EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s.B. no._2272
V BiLLS a I'lDEX ,
Prepared by the Committees on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender 
Equality; Health and Demography; and Finance with Senators Hontiveros, Binay, 
Cayetano, De Lima, Marcos, Poe, Villar, Go and Angara as authors thereof.
AN ACT
TO ENSURE GENDER RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROTOCOLS AND 
PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS THE GENDER-DIFFERENTIATED NEEDS OF 
WOMEN DURING PANDEMICS, PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS, EMERGENCIES 
AND DISASTERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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ARTICLE I
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Gender Responsive and
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Inclusive Pandemic and Disaster Management Act of 2021."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby affirms its role as the primary
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duty-bearer in ensuring the enjoyment and fulfillment of all human rights during natural
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and other disasters and emergencies, including a pandemic, especially the right to life,
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which permits no derogation even during emergencies, and the right to health, so that
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every individual shall enjoy the highest attainable level of health. It affirms its
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Constitutional duties to guarantee the equality of men and women to the enjoyment of
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their human rights, with focus on the differentiated needs of, and impact of emergencies
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on, women, prohibit discrimination, and create an enabling environment under the "new
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normal" that guarantees the human rights of women. It acknowledges its corresponding
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duties relating to women's rights to participation and representation, protection from
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gender-based violence during emergency situations, sexual health and reproductive
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health, and economic empowerment of women. It adopts a zero-tolerance policy towards
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gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, which is rooted in gender inequality and
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discrimination. The implementation of approaches and strategies relevant to disaster risk
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reduction, emergency and pandemic management must integrate human rights and


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gender lenses. It is fundamental that policies, plans, programs, actions, conduct and
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results are non-discriminatory and that no one is left behind.
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Towards ensuring gender equality, the State shall be guided by existing
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frameworks on gender-responsive planning and programming during pandemics and
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disasters and shall likewise establish mechanisms and processes to ensure the adoption,
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reprogramming and/or continuity of programs that serve and address the gender-
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differentiated needs of women during a pandemic.
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Accordingly, the State shall:
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(a) Be the primary duty bearer to enforce the protection of human rights and
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guarantee the agency, participation and leadership of women during
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pandemics and disasters from the point of prevention until recovery and while
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adapting to the new normal in society;
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(b) Establish polic es and programs to prevent the spread of a "notifiable disease",
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to prepare prior to its actual impact, and to deliver treatment, care, support
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and other essential services to individuals affected in accordance with
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evidence-based strategies and approaches that uphold the principles of human
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rights, integrating gender analysis, and taking into account the intersectional
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considerations that differentiate impact on different groups, identities and
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sectors;
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(c) Institutionalize real, actual and meaningful participation of women, at-risk
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individuals and communities affected by the pandemic and other public health
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emergencies, and those who are most vulnerable to violations of human rights
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during such situations in policy and decision making and at every stage of the
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pandemic or emergency management, especially in the formulation of general
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guidelines and resolutions governing the national management of the
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pandemic as well as in its implementation;
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(d) Empower and collaborate with women and institutionalize their role to publicly
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lead, decide and promote gender responsive, equitable and universally
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accessible response, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction approaches in
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all areas of concerns, including public health, during a pandemic;
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(e) Adopt a multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approach in the preparation,
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response and recovery stages of the pandemic response management by
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ensuring an all-of-society engagement and partnership involving the whole
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government, oublic health practitioners, technical experts, local communities,
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civil society organizations (CSOs), academe, private sector, persons most


