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THIRTEENTH CON 
OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
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I Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides: 
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Sectionil4. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, 
and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of men and women. 
Women play ;multiple and vital roles in economic development, but in many 
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developmental activities, their roles have been overlooked, ignored or displaced. 
The full participation of women in, and the full contribution of women to, the 
development process d e  essential to achieving growth, amore equitable distribution of resources 
and services to meet basic needs, a higher quality of life and sustainable development. 
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In food produc-ion, for instance, low-resource women farmers provide the critical labor 
and offer the best hode for increasing food supplies. With access to appropriate extension, 
credit, and marketing services, they can do much more. 
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Women are alsp a major source of entrepreneurial talent in the informal sectors and, with 
access to training and yredit, and other forms of assistance, are expected to account for much of 
the growth in the private sector employment. 
The failure to effectively integrate women in development activities retards achievement 
of development goals., Hence, this bill seeks to promote the integration of women in the 
development process. 
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THIRTEENTH CONdRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILP PINES 
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First Regular Session P 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE INTEGRATION OF WOMEN IN THE 
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 
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Be it enacted b& the Senate and House of Representatives ojthe Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Women in Development 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Strengthening Women in Development Policy .- The head of every 
government depart melt, bureaus or agency shall take the following steps to strengthen the 
women in developmedt policy and shall incorporate the active participation of local women and 
local women’s organizations in its programs, projects and activities (including their involvement 
in the planning, design, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation of the 
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activities). 
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SECTION 3. Establishment of Task Force on Women Development. - There shall be 
established within the epartment a task force on women in development, to be created under the 
Office of the President The task force shall be responsible for - . 
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(I) 
(2) 
strategies to ovkrcome the obstacles to integration of women in the development process, 
(3) 
establishing specific criteria for measuring and evaluating the government’s 
performance in incorporating women in development activities, and developing ways to 
institutionalize 1 a learning within the department on women in development activities in 
formulating its  specific programs of action, 
oversee‘ng the implementation of this Act; 
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’ consult i with indigenous peoples and omen’s organizations in developing 
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(4) 
project paper, d velopment program, as well as all relevant research projects. 
(5) 
enswe t at project and development evaluations of. the government include an 
assessment of the extent to which the project integrates women in the development 
process and of the impact of the project or program on women, including both positive 
and negative i plications of the project or program in enhancing the self-reliance of 
women and im #roving their incomes. 
(6) 
ensure , at strategies, projects, and programs identify and take advantage of 
opportunities t assist women in activities that are of critical significance to their self- 
reliance and development, including (a) appropriate extension and related services to 
low-resource women who are engaged in subsistence or cash crop production, and (b) 
training, technical assistance, credit, and other services to strengthen the managerial skills 
and capabilities of women, with special attention to women’s institutions and women 
entrepreneurs; 
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(7) 
require 1 that efforts to achieve the goal of integrating women into the 
government’s Grograms and activities be an important factor in the personnel evaluation 
process 
(8) 
Act. 
collect s x-disaggregated data for, and include such data in, every department’s 
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and perform other acts necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this 
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Members shall not be paid by reason of their service to the Commission. Each 
member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in an amount to he determined 
by existing law{ 
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discharge of its 
SECTION 4. 
(1) NUMBER 
functions. 
Membership. - 
AND APPOINTMENT - The Commission shall be composed of six 


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(3) two 
organizations 
minorities and 
SECTION 5. 
(1) HEARINGS 
members from among non-governmental organizations, people’s 
or any similar entities that promote and advance the welfare of women, 
individuals with disabilities. 
Powers of the Task Force. - 
AND SESSIONS - The Task force may, for the purpose of carrying out 
considers appropriate. ]It may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. 
(2) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA - The Task Force may secure directly from any 
department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Task Force head, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the 
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Task Force. 
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(3) MAILS - The Task Force may use mails in the same manner and under the same 
conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
(d) 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 Task Force to 
carry out its duties under this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. 
order, letter of instru 
with the provision of 1 
SECTION 8. 
publication in at least 
Approved. 
Fn: 1439 
kpealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
ion, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
is Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
yfectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
vo (2) newspapers of general circulation.