Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
4070

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Alfred Delos Santos

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under current conventions in economics, work that is not remunerated does
not count as productive labor. This category would include the work done by
housewives, stay-at-home mothers, or homemakers who care for the dependents,
both young and elderly, in their household. Cooking breakfast, washing and
preparing the clothes for the day, cleaning the home, balancing the household
budget, these are amongst the many things our mothers, sisters, and many more
do that require not only the fullest dedication but also a wide variety of skills. And
yet, society in its current form dismiss the difficult task of home-making as nothing
= since it does not get paid.

But imagine a tomorrow where suddenly, housewives and homemakers
cease to do the work they usually do. The most likely result would be that the lives
of everyday Filipinos as we know it would become commensurately more difficult.
Those considered in the productive economy would feel the extra burden of having
to do more work than they already have - becoming less productive. If doing
housework full-time is indeed “nothing”, how come it is possible that our entire
productive economy would suffer immense consequences if it does not get done?

It is thus imperative upon the State to recognize the “reproductive labor”
done by stay-at-home women, mothers, wives, and homemakers as a valuable part
of our economy. In line with the Constitutional imperatives to promote a just and
dynamic social order, to value the dignity of every human person, and to recognize
the role of women in nation-building, housewives and homemakers should be given
the equivalent of a wage. And with this, the State takes a step not only to provide a
means for families with only one breadwinner to lift themselves out of poverty - it
also takes a step to recognize the vital role that women perform from the onset of
one’s life to the twilight of their years.

It is for these foregoing premises that the approval of this bill is earnestly
sought. oe

C. DELOS SANTOS

Representativé, Ang Probinsyano Party List


BSESBRBNRRRBRESSESAREERESecarvanewne

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4070

Introduced by Representative Alfred Delos Santos

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR COMPENSATION FOR STAY-AT-HOME HOUSEWIVES AND
HOMEMAKERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Homemakers
‘Compensation Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State
to recognize the work of stay-at-home homemakers and housewives and as an
indispensable backbone to the productive economy. In line with this end,
housewives and homemakers shall receive appropriate financial remuneration for
the services they render on a full-time basis.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

a) “Housewife” refers to women who, regardless of civil status, perform
domestic work at home as a full-time mother or caretaker, and are not
engaged in any part-time nor home-based work that is compensated or
generates income.

b) “Homemakers” refer to persons who perform domestic work for
dependents at home as a full-time occupation, similar to housewives, and
are not engaged in any part-time nor home-based work that is
compensated or generates income.

c) “Domestic work” refers to the variety of services done for children and/or
elderly dependents, which include but is not limited to: providing care for
children and elderly dependents, cooking, cleaning and household
maintenance, and the like.

4) “Children” refer to persons aged 0-15 years of age, or who possess the
mental ability of a child who is below 15 years of age, who form part of
the housewife/homemaker’s household, are related to them by up to the
5t degree of consanguinity, and cannot take care of themselves.

¢) “Elderly dependents” refer to persons aged 65 years of age or above who
form part of the housewife /homemaker’s household, are related to them


Seavauaunn

1
2
B
14
15
16
7
18
19
20
2

23
24

26
a
28
29

31
32
33

37

39

a
a2
43

45
46
a7

49
50
51
52
53

by up to the 5 degree of consanguinity, and cannot take care of
themselves.

SECTION 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all housewives and
homemakers whose household’s economic status falls below the poverty
threshold, who perform domestic work for their dependents full-time, and do
not have any part-time nor home-based work that is compensated.

SECTION 5. Compensation. - Financial assistance in the equivalent of Ten
Thousand Pesos per month (Php 10,000.00) shall be given to housewives and
homemakers who are covered under this Act.

‘The assistance will be subject to a review every three (3) years by Congress,
together and in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD),. At the onset of implementation, the government shall make
use of the DSWD National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction
(NHTS-PR) database to identify the initial set of beneficiaries.

After the first year of implementation, the DSWD, in coordination with local
Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDO, will set up mechanisms for the
annual update of the NHTS-PR in determining qualified beneficiaries.

SECTION 6. Continuing Conditions For Coverage. - The financial
compensation shall be released by the DSWD, in coordination with the relevant
local government units (LGUs), as the case may be, subject to the following
continuing conditions:
a) The child or children is/are enrolled in public schools, where said
child/children must garner at least eighty-five percent (85%) attendance;

b) The child or children manifest responsible behavior in preparation for
eventual independence from the household;

©) The household attends a quarterly barangay assembly aimed at
empowering the family to become responsible members of their locality,
and at reducing the time burden of unpaid care for women living in
poverty.

SECTION 7. Implementing Agency. - The DSWD, together with the LGUs,
shall implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
from the approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with the Department of
Interior and local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd)
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations, including the targeting and
screening of beneficiaries, for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the concerned local
offices of the DSWD and LGUs in the General Appropriations Act for the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby amended or modified accordingly.


BES owvanewne

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in
full force and effect.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,