  the law of women and men should be fully endeavoured for realization. 
To this end, this Act seeks to prevent sexual harassment, assaults and 
other forms of abuses by enabling women to develop and be given opportunity to 
have knowledge of self-defense. With proper technique, sei€-defense results in 
confidence, good disposition and quick reflexes io the face of imminent danger. 
It is an opportune time that the State addresses the same in the perspective of 
violence and similar crimes perpetuated against women. 
A suitable basic and non-complicated program of self-defense acccssible 
to ;ill will he incorporated in the following training course: 


a. as part of the Physical Education program of the Department of Education 
(DepEd) for female students in the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools; 
b. as part of the Technical and Vocational Education for female students of 
technical and vocational schools and training centers under the supervision of 
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; 
c. as part of the day-to-day routine of female employees, as well as the out-of- 
school female constituents in each Barangay, Municipality, Provincial, of the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
d. all female employees of the private government and semi-government officers, 
under the supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); 
e. all female employees of all government offices under the supervision of the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC); 
f. 
the overseas Filipino contract workers (OCWs) under the jurisdiction of the 
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); 
g. all females traveling abroad as migrants, whether on short or long-term journeys, 
supervised by the Department of Foreign Affairs; 
h. all females associated in any group, organization, NGOs under their respective 
umbrella organizations. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms: For purpose of this Act. 
a. “Basic Self-Defense Training” meaning the ability of an individual female to 
discern “at-risk“ situations and the instinctive reaction using reflexes and 
judgment for protection against and impending danger. 
b. “Females” are girls of and beyond school age, young and old, regardless of 
socio-economic and marital status, calling, sect and location of residence; 
c. “MOTHER” is the self-defense discipline designed taking into consideration 
the characteristics of a Filipina; 
d. “Government Agencies” are the branches of Government which are the 
implementing arms of this Bill; the Department of Education (DepEd); the 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Department of Foreign 
Affairs (DFA); all private government, semi-government sectors that have an 
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authority power to mandate this Act to females under their respective 
jurisdictions; 
e. “Female Groups” are the NGOs, school, workplace, congregations and 
associations, safe houses, halfway houses, orphanages, where females 
abound, not included in the above classifications; 
f. “Public and Private Schools’’ mean the elementary, primary, secondary 
and tertiary learning institutions operating outside the jurisdiction of DepEd; 
and 
g. “Advance Self-Defense Training’’ means the rigid training for females to 
enable those deployed in high-risk areas, overseas employment to defend 
themselves. 
SEC. 4. Establishment of the Movement to Help Eradicate Rape and Other 
Female Abuses (MOTHER). - To achieve the above objectives, the Movement to Help 
Eradicate Rape (MOTHER), having the rank of a Committee, is hereby established 
(hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”. 
The Committee shall be an independent entity, separate from the DepEd, DFA, 
DlLG and DOLE, and attached to the Office of the President for administrative purposes 
only. Its coverage shall be both public and private institutions as stipulated in this Act. 
SEC. 5. Components. -The components of the MOTHER program are: 
a. 
Prevention through Basic Self Defense and Practical Rape Prevention 
Techniques. 
As an introductory program, comprising of theories discussed in a 
seminar with handouts and film showings as well as the mass media. 
To provide the techniques lectures to create Awareness, Education, 
Mental Preparedness, Do’s and Don’ts; Developing Self Confidence 
and Removing Fear, Knowing the vital weak points; Developing one’s 
strengths; Enhancing of weaknesses; Creating opportunities for 
escaping threatening situations. 
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b. 
Advance training-comprised of hands-on and actual drills, practicum 
and continuous training; 
Continuing Education, Refresher Courses, Crisis Intervention; and 
Certification - to eradicate proof of training, participants of the Self 
Defense basic and advanced training course will be certified after 
completion of the corresponding requirements. 
C. 
d. 
SEC. 6. Composition of the Committee. - The Committee shall be composed 
of five (5) full time members. During the transition period, which begins upon approval of 
this Act, the President may appoint the Interim Chairman for a maximum period of one 
(1) year. Thereafter, the President shall appoint a Chairman of the Committee and four 
(4) Commissioners who shall be holders of earned doctorate(s) who have been actively 
engaged in self-defense training or equivalent qualifications. They shall be educators 
known for their high degree of professionalism and integrity who have distinguished 
themselves as authorities in the self-defense field. In no case shall any of the 
Commissioners appoint representatives to act on their behalf. 
SEC. 7. Term of Office. -The President shall appoint the full-time chairman and 
the commissioners for a term of four (4) years, without prejudice to their appointment. 
The term of the initial appointees shall be on staggered basis: the full-time chairman 
shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, the next two (2) commissioners for three (3) 
years, and the last two (2) commissioners for two years. 
SEC. 8. Board of Advisers. - There shall be constituted a Board of Advisers, 
which shall meet with the Committee at least once a year to assist it in aligning its 
policies and plans with the cultural, political and socio-economic development needs of 
the nation and with the demands of the project. The Board of Advisers shall be 
composed of the Secretaries of DepEd, DFA, DILG, DOLE, the Chief of the Philippine 
National Police and the Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment 
Administration. 
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SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the Committee. - The Commission shall 
have the following powers and functions: 
a. 
Through the assistance of the Philippine National Police, formulation, 
recommendation, and enforcement of a suitable self-defense module for 
females which will be called "MOTHER." 
