Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 9667
____________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative GERALDINE B. ROMAN 
______________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Among the basic tenets of the 1987 Philippine Constitution are: 1) the recognition 
of the role of women in nation-building; and 2) the safeguard of the fundamental equality 
before the law of women and men. The Magna Carta of Women spells out these policies 
to eradicate discrimination by acknowledging, defending, accomplishing, and fostering the 
rights of Filipino women, particularly those in the marginalized and the vulnerable. The 
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to 
which the Philippines has acceded, provides the basis for realizing equality between 
women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, 
political and public life.  Thus far, women stay tapered in number in the affairs of state. 
As of January 2023, official data on women in public service provided by the 
Philippine Statistics Authority indicates that 1) one out of four (23.4%) elected public 
officials in the recent elections were females; 2) almost one out of three (27.3%) of all 
Members of the House of Representatives are women; 3) there is an increasing proportion 
of Filipino women who were elected into public office since 1988 – from 16.1% in 1988 to 
23.4% in the last elections; 4) almost one out of five (17.8%) commissioned officers were 
women; 5) slightly more than half (55.8%) of all government personnel are women; and 6) 
to some extent, there are more (54.3%) female judges than men in the Philippines.     
As an outcome of continuous enhancement from the 16th, 17th and 18th 
Congresses, this bill seeks to promote women participation and representation in and by 
political parties by giving incentives through the Women in Political Parties Empowerment 
Fund upon compliance with the requisites of the 40-60 gender quota scheme.   
The ends of equality, development and peace can only be realized with the dynamic 
involvement of women and the integration of their standpoint in all stages of decision-
making in all aspects of politics and public life.   
Hence, the enactment of this bill is strongly pursued. 
GERALDINE B. ROMAN 
December 4, 2023
6:50 pm


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 9667
______________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative GERALDINE B. ROMAN 
______________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN AND BY 
POLITICAL PARTIES, GIVING INCENTIVES THEREFOR, CREATING THE WOMEN IN 
POLITICAL PARTIES EMPOWERMENT FUND, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Women Participation and 
Representation in Political Parties Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 14, Article II (State Policies) 
of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which recognizes the role of women in nation-building 
and ensures fundamental equality before the law of men and women, and to Section 14, 
Article XIII (Social Justice and Human Rights) of the same Constitution, which makes it an 
obligation of the State to provide facilities and opportunities for women that will enhance 
and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation, it is hereby 
declared the policy of the State to promote women participation and equitable 
representation of women by providing incentives to political parties which have women 
10 


 
agenda and which have internal policies which promote women participation and equitable 
1 
representation.  
2 
 
Further, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as Magna Carta of 
3 
Women states that, “The State shall undertake temporary special measures to accelerate 
4 
the participation and equitable representation of women in all spheres of society 
5 
particularly in the decision-making and policy-making processes in government and private 
6 
entities to fully realize their role as agents and beneficiaries of development.” Likewise, 
7 
Section 11 (e) of the Magna Carta of Women, provides incentives to political parties with 
8 
women’s agenda. It shall likewise encourage the integration of women in the leadership 
9 
hierarchy, internal policy-making structures, appointive and electoral nominating 
10 
processes”.  
11 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
12 
(a) Lawful election expenses and expenditures shall refer to any type of expense 
13 
incurred, regardless of source and purpose, that relates directly or indirectly, to 
14 
the conduct of the electoral campaign of a woman candidate. It includes all 
15 
payments of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to 
16 
spend, for the purpose of influencing the results of the elections. It includes the 
17 
use of office space and facilities personally owned by the woman candidate, the 
18 
monetary value of which shall be assessed based on the market rates prevailing 
19 
in a particular area: Provided, That for purposes of this Act, the term shall refer 
20 
exclusively and specifically to campaign expenditures of women candidates. 
21 
(b) Certified political party shall refer to a political party qualified to receive 
22 
incentives for the development and implementation of its women and gender and 
23 
development agenda and to augment funds reserved for the campaign 
24 
expenditures of its women candidates, and certified as such by the Commission 
25 
on Elections (COMELEC), with the assistance of the Philippine Commission on 
26 
Women (PCW). 
27 


