Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._7350°

Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AG:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed bill seeks to amend Section 58 of Republic Act 8551, otherwise
known as the "Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998" in order
to increase the quota requirement for female PNP officers, and to appropriate funds for the
purpose.

In the complexity of society and human interactions, it is inescapable that women
and children, which are usually the more vulnerable sectors of our society, would be
involved in assorted uncompromising situations requiring police interventions. These
persons require sensitive handling which female police officers, because of their maternal
instincts, can provide generally far better than their male counterparts.

To cater to the special needs of women and children, particularly in relation to
crimes against chastity, sexual harassment and other abuses, Republic Act 8551 of 1998
required the establishment of the Women's Desk and Child Protection in all police stations.
The same law also mandated the recruitment quota for women to ten percent (10%). But
this was twenty-five years ago. Over the years, Philippine population has steadily increased
and, at present, the Philippine population has significantly ballooned as compared to
twenty-five years ago. And so, on the premise that the higher the population, the bigger the
risk for women and children to be involved in undesirable situations requiring police
actions, it is easy to assume that statistically more and more crimes are being committed
against women and children; and that it is now opportune to increase the number of female
personnel of the PNP. The contemplated amendment is a timely response to this need, as
it increases the recruitment quota for female police officers from ten percent (10%) to
fifteen percent (15%)—which is reasonable under extant circumstances.

Moreover, we are constrained to rethink this administrative reform in the wake of
reported abuses perpetrated by male PNP officers against women and children while in
their custody. To preclude these abuses from happening, it should be the policy of the State
that only female police officers should have direct and immediate custody of women and


children brought to the police stations. There is an urgent need to strengthen women and
child protection at the police precincts or other frontline offices; and this proposed bill,
which calls for the increase in the number of women in the police force and the
appropriation of funds for the purpose, is an important step toward this end.

Given the foregoing, the passage of the proposed bill is earnestly sought.

Ys Ad

MARLYN|L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS
istrict, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._7350

AN ACT
INCREASING THE RECRUITMENT QUOTA REQUIREMENT OF
FEMALEPNP OFFICERS, AMENDING SECTION 58 OF REPUBLIC ACT 8551,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Within the next five (5) years, the PNP shall reserve fifteen percent (15%)
of its annual recruitment training and education quota for women; Provided, That the

recruitment quota for women shall be increased to twenty percent (20%) five (5) years
thereafter.

Section 2, The National Police Commission in coordination with the Philippine
National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall
promulgate rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. Such rules
and regulations shall take effect upon their publication in three (3) newspapers of general
circulation

Section 3. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is hereby
authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.

Section 4. All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders,
rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or

amended as the case may be.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,