TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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25 AUG-4 P5:09
SENATE 
S. No. ^45
RKCElVcOBY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SAFE 
SPACES ACT" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 11313 or the "Safe Spaces Act" (also known as the "Bawal 
Bastos Law"), which was signed into law in April 2019, penalizes all forms of gender- 
based sexual harassment (GBSH) committed in streets and public spaces, workplaces, 
educational and training institutions, and in online platforms or cyberspace. This 
landmark legislation aims to ensure safety and security of all, especially women and 
children, and institute protective measures against unwelcome advances, misogynistic 
and sexist slurs, and other similar inappropriate conduct.
This proposed measure, reported out by the Committee on Women, Children, 
Family Relations and Gender Equality and already approved on Third Reading by the 
Senate during the 19th Congress, seeks to further strengthen Republic Act No. 11313 
by:
• Adding "grooming" (defined herein as "predatory conduct, an act or pattern 
of acts of establishing a relationship of trust or emotional connection by a 
person with a child or someone who is believed to be a child, and/or child's 
family, guardian or caregivers, whether in person or via electronic and other 
similar devices, for the purpose of perpetrating sexual abuse or


exploitation") in the list of prohibited and punishable acts under gender- 
based sexual harassment in educational and training institutions;
• 
Beefing up provisions related to online sexual harassment to include use of 
artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, as well as requiring 
internet intermediaries to immediately block access and take down any 
content violative of the Safe Spaces Act;
• 
Stipulating penalties of imprisonment and fine for violations of the law, and 
providing significantly higher fines and payment of exemplary damages as 
penalty for employers and school heads who fail to perform their mandated 
duties or act on reported acts committed within the workplace and 
educational institution.
The passage of this bill is fervently sought.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
i£>fl!:r of ii.
)
SENATE
S. No. 845
25 AUG-4 P5 :Q9
RtCElVEOBt
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SAFE 
SPACES ACT" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
"Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
4 
"(a)
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"X X X
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(g) Public spaces refer to streets and alleys WHETHER
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IN URBAN OR RURAL AREAS, public parks, schools,
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buildings, malls, bars, restaurants, FIELDS AND FARMS,
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COASTAL AREAS, transportation terminals, public markets,
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MULTI-PURPOSE HALLS, spaces used as evacuation
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centers, government offices, public utility vehicles as well as
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private vehicles covered by app-based transport network
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services, and other recreational spaces such as, but not
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limited to, cinema halls, theaters and spas; [aod]
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"(h) Stalkingxxx; AND
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"(I) GROOMING 
REFERS TO PREDATORY
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CONDUCT, AN ACT, OR PATTERN OF ACTS OF


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ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST OR
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EMOTIONAL CONNECTION BY A PERSON WITH A
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CHILD OR SOMEONE WHO IS BELIEVED TO A CHILD,
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AND/OR THE CHILD'S FAMILY, GUARDIAN, OR
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CAREGIVERS, WHETHER IN PERSON OR VIA
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ELECTRONIC AND OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES, FOR THE
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PURPOSE OF PERPETRATING SEXUAL ABUSE OR
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EXPLOITATION."
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Sec. 2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 12. Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment -
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Gender-based online sexual harassment includes acts that use
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information and communications technology, INCLUDING
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER EMERGING
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TECHNOLOGIES, in terrorizing and intimidating victims
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through physical, psychological, and emotional threats,
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unwanted sexual, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic,
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and sexist remarks and comments online, whether publicly or
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through direct and private messages, invasion of victim's
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privacy through cyberstalking and incessant messaging,
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uploading, and sharing without the consent of the victim, any
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form of media that contains photos, voice, or video with
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sexual content, any unauthorized recording and sharing of
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any of the victim's photos, videos, or any information online,
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impersonating identities of victims online or posting lies about
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victims to harm their reputation, or filing[7] false abuse
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reports to online platforms to silence victims."
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Sec. 3. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 14. Penalties for Gender-Based Online Sexual
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Harassment -
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"x X X