 
(c) Disclosure requirement shall refer to the duty of women candidates and political 
1 
parties, as defined in this Act, to reveal the details of the incentives and 
2 
expenditures given and received by them as incentives and their share in the 
3 
Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund. 
4 
(d) Woman member of a political party shall refer to a biological or transgender 
5 
woman of good standing in a political party who complied with the requirements 
6 
of party membership, including the payment of membership dues, and coming 
7 
from the women sector. 
8 
(e) Political party shall refer to a political party, party-list or an organized group of 
9 
persons duly registered with the Commission on Elections, pursuing or 
10 
advocating a platform, principles and policies for the general conduct of 
11 
government and for women’s empowerment, and which nominates and supports 
12 
its members as candidates for public office. 
13 
(f) Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund shall refer to the fund for the 
14 
development and implementation of a political party’s women and gender and 
15 
development agenda, and which may be used to augment funds for the 
16 
campaign activities of women candidates, as provided for by this Act. 
17 
 
SEC. 4. Development and Implementation of a Women and Gender and 
18 
Development Agenda. - Political parties are mandated to craft and implement a clear 
19 
women and gender and development agenda and program consistent with their party 
20 
philosophy and ideals. The members of the political party shall endeavor to act in 
21 
accordance with this agenda and pursue programs to fulfill party commitments. This 
22 
agenda shall form part of the requirements for the accreditation of political parties by the 
23 
COMELEC. The PCW shall assist the political parties in development of this agenda. 
24 
 
SEC. 5. Participation and Representation in Political Parties. - Women 
25 
representation in a political party shall refer to the integration of women in the leadership 
26 
of a political party and its internal policy-making structures: Provided, That such leaders 
27 


 
are bona fide women members of the political party: Provided, further, That representation 
1 
shall be within the gender quota, wherein the percentage of either females or males in a 
2 
political party shall not be less than forty percent (40%) nor more than sixty percent (60%) 
3 
of the leadership and internal policy-making structures of the political party: Provided 
4 
further, That political parties participating in the party-list system may still qualify for the 
5 
incentive for as long as the percentage of females in their leadership and internal policy-
6 
making structure is at least forty percent (40%) even if it exceeds sixty percent (60%).  
7 
Provided, finally, That the COMELEC, shall certify the ratio of representation of women 
8 
and men in a political party. 
9 
 
SEC. 6. Participation and Representation by Political Parties. - Women 
10 
representation by a political party shall refer to the nomination of women as official 
11 
candidates of the political party to elective positions in the government: Provided, That 
12 
such nominees are bona fide women members of the political party: Provided, further, That 
13 
representation shall be within the gender quota, wherein the percentage of either females 
14 
or males by a political party shall not be less than forty percent (40%) nor more than sixty 
15 
percent (60%) of those nominated as official candidates of the political party: Provided 
16 
further, That political parties participating in the party-list system may still qualify for the 
17 
incentive if at least three (3) of their nominees are female: Provided, further, That the 
18 
COMELEC, shall certify the ratio of representation of women and men by a political party 
19 
and substitution of women nominees by male candidates shall not be allowed. Any 
20 
substitution made in violation thereof, shall cause the political party to return the amount 
21 
released to it through the women empowerment fund.  
22 
 
SEC. 7. Incentives for Women Representation In and By A Political Party. - A 
23 
political party registered with and certified by the COMELEC to have women representation 
24 
as stated in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act, shall be allowed to access the Women in Political 
25 
Parties Empowerment Fund, established by virtue of this Act, to fund their women and 
26 


 
gender and development agenda, and to augment funds for the campaign expenditures of 
1 
their women candidates. 
2 
 