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vulnerable to the pandemic and other relevant actors or stakeholders, with the 
State as the primary duty-bearer;
(f) Enable indiscr;minate access of everyone to pandemic-related and essential 
services, as well as sustained access to livelihood and other productive 
opportunities, with special focus on at-risk individuals and groups;
(g) Undertake appropriate actions to ensure the continuous and effective 
functioning of and access to concerned institutions, communication systems, 
referral systems, protection mechanisms and other appropriate measures to 
address gender-based violence and give priority to access effective remedies, 
including reprogramming of delivery of services and capacitating service 
providers to deliver pertinent essential services;
(h) Ensure that the differentiated needs, multiple burdens and gender-based 
violence faced by women during the pandemic or emergency situation are 
addressed and integrated in measures, actions and conduct relating to the 
management of the pandemic response by integrating intersectional analysis 
in the formulation of policies, plans and programs relating to pandemic 
management, particularly in the area of security and law enforcement at all 
levels of government and particularly at the barangay level;
(i) Ensure access to prompt and substantive social protection and safety nets, 
taking into account the heightened insecurity and burden on the part of women 
and at-risk individuals, communities and groups that might hinder access;
(j) Positively act, address and seek to eradicate and prohibit stigma, discrimination 
and other conditions that result in gender-based violence and aggravate the 
situations of women;
(k) Craft and design effective gender-fair communication and information 
platforms and systems that ensure broad, accurate and prompt dissemination, 
and effective understanding by all, particularly in relation to monitoring 
incidence of gender-based violence both in private and public spaces and 
access to protection mechanisms and effective remedies;
(l) Utilize a multisectoral/interdisciplinary, all-of-government, and all-of-society 
approach wherein the State collaborates with non-state actors to achieve 
maximum efficiency and effectiveness; and
(m) 
Utilize existing modern information, communication, research and 
technological capacities and techniques in crafting the policies and protocols 
with due regard to human rights and gender-fair language.


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Sec. 3. Purpose. - The principal purpose of this Act is to ensure that there is
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adequate statutory power for government agencies to act, pursuant to their respective
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mandates, upon a declaration of an emergency by the President by reason of a pandemic
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and guided by the policies issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious
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Diseases (lATF) and principles enunciated in Section 2 of this Act.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. -
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(a) "Access to Justice" means the sufficient access to essential services for victim
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survivors of gender-based violence, and all women and girls in conflict with the
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law such as the unimpeded availability of legal assistance, case management
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services, 
health services, medico-legal services, counselling, protection,
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operational shelters, and support; with an accountability mechanism in place.
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(b) "At-risk individuals and groups" include the following vulnerable and
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marginalized persons, sectors and/or groups:
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1) Women with Disabilities
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2) Girl children
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3) Elderly women
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4) Women deprived of liberty especially those who are pregnant, about to give
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birth, or has just given birth
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5) Pregnant, Lactating, and Post-partum mothers
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6) Members of the LGBTQI+ community
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7) Urban Poor Women
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8) Women in the informal and formal economy
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9) Women who are or have been positive for the disease, including those
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under investigation or monitoring
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10)Moro and Muslim women
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11) Rural and indigenous women
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12) Internally displaced women
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13) Migrant women and their families
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14)Persons living with HIV
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15) Women frontline workers (as defined under lATF Guidelines)
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16) Women human rights defenders
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17) Single mothers
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18) Teenage mothers
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19) Women who are refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or at risk of
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statelessness
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20) Female sex workers/trafficked women
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21) Women experiencing sexual or domestic violence
22) Women and girls who are homeless or street dwellers
(c) "Early Recovery" means a multidimensional process of recovery that begins in 
a humanitarian setting. It is guided by development principles that seek to build 
on humanitarian programmes and catalyze sustainable development 
opportunities. It aims to generate self-sustaining, nationally-owned, resilient 
processes for post-crisis recovery. It encompasses the restoration of basic 
services, livelihoods, shelter, governance, security and rule of law, environment 
and social dimensions, including reintegration of displaced population. Essential 
services to address gender-differentiated needs shall be made available during 
this period.
(d) An "emergency" is any situation in which the life or well-being of civilians 
affected by natural disaster, conflict or a public health threat has been or will 
be at risk unless immediate and appropriate action is taken, and that demands 
an extraordinary response and exceptional measures.
(e) "Essential services" covers health and social services, whether provided by a 
public or private undertaking, to ensure the security, safety and well-being of 
persons, including but not limited to food, water, medicine, medical devices, 
public utilities, energy, access to justice, police, health and protection services, 
and social protection addressing the needs of women during situations of 
pandemic, emergency or disaster as may be determined by the lATF or other 
relevant lead government agency or body under the law.
(f) "Frontline Workers" are those employees within essential industries who must 
physically show up to their jobs. It includes public and private health workers, 
such as but not limited to medical professionals, hospital and health facility 
administrative and maintenance staff, and aides from private health facilities, 
as well as their service providers, health workers and volunteers of the 
Philippine Red Cross and the World Health Organization, and employees of 
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation (PHIC), health insurance providers, disaster risk reduction 
management officers, public safety officers, and other workers in other high 
priority sectors; Provided, that the lATF shall determine the sectors by which 
its workers can be classified as frontline workers.
(g) Gender-Responsive is the consistent and systematic attention given to the 
gendered differences among individuals in society with a view to addressing 
status quo and structural constraints to gender equality; this includes creating


