Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No__ 967

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate that basic self — defense techniques be taught to
enable females to protect themselves in the event of immediate danger. This is
based on the principle that self - defense is an instinct that needs to be developed.

Equipping our female populace with a self — defense mechanism hits two
birds with one stone as it will also address another sensitive issue: heinous
crimes.

The alarming upsurge of such (heinous) crimes has resulted not only in the
loss of human lives and wanton destruction of property, but also has affected the
nation's efforts toward sustainable economic development and prosperity. At the
same time, it has undermined the people's faith in the Government and the latter's
ability to maintain peace and order in the country.

Rape is a heinous crime; an act of violence. A frightening and traumatic
experience. Rape exempts no female — girls, wives, mothers, grandmothers, the
rich and the poor. The recent rape incidents are repugnant and outrageous to the
common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just civilized and
ordered society.

Without a defense mechanism, the physically weaker gender is likely
vulnerable to assault, harassment, rape, and other violence. The pain, trauma,
humiliation and damage inflicted on the victims are irreversible. Prevention is
therefore, worth a ton of cure.

Violence against women creates a devastating effect not only on their-
physical and emotional well-being. It affects not only the victim herself, but the
people around her, as well as future generations. To address this concern, the
State needs a program to implement and enhance the protection of females.
Toward this end, the State shall provide a more responsive scheme of prevention.
Thus, there is an urgent need to impose that self — defense be taught to every

female, we

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AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO
2™ District, Province of Iloilo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2
House Bill No. 96%

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MOVEMENT TO HELP ERADICATE RAPE AND OTHER
FEMALE ABUSES (MOTHER) MANDATING THE COMPULSARY TEACHING
OF SELF ~ DEFENSE TO ALL FEMALE CONSTITUENTS, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “MOVEMENT TO HELP
ERADICATE RAPE AND OTHER FEMALE ABUSES (MOTHER) ACT OR
“MOTHER RAPE PREVENTION ACT”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. Article 2 of the Constitution, Sec. 14 states
that the State recognizes the role of women in nation — building and shall ensure
the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.

This Act therefore seeks to prevent sexual harassment, assaults and other
forms of abuses by enabling females to have a defense mechanism, based on the
principle that self - defense is an instinct, which needs to be developed. With
proper technique, knowledge of self - defense results in self — confidence, good
disposition and quick reflexes in the face of imminent danger. It is high time that
the State addresses from this perspective the issues of violence and other crimes
perpetuated against our females. A suitable basic and non — complicated program
of self — defense accessible to all females will be incorporated in training course
under the respective public and private entitles:

a. As part of the Physical Education program of the Department of Education
(DepEd) for female students in the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary
Schools;

b. As part of the Technical and Vocational Education for female students of
technical and vocational schools and training centers under the supervision
of the Technical Education and Skills and Development Authority (TESDA);

c. As part of the day — to — day routine of female employees, as well as the
out — of — school female constituents in each Barangay, Municipality,
Provincial of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

d. All female employees of the private, government and semi- government
offices under the supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE);

e. All female employees of all government offices under the supervision of the
Civil Service Commission (CSC);


f. The Overseas Filipino Contract Workers (OFWs) under the jurisdiction of
the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA);

g. All females associated in any group, organization, NGOs under their
respective umbrella organizations.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms: For purposes of this Act:

a. “Basic Self - Defense Training” means the ability of an individual female to
discern “at risk" situations and the instinctive reaction using reflexes and
judgment for protection against an impending danger;

b. “Females” are girls of beyond school age, young and old, regardless of
socio — economic and marital status, calling, sect and location of residence;

c, “MOTHER” is the self - defense discipline designed taking into
consideration the characteristics of a Filipina;

d. “Government Agencies" are the branches of government which are
implementing arms of this Act: the Department of Education (DepEd); the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG); the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); all
private, government and semi — government sectors that have an authority
power to mandate this Act to females under their respective jurisdictions;

e. “Female Groups” — are the NGOs, schools, workplace, congregations and
associations, safe house, halfway houses, orphanages, where females
abound, not included in the above classifications;

f. “Public and Private Schools” meaning the elementary, primary, secondary
and tertiary learning institutions operating outside the jurisdiction of DepEd:

g. “Advance Self — Defense Training” means the rigid training for females to
enable those deployed in high — risk areas, overseas employment to defend
themselves.

