Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 14, Article II, of the 1987 Constitution provides for the fundamental equality of 
the sexes, thus: “The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall 
ensure the fundamental equality before the law of men and women.” The Labor Code 
further strengthens this constitutional provision under Article 135 which substantially 
provides, “It shall be unlawful for any employer to discriminate against any woman 
employee with respect to terms and conditions of employment solely on account of 
her sex.” 
Discrimination by reason of sex is usually affected by subtle and elusive means, 
especially in employment advertising. This discrimination is widespread and done 
publicly, notwithstanding the above express provisions of the law.  
The main objective of this bill is to institutionalize the protection given to both sexes 
by eliminating gender discrimination in employment advertising and by providing 
penalties for violations thereof. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
November 10, 2022
2:54 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING GENDER DISCRIMINATION 
IN EMPLOYMENT ADVERTISING  
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 “Anti-Gender 
Discrimination in Employment Advertising Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to ensure the 
equality of men and women by prohibiting gender discrimination in job opportunities 
advertising.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) 
“Employer” includes any person acting in the interest of an employer, either 
directly or indirectly. The term shall not include any labor organization or any of 
its officers or agents except when acting as an employer. 
(B) 
“Labor Organization” means any union or association of employees which exists 
in whole or in part for the purpose of collective bargaining or of dealing with 
employees, concerning terms and conditions of employment. 
(C) 
“Private Employment Agency” means any person or entity engaged in the 
recruitment and placement of workers for a fee which is charged, directly or 
indirectly, from the workers or employers or both.
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(D)  “Recruitment and placement” refers to any act of canvassing, enlisting, 
contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, procuring workers and other similar 
acts, and includes referrals, locally or abroad, whether for profit or not: Provided, 
that any person or entity which, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee 
employment to two or more persons shall be deemed engaged in recruitment 
and placement.  
 
SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. –  
(1)  It shall be unlawful discriminatory practice for any employer, whether for profit or 
not, any labor organization or any private employment agency to print, circulate 
or publish or cause to be printed, circulated or published any statement, 
circulation or publication relating to employment by such an employer or 
membership in or any classification or referral for employment by such an 
employment agency, indicating any preference, limitation, specification or 
discrimination, based on sex, except that such a notice or advertisement may 
indicate a preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based on sex 
when sex is a bona fide occupational qualification for employment.  
 
(2)  It shall be unlawful discriminatory practice for any person to aid, abet, incite, 
compel, or coerce the doing of any of the acts forbidden under this section or to 
attempt to do so.  
 
SECTION 5. Certification of Exemption. – The Department of Labor and 
Employment shall have the power and it shall be its duty to certify upon request of 
any person that a particular occupation or position is exempt from the provisions of 
this Act relating to unlawful employment practices if the Department of Labor and 
Employment finds that the occupation or position reasonably requires the 
employment of a person or persons of a particular sex and that such certification is 
not sought as a means of circumventing the spirit and purpose of this Act. The burden 
of proving the facts required for such a finding shall be on the person requesting the 
certification of exemption form the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 6. Placement of Discriminatory Advertisement. – The placement of an 


 
 
advertisement in columns classified by publishers on the basis of sex, such columns 
headed “Male” or “Female” will be considered an expression of preference, limitation, 
specification or discrimination based on sex provided that the advertisement shall 
contain a sufficient notice that it is covered by the exemption to be determined by the 
Department of Labor and Employment as provided in Section 5 hereof.  
 
SECTION 7. Prevention of Unlawful Employment Practices. – Whenever there is 
a charge in writing under oath by a person claiming to be aggrieved, or a written 
charge has been filed by the Department of Labor and Employment or its authorized 
representative where there is a reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this Act 
has occurred that an employer, private employment agency or labor organization has 
engaged in an unlawful employment practice, the Department of Labor and 
Employment shall furnish such employer, private employment agency or labor 
organization with a copy of such charge and make an investigation of such charge, 
provided that such charge shall not be made public by the Department of Labor and 
Employment. If the Department of Labor and Employment shall determine after such 
investigation, that there is a reasonable cause to believe that the charge is true, the 
Department of Labor and Employment shall endeavor to eliminate any such alleged 
unlawful employment practice.  
 
SECTION 8. Regulations. – The Department of Labor and Employment shall 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 9. Scope. – The provisions of this Act shall apply only to employment 
advertising by private employer, labor organization, private employment agency and 
other private entities.  
 
SECTION 10. Penalties. – Any violation of this Act shall be punished with a fine of 
not less than ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than three 
(3) months or both, at the discretion of the court. If the offense is committed by a 
corporation, trust, firm, partnership or association or other such entity, the penalty 
shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of such corporation, trust, firm, 
partnership, association or entity. 
 


 
 
SECTION 11. 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 12. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly.  
 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,