NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
S. B. No.
SENATE
J.U
tiSKifi’ of riv:mup
24 SEP-4 A 8 -41
RL:CL! .'. uG’
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"SAFE SPACES ACT" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
The passage of Safe Spaces Act or the Bawal Bastos Law in 2019 is 
undeniably a step in the right direction as this measure is able to set a clear 
definition of gender-based sexual harassment, which may occur in the streets, public 
spaces, online, workplaces, and educational or training institutions.
Despite this progress, the recent public hearings of the Senate Committee on 
Public Information and Mass Media revealed that sexual harassment in the 
workplace remains active and rampant. It was further observed that employers, 
particularly large corporations, could easily evade compliance with their obligations 
under the Safe Spaces Act given the grossly small amount of applicable fines.
In order to ensure compliance, this representation seeks to amend the said 
law by imposing heavier penalties. From a fine ranging from five thousand pesos 
(P5,000.00) to ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for an employer’s failure to take 
proper measures to combat gender-based sexual harassment, or failure to create an 
internal mechanism or a committee on decorum, this measure seeks to increase the 
amount to an amount no less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but 
not more than three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00).


In the case of failure of the employer to act upon sexual harassment 
complaints, this measure seeks to impose a penalty ranging from three hundred 
thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) 
significantly increasing it from it current penalty of fine in the amount not less than ten 
thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than fifteen thousand pesos 
(P15,000.00).
To better achieve the intention of this representation, an amendment is 
likewise introduced to include an automatic award of exemplary damages in the 
amount of three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) in the event of conviction.
Finally, recognizing the stigma and social exclusion that go together with 
coping with the trauma caused by sexual harassment, this measure likewise seeks to 
increase the prescriptive period for filing a complaint from five (5) years to ten (10) 
years.
It is for the above-mentioned reasons that the passage of this measure is 
earnestly sought.
OBINHDOD C. PADILLA
/ Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. 2^10
•; V 
of tij? fi' ■
24 SEP-4 A 8 -41
Ri:.ci;i ,'tD :r. .
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"SAFE SPACES ACT" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 11313 otherwise known as the "Safe
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Spaces Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Section 19. Liability of Employers. — In addition to liabilities for
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committing acts of gender-based sexual harassment, employers may also be
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held responsible for:
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(a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section 17 of this Act, as
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provided in the penal provisions; or
8 
(b) Not taking action on reported acts of gender-based sexual
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harassment committed in the workplace.
10 
Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, shall upon
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conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than [Five] ONE HUNDRED
12 
thousand pesos (f[5] 100,000.00) nor more than [Ten] THREE HUNDRED
13 
thousand pesos (P[i]300,000.00).
14 
Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section, shall upon
15 
conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than [Ten] THREE HUNDRED


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thousand pesos (f[i]300/000.00) nor more than [Fifteen] FIVE HUNDRED 
thousand pesos (F[i]500,000.00).
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTIONS (A) OR (B) OF 
THIS SECTION SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE MADE LIABLE TO PAY 
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00)"
7 
Sec. 2. Section 36 of Republic Act No. 11313 is likewise amended to read as
8 
follows:
"Section 36. Prescriptive Period. — Any action arising from the violation 
of any of the provisions of this Act shall prescribe as follows:
(a) XXX
(b) XXX
(c) XXX
(d) XXX
(e) Offenses committed under Sections 16 and 21 of this Act shall 
prescribe in [five (5)] TEN (10) years."
Sec. 3. Separabiiity Cause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain 
in full force and effect.
Sec. 4. Repealing Cause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, and rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 5. Effectivity Cause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,
i