FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
I 
<I# -3 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
Senate Bill No. 632 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides, "The State recognizes the 
role of women in nation-building, a nd shall ensure the fundamental equality 
before the law of women and men." 
Women play multiple and vital roles in economic development, but in 
many 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 are essential to achieving growth, a more equitable 
distribution of resources and services to meet basic needs, a higher quality of 
life, and sustainable development. 
In food production, for instance, low-resource women farmers provide the 
critical labor and offer the best hope for increasing food supplies. With access to 
appropriate extension, credit, and marketing services, they can do much more. 
Women are also a major source of entrepreneurial talent in the informal 
sectors and with access to training, credit, 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. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
\ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 
,ill~.-3 
First Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 
632 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE INTEGRATION OF WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT 
PROCESS 
Be if 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 in 
Development AcP'. 
Sec 2. Strengthening women in development policy. - The head of every 
government department, bureaus or agency shall take the following steps to 
strengthen the women in development 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 activities.) 
Sec 3. Establishment of Task Force on Women Development. - 
(1) 
There sh all be established within every department a task 
force on women in development, to be created under the 
Office of the Secretary. The task force shall be responsible for 
(a) 
(b) 
overseeing the implementation of this Act; 
consult with indigenous peoples and women's organizations 
in developing strategies to overcome the obstacles to 
integration of women in the development process; 
establishing specific criteria for measuring and evaluating the 
government's performance in incorporating women in 
development 
activities, 
and 
developing 
ways 
to 
institutionalize learning on women in development activities. 
Such criteria shall be adopted by each government 
department and agency in formulating its specific programs of 
action; 
(c) 


collect sex-disaggregated data for, and include such data in, 
every department's project paper, developmental program, as 
well as all relevant research projects; 
ensure that project and program 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 implications of the project or 
program in enhancing the self-reliance of women and 
improving their incomes; 
ensure that strategies, projects, and programs identify and 
take advantage of opportunities to 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; 
require that efforts to achieve the goal of integrating women 
into the government's programs and activities be an 
important factor in the personnel evaluation process; and 
perform other acts necessary to effectively carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
Members shall not be paid by reason of their service on the 
Task Force. Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in an amount to be determined by existing 
law. 
The Task Force may procure temporary and intermittent 
services to assist in the discharge of its functions. 
Sec 4. Membership, Number and Appointment - The Task Force shall be 
composed of six (6) members to be appointed by the Secretary as follows: 
two (2) senior-level staff, regarding the integration of women 
in development process; 
two (2) members from among institutions in education or 
academia in the fields of women studies: 
(1) 
(2) 
two 
(2) 
members 
from 
among 
non-governmental 
organizations, people's organizations or any similar entities 
that promote and advance the welfare of women, minorities 
and individuals with disabilities who shall be in decision 
making positions. 
(3) 
Sec 5. Powers of the Task Force. 


(1) Hearings and Sessions - The Task Force may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as it 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 Task Force; 
(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; 
(4) Contract Authority - To the extent provided in advance in appropriations 
act, 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. 
Sec 6. 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. 
Sec 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
Sec 8. fffecfivify Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,