FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE BILL No.-.3.439 
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Introduced by Senator M. A. Madrigal 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Gender violence, specifically violence against women, has been a pervasive 
world-wide problem. To address this issue, the United Nations approved several 
international instruments and urged governments to pursue policies and programs 
that will empower women to advance their rights and welfare, and prevent gender 
violence. 
Thus, in 1979, the Convention on the' Elimination of All Forms of 
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was convened to mobilize State Parties to 
take appropriate actions against violence against women. This paved the way for the 
passage by the UN General Assembly of the D~claration on the Elimination of 
Violence Against Women in December 1979 and the Beijing Platform in 1995. 
In the Philippines, the Constitution itself recognizes the role of women in 
nation building. Furthermore, several laws were legislated recognizing and 
emphasizing women's role in society. Most recently, Republic Act No. 9710, 
otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women, was enacted as our country's 
response to its obligations under the CEDAW. 
Specific measures against violence against women were also enacted, 
including, Republic Act No. 7877, or Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995; Republic 
Act No. 8353, or Anti Rape Law; Republic Act No. 8505, or Rape Victims Assistance 
and Protection Act of 1998; Republic Act No. 9208, or Anti Trafficking in Persons Act 
of 2003; and Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and 
Children Act. 
While these efforts have contributed to' greater awareness against the 
commission of violence against women, the fact remains that physical, sexual, 
psychological, and state violence are still being perpetrated against women. Based 
on the studies conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the 
increase in the number of women victims of violence is never less than 20% a year. 


The culture of violence against women must be stopped. A massive education 
and reorientation on gender roles in society and the important contributions 
specifically of women in society must be incessantly and systematically carried out. 
Legislative measure is one of the instruments that can promote positive values 
towards women, uphold the dignity and human rights of every person in society, 
and appreciate the vital contributions of women and men in national development. 
Towards this end, the United Nations General Assembly, on 17 December 
1999, adopted Resolution 54/134 designating November 25 as the International Day 
for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Said Resolution invites members of 
the United Nations to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the 
problem of violence against women. 
It must be remembered that November 25 is significant to many women's 
organizations and movements worldwide for this was the day when the three 
Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic, who were involved in activities 
against the Trujillo dictatorship, were persecuted and, later on, assassinated in an 
accident on November 25, 1960. The sisters, referred to as the "Inolvidables Mariposas" 
("Unforgettable Butterflies"), have become symbols of victimization of women, and 
symbols against prejudice and stereotype. 
Since 1999, women organizations have been commemorating November 25 as 
the International Day Against Violence Against' Women. Consciousness raising 
activities, protest actions, seminars, and theater presentations are mounted yearly to 
highlight the issue of violence against women. However, due to lack of 
governmental support, the impact of these efforts has been minimal. 
Thus, to have an enabling mechanism for this UN General Assembly 
resolution at the national level, this bill proposes that November 25 of every year be 
observed in the Philippines as a National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of 
Violence against Women and that appropriate mechanisms be made available to 
realize this effort. 
Toward this end, the support of this bill is earnestly sought. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
9 
S. B. NO. 3439 
Introduced by Senator M. A. Madriga\lECF 
AN ACT 
DECLARING NOVEMBER TWENTY -FIVE OF EVERY YEAR AS THE 
NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF 
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in Congress 
Assembled: 
SECTION 1. In recognition of the need to establish a comprehensive and 
structured campaign for national consciousness on against -violence against women, 
November 25 of every year is hereby declared as the "National Consciousness Day 
for the Elimination of Violence Against Women." 
SECTION 2. The following activities shall .be undertaken in observance of 
this occasion: 
(a) Heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, government-owned 
and -controlled corporations, local government un~ts, and employers in the private 
sector shall, together with their employees, organize, engage, or participate in 
activities designed to raise public awareness on the problem of violence against 
women and the elimination of all forms of violence against women. 
(b) The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall be mandated to allocate a 
minimum of one (1) hour airtime for programs exclusively raising public awareness 
on the problem of violence against women and the elimination of all forms of 
violence against women. Relative thereto, all Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng 
Pilipinas-affiliated television and radio networks nationwide are encouraged to 
allocate airtime for said programs. 
(c) Publishers of local newspapers and magazines are encouraged to highlight 
the problem of violence against women and the elimination of all forms of violence 
against women. 


(d) The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in 
coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), women non­
governmental organizations, and other non-governmental organizations advocating . 
for women's human rights, shall lead public and private school communities at all 
levels in organizing consciousness raising activities on the problem of violence 
against women and the elimination of all forms of violence against women. 
SECTION 3. The National Statistics Office (NSO), Philippine National Police 
(PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and all 
Philippine embassies and consulates shall, in coordination with the PCW, undertake 
data gathering and systematization of its database.on all forms of violence against 
women, including Filipino women working or residing abroad. These agencies shall 
consolidate their findings and make a report to the public on the statistics and status 
of violence against women every November 25 of each year. 
SECTION 4. A compliance and monitoring team headed by a duly 
designated representative of the PCW shall be created to coordinate and monitor 
the implementation of this Act. Said team shall be composed of one (1) 
representative from each of the following agencies: 
(a) PCW; 
(b) DSWD; 
(c) DepEd; 
(d) CHEDi 
(e) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
(f) DFA; 
(g) Department of Justice (DOJ); 
(h) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); 
(i) Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA); 
0) Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB); and 


(k) Three (3) representatives of non-governmental organizations from the 
sectors of women, children, and overseas Filipino workers. 
The team shall be headed by the duly designated representative of the PCW. 
Members of the team shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the team in 
accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations . 
. 
SECTION 5. Funds for the implementation of the afore-stated activities, 
programs, and projects shall be taken out of the five percent (5%) Gender and 
Development budget allotted to all government agencies and local government 
units. 
SECTION 6. If, for any reason, any section qr provision of this Act is held 
to be unconstitutional or invalid, the validity of other sections herein shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,