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and sustaining an environment through site selection, staff selection, program 
development, content, processes and materials that reflects an understanding 
of the realities of women's lives and addresses their needs and issues.
(h) "Health event of public health concern" refers to either a public health 
emergency or a public health threat due to biological, chemical, radio-nuclear 
and environmental agents as defined under RA 11332.
(i) "Intersectionality" is a framework for understanding that people experience 
overlapping (i.e., intersecting) forms of oppression, discrimination and 
marginalization based on their co-existing identities (e.g., inequality based on 
gender and/or ethnicity).
Q) "Locally Stranded Individual" refers to foreign nationals or Filipino citizens in a 
specific locality within the Philippines who have expressed intention to return 
to their place of residence or home origin.
(k) "Marginalization" refers to a condition where a whole category of people is 
excluded from useful and meaningful participation in political, economic, social, 
and cultural life.
(l) "Migrant Workers" refers to Filipinos who are to be engaged, are engaged, or 
have been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which they are not 
legal residents, whether documented or undocumented.
(m) 
"Nondiscrimination" refers to the guarantee wherein human rights are 
exercised witnout discrimination of any kind based on race, color, sex, 
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, 
birth or other status such as disability, age, marital and family status, sexual 
orientation ard gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic 
and social situation.
(n) "Pandemic" is defined under this Act as an epidemic occurring worldwide, or 
over a very w de area, crossing international boundaries, and usually affecting 
a large number of people as declared by the World Health Organization. The 
term also contemplates other public health emergencies as defined under RA 
No. 11332 and as declared by the Department of Health.
(o) "Preparedness" refers to efforts that focus on ensuring adequate capacity and 
knowledge, while reinforcing the ability to anticipate, respond and recover from 
the impact or emergency situations. Essential services to address gender- 
differentiated needs shall be included in these efforts.
(p) "Prevention" generally refers to taking action to stop GBV from first occurring 
(e.g., scaling up activities that promote gender equality or working with


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communities to address practices that contribute to GBV). Mitigation refers to 
reducing the risk of exposure to GBV (e.g., ensuring that reports of "hot spots" 
are immediately addressed through risk-reduction strategies).
(q) "Recovery" is the process following relief and supports the transition into long­
term reconstruction and development. Recovery actions are most effective if 
anticipated ard facilitated from the very outset of a humanitarian response. It 
involves the restoration and improvement of facilities, livelihoods and living 
conditions of crisis-affected communities, including efforts to reduce risks 
brought on by the crisis. Essential services to address gender-differentiated 
needs shall be made available during this period.
(r) "Response" refers to an emergency response involves the provision of 
emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a 
humanitarian crisis to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety 
and protection, and meet the basic needs of women, girls, boys and men in 
the affected population. This stage can range from a few days or weeks to 
many months and even years, particularly in protracted insecurity and 
displacement contexts. For the purposes of this Act, response shall be 
undertaken upon the declaration of the Department of Health of a public health 
emergency. Essential services to address gender-differentiated needs shall be 
made available during this period.
(s) "Social Protecdon floors" refers to nationally defined sets of basic social security 
guarantees that should ensure, as a minimum that, over the life cycle, all in 
need have access to essential health care and to basic income security which 
together secure effective access to goods and services defined as necessary at 
the national level; which include among others: access to essential health care, 
including maternity care; basic income security for children, providing access 
to nutrition, education, care and any other necessary goods and services; basic 
income security for persons in active age who are unable to earn sufficient 
income, in particular in cases of sickness, unemployment, maternity and 
disability; basic income security for older persons.
(t) "Social Safety Nets" refer to noncontributory interventions designed to help 
individuals and households cope with chronic poverty, destitution, and 
vulnerability, such as unconditional and conditional cash transfers, 
noncontributory social pensions, food and in-kind transfers, school feeding 
programs, public works, and fee waivers. These programs target the poor and 
vulnerable.