SEC. 8. Establishment of the Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund. 
3 
- There is hereby established a Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund, hereinafter 
4 
referred to as the “Fund,” which shall be the source of incentives for political parties 
5 
complying with Section 7 of this Act. The incentives given to political parties from the Fund 
6 
shall be used directly and exclusively for the following purposes: 
7 
(a) Development and implementation of the political party’s women and gender and 
8 
development agenda, and 
9 
(b) Finance of the campaign activities of the political party’s women candidates. 
10 
 
The share of each of the political parties from the Fund shall be released only upon 
11 
proof that the concerned political party has raised an amount specifically for the 
12 
development and implementation of the political party’s women and gender and 
13 
development agenda: Provided, That the notwithstanding Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this Act, 
14 
no political party shall be given its share in the Fund until it has given proof that there are 
15 
political party funds segregated and reserved for the political party’s women and gender 
16 
and development agenda: Provided, further, That the amount to be released from the fund 
17 
shall be equal to the amount so segregated and reserved: Provided, finally, That 
18 
unreleased amounts because of the political party’s failure to segregate and reserve such 
19 
amounts, if any, shall be forfeited and reverted to the General Fund of the government. 
20 
 
For purposes of this Act, all releases from the Fund during a non-election year shall 
21 
be used exclusively for the political party’s women and gender and development agenda. 
22 
Amounts released from the Fund during an election year shall be divided as follows: (1) 
23 
sixty percent (60%) shall be used for campaign expenditures, and (2) forty percent (40%) 
24 
shall be used for women and gender and development agenda. 
25 
 
The political parties availing of the incentives from the Fund shall maintain a 
26 
separate financial account for the amounts given them by virtue of this Act.  
27 


 
 
SEC. 9. Allowable Women and Gender and Development Activities. - The 
1 
COMELEC and the PCW shall issue guidelines for the development and implementation 
2 
of gender and development programs and activities under Section 8 of this Act. 
3 
 
SEC. 10. Certification. - A political party which conforms with Sections 5 and 6 of 
4 
this Act, and which desires to be entitled to the incentives, rights and privileges and to 
5 
perform the responsibilities, provided in this Act, may ask for a Certification from the 
6 
COMELEC, under such rules and regulations that the COMELEC, in coordination with the 
7 
PCW, shall prescribe consistent with the provisions of this Act. The criteria in Sections 5 
8 
and 6 of this Act shall set the eligibility requirement for the said Certification. A duly-certified 
9 
political party shall be entitled to the incentives, rights and privileges and to perform the 
10 
responsibilities, as provided in Sections 7 and 11 of this Act. 
11 
 
SEC. 11. Full Disclosure. - A political party whose officials are certified by the 
12 
COMELEC to be eligible and which, in fact, has availed of the incentives under Section 7 
13 
of this Act, shall be required to submit with the PCW, the COMELEC and the Commission 
14 
on Audit (COA) a public disclosure of the amounts it received and the expenditures made 
15 
thereon at the end of every fiscal year. 
16 
 
SEC. 12.  Failure to Comply with Disclosure Requirements. - Failure of a 
17 
certified political party to comply with the provisions of this Act, particularly with Section 11, 
18 
will result in its disqualification from receiving a share in the Fund and the forfeiture of all 
19 
rights and privileges to which the said political party would have been entitled under this 
20 
Act. 
21 
 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of the 
22 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
23 
 
SEC. 14.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
24 
the effectivity of this Act, the COMELEC as the lead agency, in coordination with the PCW, 
25 
all concerned government departments and agencies and at least three (3) women’s 
26 
organizations with proven track record of involvement and promotion of the rights and 
27 


 
welfare of Filipino women shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this 
1 
Act. 
2 
 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is held 
3 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
4 
and effect. 
5 
 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
6 
other issuances, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, particularly those in 
7 
the Magna Carta of Women (R.A. 9710), if any, are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
8 
accordingly. 
9 
 
SEC. 29. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
10 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
11 
 
Approved, 
12