SEC. 4. Establishment of the Movement to-Help Eradicate Rape and Other
Female Abuses (MOTHER). To achieve the objectives, the Movement to help
Eradicate Rape (MOTHER), having the rank of a Committee, is hereby established
(hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”).

SEC. 5. Components. The components of the MOTHER program are:
a. Prevention through the MOTHER module of self — protection techniques;

As an introductory, a program comprising of orientation sessions via a
seminar — lecture type with handouts, film showings as well as use of mass
media: to create awareness, mental preparedness, do’s and don'ts, developing
self — confidence, and removing fear; knowing the vital weak points, developing
one’s strengths, enhancing of weaknesses, creating opportunities for escaping
threatening situations, with the bottom line of suggesting discipline.

b. Advance Training — comprises on hands — on and actual drills, practicum
and continuous training; =

¢. Continuing Education, Refresher Courses, Crisis Intervention; and

d. Certification of Compliance — to indicate proof of training, participants of the
MOTHER program on practical self — defense techniques as well as
Advance Training course will be certified after completion of the
corresponding requirements, so as to ensure as proof of compliance.

SEC. 6. Composition of the Committee. The Committee shall be composed
of five (5) full time members. During the transition period, which begins upon the
approval of this Act, the President may appoint the interim Chairman for a
maximum period of one (1) year. Thereafter, the President shall appoint a


Chairman of the Committee and four (4) Commissioners who shall be holders of
eamed doctorates who have been ‘actively engaged in self - defense training or
equivalent qualifications. They shall be educators known for their high degree of
professionalism and integrity who have distinguished themselves as authorities in
the self — defense field. In no case shall nay of the Commissioners appoint
representatives to act on their behalf.

SEC. 7. Term of Office. The President shall appoint the full — time
Chairman and the Commissioners for a term of four (4) years, without prejudice to
their reappointment. The term of the initial appointees shall be on a staggered
basis: the full — time Chairman shall hold office for a term of four (4) year, the next
two (2) commissioners for three (3) years and the last two (2) commissioners for
two (20 years

SEC. 8. Board of Advisers. There shall be constituted a Board of Advisers
which shall meet with the Committee at least once a year to assist it in aligning its
policies and plans with the cultural, political and socio —economic development
needs of the nation and with the demands of the project. The Board of Advisers
shall be composed of the Secretaries of DepED, DFA, DILG, DOLE, the Chief of
the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Administrator of the Philippine
overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the Committee. The Committee shall
have the following powers and functions:

a. Through the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP), to
oversee the formulation, recommendation and enforcement of the
MOTHER self — protection module for females;

b. To ensure that the program is introduced and implemented on a
gradual, staggered basis to all females in the various government
agencies; monitor and evaluate the performance of the program;

c. Formulate rules and regulations and exercise other powers and
functions as maybe necessary to carry out effectively the purpose and
objectives of this Act; and

d. Perform other functions as may be necessary for its effective operations
and for the continued enhancement, improvement or development of the
program.

SEC. 10. Section 10 of the Constitutions declares: The State recognizes
the role of women in nation — building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality
before law of women and men. Violence against women has a devastating impact
on women's physical and emotional health and, as an answer to the needs of the
changing times, the State clearly recognizes the need to fight against all forms of
abuse perpetrated against women as part of its duty and obligation to serve and
protect them.

SEC. 11. Rape Awareness and Prevention Week. The second Sunday of-
May every year shall usher the Rape Awareness and Prevention Week, coinciding
with the celebration of the International Mother's Day.

