'. '©ffisf gllii'S1 ■■
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. AAi?
•22 WJG -9 P5 '42
I
received BY. .,„L.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FILIPINO WOMEN AND 
CREA1INO 1 appropriating funds therefor
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Some freedom and privileges women enjoy today are brought by the victories 
from long and arduous struggles that the women from generations before us had fought
for.
Filipino women were only granted the right to suffrage in 1937 as a result of the 
relentless campaign for suffrage by Purificacion "Pura Kalaw" Garcia Villanueva and 
women groups.1 And ever since Geronima Pecson was elected as the first Fihpino woman 
to become Senator in 1947, women's fight for rights and equahty has continuously been
promoted in the legislature.
For decades, the women's movement worked to address the narrow defiration of 
rape under the law, which was defined as a crime against chastity and not as a crime 
against persons. Such definition hindered effective prosecution of the crime and 
burdened the victims thereof. It was only in 1997 that rape was changed from a cnme
1 
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against chastity to a crime against persons, all due to women groups who fiercely sought 
social change.
While the fight is far from over as many Filipino women still face inequaUty and 
oppression in various forms, it is just right to commemorate the bravery of Filipino 
women who fearlessly fought for all other women to be granted participation in shaping 
the nation and to enjoy privileges on equal footing with men.
In this regard, this bill seeks to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of 
women to economic progress and nation-building; to celebrate women whose various 
individual and collective actions significantly advanced the national effort to conquer 
inequality, discrimination, and deprivation; to raise awareness and build an appreciation 
of history and the role that women have played in its making; to honor the heroism of 
women who played a significant role in the national struggle against colonialism and 
foreign invasion; to acknowledge the suffering borne by women who were coerced into 
sexual slavery durmg World War II and support their call for reparation and justice; and 
to honor individual women, including women and girls with disabilities, whose specific 
achievements have caused a positive impact on and enriched aU aspects of Filipino life.
To carry out the above poHcy, this bill seeks to establish a National Museum of 
Filipino Women under the administration and supervision of the Phihppine Commission
on Women.
view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
Ot ^ ' "■-%t ‘VP
72 AUG “9 P5 *42
SENATE
S. No. 1115
ftl'CEIVt 3 BY; /
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FILIPINO WOMEN AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Museum
2 
of Filipino Women Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
4 
a. Acknowledge the remarkable contributions of women to economic progress
5 
and nation building and the preservation and promotion of the Filipino way of
6 
life;
7 
b. Celebrate women whose various individual and collective actions significantly
8 
advanced the national 
effort to conquer inequatity, discrimination, and
9 
deprivation;
10 
c. Raise awareness and build an appreciation of history and the role that women
11 
have played in its making;
12 
d. Honor the heroism of women who played a significant role in the national
13 
struggle against colonialism and foreign invasion;
14 
e. Commemorate modern-day heroines and women martyrs who struggled
15 
against injustice, oppression, and exploitation, especially during the Martial
16 
Law era in the Philippines;


1 
f. Acknowledge the suffering borne by women who were coerced into sexual
2 
slavery during World War II and support their call for reparation and justice;
3 
and
4 
g. Honor individual women, including women and girls with disabilities, whose
5 
specific achievements have caused a positive impact on and enriched all
6 
aspects of Filipino life.
7 
Sec. 3. Creation. - To carry out the above policy, the National Museum of Filipino
8 
Women is hereby created and established under the admuustration and supervision of
9 
the Philippine Commission on Women.
10 
Sec. 4. Organization, Operation, and Administration. - The Phihppine Commission
11 
on Women shall, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management,
12 
determine the organizational structure and operational requirements of the National
13 
Museum of Fihpino Women, and ensure that consultative mechanisms are integrated into
14 
its institutional plaiming and development.
15 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days aftei the
16 
approval of this Act, the Philippine Commission on Women shah, in consultation with
17 
the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, National Museum of the Philippines,
18 
National Historical Commission of the PhiHppines, Commission on Human Rights,
19 
Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education and at least three (3)
20 
women's and civil society organizations, formulate rules and regulations as may be
21 
necessary for its proper implementation.
22 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the immediate implementation
23 
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
24 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, a provision or section of this Act is
25 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other sections or provisions not affected thereby
26 
shall remain in full force and effect.
27 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules
28 
and regulations, and other issuance or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of
29 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


1 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 2 publication
2 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,