NG 
OF f 
REfWBLlC OF THE PHILIPPINE 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY MOTE 
The Constitution provides in Article Ill Section 1 that: “No person shall be 
deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be 
denied equal protection of the law”. This constitutional guarantee to life encompasses 
not just the protection of the right to be alive or security against physical harm. It 
includes the right to a decent standard of living thereby ensure a person’s economic 
well-being and dignity. One way of upholding this right is to provide the individual an 
opportunity for gainful employment to enable himself to earn a living. 
Such opportunity for gainful employment, however, remains the domain of certain 
privileged sectors. The Muslims and other Tribal Filipinos have not only been looked 
down socially but they have been largely deprived of equal employment opportunities, 
as well. Although in theory they enjoy the same rights with other Filipinos, they actually 
denied the necessary training and access to compete for the technical or higher 
management jobs. 
This bill seeks to correct this injustice in our society today. For the State to 
effectively “promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and 
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that 
provide social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and 
improved quality of life for all,” as mandated by Article II, Section 9 of the Constitution, 
we must not forget our Muslim and Tribal Filipino brothers. 
1 
If the State sincerely recognizes and promotes the rights of the indigenous 
cultural minorities within the framework of national unity and development (Article I I ,  
Section 22 of the Constitution), and for Congress to give higher priority to the enactment 
of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce 
social, economic, political inequalities and remove cultural inequalities by equitably 
diffusing wealth and political power for the common good (Article XIII, Section 1 of the 
Constitution), then, strong, concrete, affirmative, legislative actions must be taken. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to ensure equal job opportunities to the Muslim and 
Tribal Filipinos, and at the same time give them preferential treatment in employment in 
the regions where they are predominant. 
RCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


1 
1 
First Regular Sessio 
Introduced by Senator Jinggo Ejercito Estrad 
AN ACT 
TO ENSURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MUSLIMS AND TRIBAL 
FILIPINOS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. It is hereby declared as the policy or purpose of this Act to promote 
social justice in all phases in national development by insuring equal employment 
opportunities to Muslim and Tribal Filipinos and to give preference to said individuals 
especially in regions where they are predominant. 
SECTION 2. It shall be considered an unfair labor practice for an employer: 
a) 
To refuse, to hire or to discriminate against with respect to compensation, 
terms, conditions or privileges of employment, or to discharge any individual because of 
his religion or ethnic origin; or 
b) 
To limit, segregate or classify employees in a way which would deprived 
or tend to deprived any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely 
affect his status as an employee because of the individual’s religion or ethnic origin. 
SECTION 3. It shall be considered as an unfair labor practice for a labor union: 
a) 
To exclude or expel from its membership, or to refuse to referfor 
employment any individual because of the individual’s religion or ethnic origin; or 
b) 
To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against 
an individual because of the individual’s religion or ethnic origin. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary, it shall not be an unfair 
labor practice to admit or employ any individual on the basis of his religion or ethnic 
origin in those instances where religion or tribal origin is a bonafide occupational 
qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business 
or enterprise. Neither shall it be an unfair labor practice for a school, college, university 


or other educational institutions to employ only certain individuals of a particular religion 
or tribal origin if such institution is owned or substantially owned, supported, or 
controlled by a particular religious corporation, association, society or tribal group, or, if 
the curriculum of such institution is aimed towards the propagation of a particular 
religion or ethnic group. 
SECTION 4. The Government shall reserve at least ten percent (70%) of the 
rank and file positions in government service, and shall employ members belonging, to 
indigenous cultural minorities particularly Muslims and other tribal Filipinos in areas 
where they predominate. The appointed heads of the different government agencies or 
offices in regions where those indigenous cultural community members: Provided, that 
the appointments must be in accordance with the Civil Service laws. 
SECTION 5. Every private enterprise, which obtains loans, grants, or any kind of 
financial assistance from the government or any government-owned or controlled bank 
or financial institution shall give preferential employment to members of those 
indigenous cultural communities in the regions where they predominate by hiring them 
into at least twenty percent (20%) of its labor force in the area: Provided, that in the 
other areas of the country, such enterprise shall hire at least ten percent (10%) of its 
labor force from the ranks of the cultural communities: Provided, further, that these 
individuals shall have been residents of those regions for at least one year prior to 
employment. 
SECTION 6. Every employer shall accommodate the employee’s right to actively 
participate in his religious or ethnic activities. 
SECTION 7. Any law or parts of law inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two 
(2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,