Ensure that the program is introduced and implemented on a gradual, staggered 
basis to all females in the various government agencies, monitor and evaluate 
the performance of the program; 
Formulate rules and regulations and exercise other powers and functions as 
may be necessary to carry out effectively the purpose and objectives of this Act; 
and 
Perform other functions as may be necessary for its effective operations and for 
the continued enhancement, improvement or development of the program. 
b. 
c. 
d. 
SEC. I O .  Basic or Central Provisions. -Article 2, Section 14 of the Constitution 
declares: "The State recognizes the role of women in nation building and shall ensure 
the fundamental equality before law of women and men. Violence against women has a 
devastating impact on women's physical and emotional health and, as an answer to the 
needs of the changing times, the State clearly recognizes the need to fight against all 
forms of abuse penetrated against women as part of its duty and obligation to serve and 
protect them. 
The preventive measures provided under this Act encompass the State's 
response to increasing incidents of sexual harassment and abuse committed on women 
in today's society. 
SEC. 11. Rape Awareness and Prevention Week. - The second Sunday of 
May every year shall usher the "Rape Awareness and Rrevention Week," coinciding with 
the celebration of Mother's Day. 
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SEC. 12. Implementation. - In collaboration with the cooperating government 
institutions for the proper implementation of this Act, the Committee shall oversee the 
implementation of this Act by the various government agencies concerned, to wit: 
a. The Department of Education - shall ensure that all female students have an 
access to the MOTHER self-defense program, incorporated in their physical 
education (PE) curriculum in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels; 
b. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - shall ensure that all 
female employees in all the DILG attached agencies, including the out-of-school 
youth in every barangay have an access to the self-defense training sessions; 
c. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - shall mandate that all 
females employed in the private and government sectors, locally or overseas, are 
provided the opportunity to undertake the necessary self-defense training 
modules; 
d. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration - shall mandate that all 
prospective female OCW's who are applying for foreign employment, are 
mandated to undergo training as part of the orientation prior to taking up their 
assignment. 
e. The Department of Foreign Affairs - shall require the every Filipina wishing to go 
out of the country for any purpose is required to have a basic self-defense 
knowledge; and 
f. All other government agencies, private corporations, and those not covered by 
the above Departments, shall enable their female constituents to acquire the 
basic self-defense knowledge. 
SEC. 13. Collaboration with NGO's - There shall be MOTHER Chapters to be 
formed in collaboration with NGOs, which will support the maximum awareness and 
implementation of the program. 
SEC. 14. The Secretariat. - The Committee shall be assisted by a secretariat, 
headed by an executive officer, subject to the national compensation and position 
classification plan. It shall fix the secretariat's staffing pattern, determine the duties, 


qualifications, responsibilities and functions, as well as the compensation scheme of the 
positions, to be created upon the recommendation of the executive officer. It shall also 
prepare and approve its budget. 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, or issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, rules of regulations inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 16. Appropriation. - A  fund hereinafter referred to as “Prevention against 
rape and other female abuses fund” or “MOTHER Fund is hereby established 
exclusively for the implementation of the self-defense training program in the entire 
country. 
a. The Government‘s contribution to the Fund shall be the following: 
1. Appropriation from the National Treasury: for the initial operation of the 
Committee, such sum as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be 
appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the sums necessary for the 
continuous operation of the program shall be included in the appropriations for 
the respective government agencies concerned namely: the Department of Labor 
and Employment, the Department of Education and the Department of Foreign 
Affairs; and 
2. An amount equivalent to one percent (1%) of the gross sales of the lotto 
operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shall be 
contributed to the Committee for its operational expenses. 
b. Starting fiscal year 2008 and every year thereafter, the government financing 
institutions identified and requested by the Committee may contribute to the Fund 
an amount as deemed necessary for the implementation of the program. 
c. The fund shall have a private component to be raised from donations, gifts, and 
other conveyances by gratuitous title, including materials, equipment, properties 
and services. 
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SEC. 17. Management and Administration of the MOTHER Fund. -The Fund 
shall be administered by the Committee. For sound and judicious management of the 
Fund, Committee shall appoint a reputable government financial institution as a portfolio 
manager of the Fund, subject to the conditions set by the Committee. 
As Administrator of the Fund, the Committee shall prepare the necessary 
guidelines for its use, subject to the conditions set by the Committee: 
a. No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings, thereof, shall be used 
to underwrite overhead expenses for the administration; 
b. Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donors, only earnings of private 
contributions shall be used for administrative expenses; 
c. The Commission shall appoint and organize a separate staff, which shall be 
independent administratively and in its budget, from the Committee Secretariat; 
and 
d. The Fund shall be utilized equitable accordingly to regions. 
SEC. 18. Technical Committees. - The Committee shall reconstitute andlor 
organize a technical panel whose job description is to formulate, review, evaluate, 
restructure, and improve the module of self-defense discipline based on the criteria: 
a. The model self-defense program shall be called “MOTHER.” 
b. The Mother Self-Defense discipline shall give due consideration to 
cultural heritage and image of the Filipina and her culture. 
c. Due consideration shall be given to the strength, weakness, and other 
qualities of the individuals. 
d. Discipline will be the primordial aim that will be inculcated in each and 
every MOTHER-trained participant. 
SEC. 19. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect. 
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SEC. 20. Effectivity Date. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the 
date of its publication in at least (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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