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"Any record, photo [or], video, or copy thereof of any 
person that is in violation of the preceding sections shall not 
be admissible in evidence in any judicial, quasi-judicial, 
legislative, or administrative hearing or investigation.
"INTERNET INTERMEDIARIES SHALL 
IMMEDIATELY BLOCK ACCESS TO, REMOVE OR TAKE 
DOWN THE INTERNET ADDRESS, UNIFORM 
RESOURCE LOCATOR (URL), WEBSITE, OR ANY 
CONTENT THEREOF WHICH VIOLATE THIS ACT,
WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS FROM RECEIPT 
OF NOTICE FROM A COMPETENT AUTHORITY: 
PROVIDED, THAT THE INTERMEDIARIES SHALL 
PRESERVE ALL SUBSCRIBERS OR REGISTRATION 
INFORMATION AND TRAFFIC DATA IN ITS CONTROL 
AND POSSESSION FOR A PERIOD OF SIX (6) MONTHS 
FROM THE DATE OF THE TRANSACTION, EXTENDIBLE 
FOR ANOTHER SIX (6) MONTHS OR DURING THE 
PENDENCY OF THE CASE: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT 
CONTENT DATA SHALL BE PRESERVED FOR A PERIOD 
OF ONE (1) YEAR, EXTENDIBLE FOR ANOTHER SIX (6)
MONTHS, UPON NOTICE BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY: 
PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT THE COMPETENT 
AUTHORITY SHALL, AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, 
EXPRESSLY IDENTIFY AND SPECIFY THE EVIDENCE 
THAT NEEDS PRESERVATION."
Sec. 4. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as 
follows:
"Sec. 16. Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.
-XXX
"(a) XXX 
"(b) XXX 
"(c) XXX


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"(d) XXX
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"ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS
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OF THIS SECTION SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE
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PENALIZED BY IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN
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ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS,
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ORA FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS
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(P10,00.00) NOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED
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THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00), OR BOTH, AT THE
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DISCRETION OF THE COURT."
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Sec. 5. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 19. Liability of Employers. - In addition to
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liabilities for committing acts of gender-based sexual
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harassment, employers may also be held responsible for:
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"(a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section
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17 of this Act, as provided in the penal provisions: or
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"(b) Not taking action on reported acts of gender-
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based sexual harassment committed in the workplace.
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"Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section,
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shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
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[five] ONE HUNDRED thousand pesos [(P5,000.00)]
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(P100,000.00) nor more than [Tee] THREE HUNDRED
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thousand pesos [(P10,000.00)] (P300,000.00).
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"Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section,
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shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
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[Ten] THREE HUNDRED thousand pesos [(P10,000.00)]
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(P300,000.00) nor more than [Fifteen] FIVE HUNDRED
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thousand pesos [(P15,000.00)] (P500,000.00).
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"ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTION (A)
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OR (B) OF THIS SECTION SHALL, UPON CONVICTION,
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BE LIABLE FOR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN THE


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AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS
2 
(P300/000.00)."
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Sec. 6. The title of Section 21 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to
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as follows:
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"Sec. 
21. \_€cndcr-Bascd-Sexual Harassment 
in
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Educational and Training Institutions^ ADMINISTRATIVE
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REMEDIES AGAINST GENDER-BASED SEXUAL
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HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL
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INSTITUTIONS. - x x x."
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Sec. 7. A new Section 21-A shall be inserted as follows:
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"SEC. 21-A. GENDER-BASED 
SEXUAL
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HARASSMENT IN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING
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INSTITUTIONS; PENALTIES; PRE-HIRING SAFETY
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CLEARANCE; AND OTHER PROTECTION MECHANISMS.
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- THE CRIME OF GENDER-BASED SEXUAL
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HARASSMENT IN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING
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INSTITUTIONS SHALL INCLUDE:
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"(A) AN ACT OR SERIES OF ACTS INVOLVING
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ANY UNWELCOME SEXUAL ADVANCES, REQUESTS, OR
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DEMANDS FOR SEXUAL FAVORS OR ANY ACT OF
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SEXUAL NATURE, WHETHER DONE VERBALLY,
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PHYSICALLY, OR THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
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SUCH AS TEXT MESSAGING, ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR
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THROUGH ANY OTHER FORM OF INFORMATION AND
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COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS;
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"(B) CONDUCT OF SEXUAL NATURE AFFECTING
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THE DIGNITY OF A PERSON, WHICH IS UNWELCOME,
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UNREASONABLE, AND OFFENSIVE TO THE RECIPIENT,
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WHETHER DONE VERBALLY, PHYSICALLY, OR
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THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS TEXT
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MESSAGING, ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR THROUGH ANY
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OTHER FORM OF INFORMATION AND


