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Introduced by Senator M.iriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides: 
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation- 
building, and shall ensure the kndamental equality before the law of 
women and men. 
Women have historically been underrepresented in scientific and engineering 
occupations, and although progress has been made over the last several decades, there is 
still room for improvement. 
Female students earn fewer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in science and 
engineering. Among recent bachelors of science and bachelors of engineering graduates, 
women are less likely to be in the labor force, to be employed full-time, and to be 
employed in their field than are men. Moreover, a substantial salary gap exists between 
men and women with doctorates in science and engineering. 
Limited access is the first hurdle faced by women seeking industrial jobs in science 
and engineering. While progress has been made in recent years, common recruitment and 
hiring practices that make extensive 
use of traditional networks often overlook the 
available pool of women. 
Once on the job, many women find paternalism, sexual 
harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, 
different standards for Judging the 
work of men and women, lower salary relative to their male peers, inequitable job 
assignments, and other aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile to women, 
They, to a greater extent than men, find limited opportunities for advancement, 
particularly for moving into management positions, and the number of women who have 
achieved the top levels in corporations is much lower than would be expected. 


This bill seeks to establish a commission that would examine these issues and 
help- 
(A) to focus attention on the importance of eliminating artificial barriers to the 
recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, 
and technology, and in all employment sectors of the Philippines; 
(B) to promote work force diversity; 
(C) to sensitize employers to the need to recruit and retain women and minority 
scientists, engineers, and computer specialists; and 
@) to encourage the replication of successfit1 recruitment and retention 
programs by universities, corporations, and agencies having difficulties in employing 
women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. 
MlRLAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGb 


TI-IIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPmS 
1 
‘First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Seii<itoi MII idm Defensol Sallt W o  
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_-__ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN 
IN SCIENCE, ENGWEFUNG, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the ‘‘Commission on the 
Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology 
Development Act”. 
SECTION 2.Estublishment - There is established a commission to be known as 
the ‘Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, 
and Technology Development’ (in this Act referred to as the ‘Commission’). 
SECTION 3. Duty of the Commission - 
The Commission shall review available 
research, and, if determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional research to- 
(1) identify the number of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the 
Philippines in specific types of occupations in science, engineering, and technology 
development; 
(2) examine the preparedness of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities 
to- 
(A) pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology development; and 
(B) advance to positions o f  greater responsibility within academia, industry, and 
government; 
(3) describe the practices and policies of employers and labor unions relating to the 
recruitment, retention, and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with 
disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and technology development, 


(4) identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers to, the recruitment, 
retention, and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the 
fields of science, engineering, and technology development in academia, industry, and 
government; 
(5) compile a synthesis of available research on lawfbl practices, policies, and 
programs that have successfully led to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of 
women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering, and 
technology development; 
(6) issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies that government 
(including Congress), academia, and private industry can follow regarding the recruitment, 
retention, and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in 
science, engineering, and technology development; 
(7) identifjr the disincentives for women, minorities, and individuals with 
disabilities to continue graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics, and 
computer science; 
(8) identify university undergraduate programs that are successful in retaining 
women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, 
and technology development; 
(9) identifjr the disincentives that lead to a disproportionate number of women, 
minorities, and individuals with disabilities leaving the fields of science, engineering, and 
technology development before completing their undergraduate education; 
SECTION 4Membership - 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT- The Commission shatl be composed of six 
members to be appointed by the President as follows: 
(1) two members from among for-profit entities that hire individuals in the fields 
of engineering, science, or technology development. 
(2) two members from among institutions in education or academia in the fields of 
life science, physical science, or engineering. 


(3) two 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. 
@) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology shall 
automatically seat as chairman of the commission in an ex-qficio capacity 
(c) TERMS- 
(1) lN GENERAL- Each member shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission 
(2) VACANCIES- A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in 
which the original appointment was made 
(d) PAY OF MEMBERS- Members shall not be paid by reason of their service on 
the Commission 
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES- Each member shall receive travel expenses, including 
per diem in an amount to be determined by existing law. 
(f) QUORUM- A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum for the transaction of business. 
(g) MEETINGS- The Commission shall meet not fewer than 5 times in connection 
with and pending the completion of the report described in this act. The Commission shall 
hold additional meetings for such purpose if the Chairperson or a majority of the members 
of the Commission requests the additional meetings in writing. 
SECTION 5 Directors and staff ofthe commisszon; Experts and consultants. 
(a) DIRECTOR- The Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a Director and 
additional personnel as the Commission considers appropriate 
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS- The Cornmission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services to assist in the discharge of the Commission’s finctions 
SECTION 6 Pavers of the Commission. 
(a) “ 3 s  
AND SESSIONS- The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 


receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may 
administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS- Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take by this section. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA- The Commission may secure directly from 
any department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon 
request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency 
shall fUrnish that information to the Commission. 
(d) MAILS- The Commission may use mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the government. 
(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY- To the extent provided in advance in 
appropriations Acts, 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 Commission to carry out its duties under this Act. 
SECTION 7. Reporf -Not later than 1 year after the date on which the initial 
apppintments are completed, the Commission shall submit to the President and the 
Congress a written report containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of 
the Commission resulting from the study conducted under section 3. 
SECTION 8. Conshuction; Use of information obtained - 
a) IN GENERAL- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any non- 
governmental entities such as a business, college or university, foundation, or research 
organization) to provide information to the Commission concerning such entity’s 
personnel policies, including salaries and benefits, promotion criteria, and affirmative 
action plans. 
(b) USE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED- No information obtained from any 
entity by the Commission may be used in connection with any employment related 
litigation. 
SECTION 9. Termination; Access to information. 


a) TERMINATION- The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the 
report required by this act. 
b) ACCESS TO WFORMATION- On or before the date of the termination of the 
Commission under subsection (a), the Commission shall provide to the Department of 
Science and Technology the information gathered by the Commission in the process of 
carrying out its duties under this Act. The department shall act as a central repository for 
such information and shall make such information available to the public, including making 
such information available through the Internet. 
SECTION 10. Review of znformatronprovided by the &partment of science and 
technologv and other agencies - 
(a) PROVISION OF INFORMATION- At the request of the Commission, the 
DOST and any other department or agency shall provide to the Commission any 
information determined necessary by the 
Act, including-- data on academic degrees awarded to women, minorities, and individuals 
with disabilities in science, engineering, and technology development, and workforce 
representation and the retention of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities in the 
fields of science, engineering, and technology development; and 
Commission to carry out its duties under this 
(b) REVIEW OF EVFORMATION- The Commission shall review any information 
provided under subsection (a) and shall include in the report required under section 7-- 
recommendations on how to correct any deficiencies in the collection of the types of 
information described in that subsection, and in the analysis of such data, which might 
impede the characterization of the factors which affect the attraction and retention of 
women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, 
engineering, and technology development; and 
SECTION 11 Authorization ofapproprzafions - 
There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act-- 
(1) P3,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and 
(2) P3,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 


SECTION 12. 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 13. 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. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days aRer 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved. 
EPC 
01 December 1998