FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 14 provides that: 
SEC. 14. The State shall protect working women by providing safe and 
healthful working conditions taking into account their maternal 
functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will enhance their 
welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the 
nation. 
In recent studies conducted on women in workplace,, it is shown that the Philippines is 
one of the best place to work for women as the percentage of women in management is the 
highest in Asia.' However, despite the fact that women land management position, there is still a 
wide gap o f  salary between men and women. Moreover, women still have to assert themselves 
more to achieve the same level of success for men. Even in various fields in Science and 
Technology, women are having a hard time performing their job because highly patriarchal 
culture in the workplace.' 
This bill seeks to establish a center that can provide our policymakers with sufficient 
information to assist the women in our workplace. 
' McIndoe, Alastair. In the Philippines, Women Bosses Rule. The Straits Times. October 15,2007 
' 
Marites D. Vitug "Abstract of "The Philippines: Fighting the Patriarchy in Growing Numbers"" Online Ethics 
Center for Engineering. 8/2/2006, National Academy of Engineering. 
IWWW. onlineethics. orglCMS/workplacelworkplacediv/abstractsinde~philippines.aspx~ 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
a 
jijL 21 
7 :44 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT TO MAKE A GRANT 
TO A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF 
WOMEN AND WORKPLACE POLICY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Center for the Study of 
Women and Workplace Policy Act.” 
SECTION 2. Establishment. - The Secretary of Labor and Employment (referred to in 
this Act as the “Secretary”) shall make a grant to public university to establish the “Center for 
the Study of Women and Workplace Policy” (referred to in this Act as the “Center”). The 
Secretary shall extend the grant to the public university most capable of undertaking and 
maintaining the study set forth by this Act. 
SECTION 3. Compilation and Analysis of Data. - The Center established under Section 
2 shall compile and analyze available data and data sets on the difference between the earnings 
of men and women and to identify factors which affect differences in earnings. 
SECTION 4. Dissemination of Findings. - The Center shall-- 
(A) disseminate its findings annually to the public, using a website and any other 
appropriate means; and 
(B) maintain a website to serve as a clearinghouse for the data and findings of relevant 
recent studies the database established and maintained under this Act and to encourage its 
use by interested parties. 
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(C) provide a copy of the findings to the National Commission on the Role of Filipino 
Women 
SECTION 5. Best Practices Guides. - Each year, the Center shall publish one best 
practices guide, as follows: 
(A) Best Practices Guide For Businesses- Not later than one year after the Center is 
established under Section 2, the Center shall publish a best practices guide for businesses 
containing recommended guidelines for-- 
(1) workplace equity; 
(2) retaining women in the workplace; and 
(3) promoting a family-friendly workplace. 
(B) Best Practices Guide For Families- Not later than one year after the publication of the 
best practices guide for businesses under subparagraph (A), the Center shall publish a 
best practices guide for families, containing information about-- 
(1) the policies of various employers relating to workplace equity, retaining 
women in the workplace, and promoting a family-friendly workplace; 
(2) strategies for addressing inequity in the workplace; and 
(3) recent findings on inequity in the workplace. 
(C) Subsequent Editions- The Center shall update, revise, and publish a subsequent 
edition of each of the best practices guides under subparagraphs (A) and (B) once every 
two years after the initial publication of each guide. 
SECTION 6. Report. - Not later than 12 months after receiving a grant under this Act, 
the recipient shall submit to the Secretary and to Congress a report documenting how the 
university used the grant funds and evaluating the level of success of the Center funded by the 
grant. 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 8. 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 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly, 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/apm071108 
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