Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 2, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State recognizes the role of 
women in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women 
and men. Moreover, careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 
were often referred to as jobs of the future that drive innovation, improve social well-being, 
and promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. With the fifth industrial revolution, 
the role of STEM is indeed fundamental to our economic development.  
Digging deeper into the STEM sector, data from the American Association of Women 
University showed that only 28% of the workforce in STEM are women. Gender gaps are 
fastest growing specifically in the fields of computer science and engineering. Further, studies 
by UNESCO showed that girls and women are often held back by social norms, biases, and 
expectations that influence the education quality they receive and the fields they choose. They 
remained underrepresented in STEM education and, hence, in STEM careers. Given this 
concern, UNESCO is giving special attention to addressing this issue through research, policy, 
and capacity-building work to promote the empowerment of girls and women.  
In the field, many women experience major issues in the STEM field including pay gap, sexual 
harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, different standards for judging the work of 
men and women, inequitable job assignments, and other aspects of a male-oriented culture 
that are hostile to women. They also 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 expected. 
Given these concerns, this bill seeks to establish a Commission responsible for examining 
these challenges and addressing artificial barriers to the recruitment, retention, and 
advancement of women in STEM, promoting workforce diversity, and encouraging employers 
to recruit and retain women and minority scientists, engineers, and computer specialists.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
September 28, 2023
1:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN 
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT  
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 “Commission on the 
Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act”. 
SECTION 2. Commission on the Advancement of Women in Engineering, 
Science and Technology Development. – There is established a commission to be 
known as the “Commission on the Advancement of Women 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 – 
a.
Identify the number of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the
Philippines in specific types of occupations in science, engineering, and technology 
development; 
b.
Examine the preparedness of women, minorities, and individuals with
disabilities to – 
1.
pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology development; and
2.
advance to positions of greater responsibility within the academia, industry,
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and government; 
 
c. 
Describe the practice and polices of employees 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; 
 
d. 
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; 
 
e. 
Compile a synthesis of available research on lawful practices, polices, 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; 
 
f. 
Issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies that government 
(including Congress, academia, private industry can follow regarding the recruitment, 
retention, and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in 
science, engineering, and technology development; 
 
g. 
Identify the disincentives for women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities 
to continue graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics, and computer 
science; 
 
h. 
Identify university undergraduate programs that are successful in retaining 
women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, 
engineering, and technology development; 
 
i. 
Identify 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 4. Membership. – The Commission shall be composed of six members to 
be appointed by the President as follows: 
a. 
Two members from among for-profit entities that hire individuals in the fields of 
engineering, science, or technology development. 
 
b. 
Two members from among institutions in education or academia in the fields of 
life science, physical science, or engineering. 
 
c. 
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-officio capacity.  Each member shall be 
appointed for the life of the Commission.  A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was made. Members shall not be paid 
by reason of their service on the Commission.  
Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in an amount to be 
determined by existing law. A majority of the members of the commission shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 
 
The Commission shall meet not fewer than five (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 additional meetings in writing. 
 
SECTION 5. Directors and Staff of the Commission; 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 Commission may procure temporary and 
intermittent services to assist in the discharge of the Commission’s functions. 
 


 
 
SECTION 6. Powers of the Commission. – 
 
a. 
Hearings 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. Report. – Not later than 1 year after the date on which the initial 
appointments are complete, 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. Construction; Use of Information Obtained. – Nothing in this Act shall 
be construed to require any non-governmental entities such as 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. 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. – The Commission shall 
terminate 30 days after submitting the reports required in this act. On or before the 
date of the termination of the Commission, 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 Internet. 
 
SECTION 10. Review of Information Provided by the Department of Science and 
Technology 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 Commission to carry out its duties under this 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 
 
b. 
Review of Information. – The Commission shall review any information 
provided and shall include in the report required under Section 7 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 field of science, engineering, and technology 
development. 
 
SECTION 11. Authorization of Appropriations. – There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act – 
a. 
P3,000,000 for the fiscal year during which this Act is approved; and 
b. 
P3,000,000 for the next succeeding fiscal year.  


 
 
 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of 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 provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,