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COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES;
"(C) CONDUCT THAT IS UNWELCOME, 
PERVASIVE, AND CREATES AN INTIMIDATING, 
HOSTILE, OR HUMILIATING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE 
RECIPIENT: PROVIDED, THAT THE CRIME OF 
GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT MAY ALSO BE 
COMMITTED BETWEEN PEERS, BY A SUBORDINATE 
TO A SUPERIOR OFFICER, BY A STUDENT TO A 
TEACHER, OR BY A TRAINEE TO A TRAINER; AND
"(D) CONDUCT THAT CONSTITUTES GROOMING 
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT.
"INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION 
SYSTEM REFERS TO A SYSTEM FOR GENERATING, 
SENDING, RECEIVING, STORING, OR OTHERWISE 
PROCESSING ELECTRONIC DATA MESSAGES OR 
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM 
OR OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES BY OR IN WHICH DATA 
IS RECORDED OR STORED AND ANY PROCEDURE 
RELATED TO SUCH RECORDING OR STORAGE.
"ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE 
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL, UPON 
CONVICTION, BE PENALIZED BY IMPRISONMENT OF 
NOT LESS THAN ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE THAN SIX 
(6) MONTHS, OR A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TEN 
THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) NOR MORE THAN 
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00), OR 
BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT: 
PROVIDED, THAT IF THE PERPETRATOR IS AN ADULT 
AND THE VICTIM IS A CHILD, THE PENALTY OF 
IMPRISONMENT SHALL BE MANDATORY.


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"WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE PASSAGE
2 
OF THIS ACT, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ),
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THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED), THE
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COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED), AND
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THE CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL (CWC) SHALL
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FORMULATE RULES TO INSTITUTIONALIZE A PRE-
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HIRING SAFETY CLEARANCE MECHANISM TO ENSURE
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THAT ADULTS REGULARLY WORKING IN CLOSE
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PROXIMITY TO MINORS, SUCH AS TEACHERS AND
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OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL, HAVE NO HISTORY OF
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ABUSIVE OR PREDATORY BEHAVIOR. THIS PRE-
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HIRING SAFETY CLEARANCE SHALL NOT BE UNDULY
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BURDENSOME TO APPLICANTS, AND SHALL BALANCE
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THE INTERESTS OF DUE PROCESS AND CHILD SAFETY.
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"GENDER SENSITIVITY AND CHILD
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PROTECTION TRAININGS SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR
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ALL STAFF MEMBERS."
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Sec. 8. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 23. Liability of School Heads. - In addition to
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liability for committing acts of gender-based sexual
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harassment, principals, school heads, teachers, instructors,
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professors, coaches, trainers, or any other person who has
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authority, influence, or moral ascendancy over another in an
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educational or training institution, may also be held
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responsible for:
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"(a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section
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22 of this Act, as provided in the penal provisions; [or]
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"(b) Failure to act on reported acts of gender-based
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sexual harassment committed in the educational
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institution[7]; OR


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"(C) VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF THE VICTIM
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AGAINST RETRIBUTION AND TO CONFIDENTIALITY.
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"Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section,
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shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
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[Five] ONE HUNDRED thousand pesos [(P5,000.00)]
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(P100,000.00) nor more than [Tee] THREE HUNDRED
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thousand pesos [(P10,000.00)] (P300,000.00).
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"Any person who violates subsection (b) OR (C) of this
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section, shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not
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less than [Tee] THREE HUNDRED thousand pesos
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[(PIO,000.00)] (P300,000.00) nor more than [Fifteen]
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FIVE HUNDRED thousand pesos [(P15,000.00)]
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(P500,000.00).
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"ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTION (A),
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(B), OR (C) OF THIS SECTION SHALL, UPON
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CONVICTION, BE LIABLE FOR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES
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IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND
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PESOS (P300,000.00)."
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Sec. 9. A new Section 32-A shall be inserted after Section 32 of Republic Act
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No. 11313, to read as follows:
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"SEC. 32-A. PROTECTION ORDERS. - IN
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ADDITION TO THE RELIEFS PROVIDED HEREIN,
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VICTIMS SHALL ALSO BE ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR A
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PROTECTION ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER
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VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT.
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"APPLICATIONS FOR BARANGAY PROTECTION
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ORDERS SHALL FOLLOW THE RULES ON VENUE
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UNDER SECTION 409 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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CODE OF 1991. AN APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY OR
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PERMANENT PROTECTION ORDER MAY BE FILED IN
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THE TRIAL COURT WHICH HAS JURISDICTION OVER
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THE APPLICANT/VICTIM.


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"WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE PASSAGE
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OF THIS ACT, THE D03, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
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WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), AND THE
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PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON WOMEN (PCW), SHALL
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FORMULATE RULES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
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THIS PROVISION. THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF
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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262 SHALL APPLY IN A
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SUPPLETORY MANNER."
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Sec, 10. Section 36 of Republic Act No. 11313 shall be amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 36. Prescriptive Period. - Any action arising from
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the violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall prescribe
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as follows:
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"(a) XXX
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"(b) XXX
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"(C) XXX
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"(d) XXX
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"(e) Offenses committed under Sections 16 and 21 of
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this Act shall prescribe in [five (5)] TEN (10) years."
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Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, and rules and
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regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec, 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,