THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
E X ~ ~ A N A T O ~ ~  
NOT 
When the Sexual Harassment Law was enacted in 1995, it only 
considered the traditional means of sending communications: verbal or 
oral, written statements, facial and body language. Today, new forms of 
communication are of widespread use: short messaging service (SMS) 
system or text messaging service provided by telecommunications 
companies to both landline and cellular phone users and the Internet 
system. 
The use of cellular phones, Internet and electronic mails has 
reached unprecedented heights. 
The National Telecommunications 
Commission (NTC) estimated that there are around 9 million Filipino 
cellular phone users. By the end of 2000, the Department of Science and 
Technology and the Philippine Internet Society estimated that about 3 
million citizens have access to electronic mails and Internet. 
The 
statistics show that these new forms of communication have become the 
avenue for transmission of ideas and concepts. 
But like every system, the new communication system is barraged 
with unwanted text messages and garbage-type electronic mails in the 
form of smutty text statements, lewd and sexist messages, graphic and 
lurid remarks. In fact, an ordinary cellular phone user receives at least 2 
to 3 text messages with sexual underpinning daily. 
This bill updates the Sexual Harassment Law by expanding the 
coverage to include text message, electronic mail or communication 
produced by similar means, pushing sexual advances or lurid remarks or 
messages which are by their nature vulgar, smutty, sexist, malicious and 
those that appeal to prurient interest. 
With its enactment, it is hoped that texters or internet users will 
become more cautious in sending messages and would practice 
intelligent discretion with the use of new communication facilities. 
Early approval of the bill is earnestly sought. 
, JR. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
c 
6 ' 1  % I  I 
-"- - . - 
S.B. No. SENAT% 
L u 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE DEFINITION OF THE CRIME 
OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY INCLUDING UNWANTED TEXT 
MESSAGES, ELECTRONIC MAIL OR COMMUNICATIONS ADOPTING 
SIMILAR MEANS, MENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAW" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assemble& 
NUMBERED SEVENTY EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN, 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act 7877 is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. 
Work Education or Training-related Sexual 
Harassment Defined, - Work, education or training-related sexual 
harassment is committed by an employer, employee, manager, 
supervisor, agent of the employer, teacher, instructor, professor, 
coach, trainor, or any other person who, having authority, 
influence or moral ascendancy over another in a work or training 
or education environment, demands, requests or otherwise 
requires any sexual favor from the other, regardless of whether the 
demand, request or requirement for submission is accepted by the 
object of said Act. IT LIKEWISE INCLUDE THE SENDING OF 
TEXT MESSAGES, ELECTRONIC MAIL OR SIMILAR OTHER 
MEANS, THAT TAKES THE FORM OF SEXUAL ADVANCES OR 
LURID REMARKS, 
CAUSING EMBARMSSMENT TO THE 
RECEIVER OR BY THEIR NATURE MAY QUALIFY AS VULGAR, 
SMUTTY, SEXIST OR MALICIOUS. 
a. 
In a work-related or employment environment, sexual 
harassment is committed VERBALLY, IN WRITING OR 
THROUGH THE USE OF TELEPHONE, CELLULAR PHONE, 
FAX MACHINE, ELECTRON~C MAIL OF SIMILAR MEANS 
when: 
1. The sexual favor is made as a condition in the hiring or in 
the employment, re-employment or continued employment 
of said individual, or in granting said individual favorable 
compensation, terms, condition, promotions, or privileges; 
or the refusal to grant the sexual favor results in limiting, 
segregating or classifying the employee which in any way 
would discriminate, deprive or diminish employment 
opportunities or otherwise adversely affect said employee; 


c 
2. The above acts would impair the employee’s rights or 
3. The above acts would result in an intimidating, hostile, or 
privilege under existing labor laws; or 
offense environment for the employee. 
b. 
In an education or training environment, sexual harassment 
is committed T H W O ~ ~ H  
0 
, W
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N
 
OR WITH THE 
USE OF TELEPHO~E, CELLULAR PHONE, FAX MACHINE, 
ELECTRON~C AIL OW OTHER SIMILAR MEANS: 
1. Against one who is under the care, custody or supervision 
2. x x x  
3. x x x  
4. x x x  
of the offender; 
SEC. 2. 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,