SEC. 12. Implementation. In collaboration with the cooperating
government institutions for the proper implementation of this Act, the Committee
shall oversee the implementation of this Act by the various government agencies
concerned, to wit:

a. The Department of Education (DepEd) — shall ensure that all female
students have an access to MOTHER self — defense program incorporate
din their physical education (PE) curriculum in the elementary, secondary
and tertiary levels.


b. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) — shall
provide female students of technical and vocational courses, training on the
MOTHER self ~ protection program.

c. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) — shall ensure
that all employees in all the DILG — attached agencies, including the out -
of — school youth of every barangay have access to self — defense training
sessions;

d. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ~ shall mandate that all
prospective female OCWs who are applying for foreign employment, are
mandated to undergo training as part of the orientation prior to taking up
their assignment;

e. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — shall require that every Filipino
wishing to out of the country for any purpose is required to have a basic self
— defense knowledge; and

f. All other government agencies, private corporation, and those not covered
by the above Departments, shall enable their female constituent to acquire
the basic self — defense knowledge.

SEC. 13. Collaboration with NGOs. There shall be MOTHER chapters to be
formed in collaboration with NGOs, which will support the maximum awareness
and implementation of the program.

SEC. 14.° The Secretariat. The Committee shall be assisted by a secretariat,
headed by an executive director, subject to the national compensation and
position classification plan. It shall fix the secretariat's staffing pattern, determine
the duties, qualifications, responsibilities and functions, as well as the
compensation scheme of the positions to be created upon the recommendation of
the executive officer. It shall also prepare and approve its budget.

SEC. 15. Appropriation. A fund hereinafter referred to as “Prevention against
Tape and other female abuses” fund or MOTHER fund is hereby established
exclusively for the implementation of the self — defense training program in the
entire country.

a. The Government's contribution to the Fund shall be the following:

1. Appropriation from the National Treasury: For the initial operation of the
Committee, such sum as maybe necessary is hereby authorized to be
appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the sums
necessary for the continuous operation of the program shall be included
in the appropriations for their respective government concerned,
namely: the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of
Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education, and the
Department of Foreign Affairs; and

2. An amount equivalent to one percent (1%) of the gross sales of the
Lotto operation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
shall be contributed to the Committee for its operational expenses.

b. Starting fiscal year 2011 and every year after, government financing
institutions identified and requested by the Committee may contribute to the
Fund an amount as deemed necessary for the implementation of the
program.


¢. The fund shall have a private component to be raised from donations, gifts
and other conveyance by gratuitous title including materials, equipment,
properties and services.

SEC. 16. Management and Administration of the MOTHER Fund. The fund
shall be administered by the Committee. For sound and judicious management of
the Fund, the Committee shall appoint a reputable government financial institution
as a portfolio manager of the Fund, subject to the conditions set by the Committee.

As Administrator of the Fund, the Committee shall prepare the necessary
guidelines for its use, subject to the conditions set by the Committee:

a. No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings there of shall be
used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration;

b. Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donors only earnings of private
contributions shall be used for administrative expenses;

¢. The Committee shall appoint and organize a separate staff which shall be
independent administratively and in its budget, from the Committee
Secretariat; and

d. The Fund shall be utilized equitably according to regions.

SEC. 17. Technical Committees. The Committee shall reconstitute and/or
organize a technical panel whose job description is to formulate, review, evaluate,
restructure, and improve the module of self — defense discipline bsed on the
criteria:

a, The model self- defense program shall be called “MOTHER”;

b. The MOTHER Self — Defense discipline shall give due consideration to the
cultural heritage and image of the Filipina and her culture.

c. Due consideration shall be given to the strength, weakness and other
qualities of the individuals; and

d. Discipline will be the primordial aim that will be inculcated in each and
every MOTHER - trained participant.

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 19. Effectivity Date. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the
date of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.