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(u) "Stigma" refers to a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or
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group of people have about something such as in the context of women.
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(v) "Violence Against Women" refers to any act of gender-based violence that
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results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or
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suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary
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deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.
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Sec. 5. Humanitanan Principles Guiding Pandemic Programming and Management
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to Address Gender-Differentiated Needs of Women During Pandemics or Disasters. - The
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following principles shall ground, inform and guide the formulation and implementation
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of policies, plans, programs, and other appropriate measures, including affirmative
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actions, in managing pandemics and disasters:
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(a) A survivor-centered approach which creates a supportive environment in which
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survivors' rights and wishes are respected, their safety is ensured, and they are
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treated with dignity and respect.
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(b)A human rights-based approach that seeks to analyze and address the root
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causes of discrimination and inequality to ensure that everyone has the right
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to live with freedom and dignity, safe from violence, exploitation and abuse, in
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accordance w:th principles of human rights law.
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(c)A community-based approach that ensures that affected populations are
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engaged actively as partners in developing strategies related to their protection
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and the provision of humanitarian assistance. This approach involves direct
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involvement of women, girls and other at-risk groups at all stages in the
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humanitarian response, to identify protection risks and solutions, and build on
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existing community-based protection mechanisms.
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(d)The humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and
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neutrality which should underpin the implementation of the Minimum
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Standards and are essential to maintaining access to affected populations and
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ensuring an effective humanitarian response.
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(e)The "do no harm"approach which takes into account all measures necessary
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to avoid exposing people to further harm as a result of the actions of
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humanitarian actors.
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(f) The Principles of Partnership which comprise a framework for all actors in the
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humanitarian space to follow principles of equality, transparency, a results-
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oriented appnoach, responsibility and complementarity.
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(g) Taking into account the best interests of the cMr/wherein child and adolescent
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girl and boy survivors of sexual abuse have the right to have their best interests


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assessed and determined and taken as a primary consideration in all decisions
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that affect them.
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(h) Focus should be given to the intersectionality of the circumstances of women,
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taking into account the specific needs and concerns of marginalized and
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vulnerable women groups including women and girls deprived of liberty,
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women working in the informal sector, women migrants workers, and other
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similarly situated at-risk individuals and groups.
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(i) Rights-basedpolicing 
human rights principles and practices are taught
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and applied at all levels, in policy, doctrinal, operational and administrative
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functions of the police organization.
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Sec. 6. Interpretation of this Act - Unless otherwise provided, nothing in this Act
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shall be construed as oreduding provisions in existing Philippine laws, international
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human rights laws and related instruments, and international humanitarian laws that are
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more promotive of human rights and the preservation and protection of the right to life.
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ARTICLE II
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CREATION OF NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN TO
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ADDRESS THE GENDER-DIFFERENTIATED NEEDS OF WOMEN DURING A
18 
PANDEMIC OR DISASTER
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Sec. 7. National Preparedness and Response Plan to Address the Gender-
20 
differentiated Needs of Women during the Pandemic or Disaster. - A coherent,
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appropriate, efficient, developmental, evidence-based and survivor-centered national
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program against GBV and addressing gender-differentiated needs of women especially
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from marginalized sectors shall be developed to inform, direct and coordinate its
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implementation at all levels and to ensure accessibility, avaiiability and quality of services
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at the community level.
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For this purpose, a Task Force, to be co-headed by the National Disaster Risk
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Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Philippine Commission on Women
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(PCW), in coordination with the lATF, shall come up with said National Plan within six (6)
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months from passage of this Act, to be cascaded to the local government units where
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local counterparts may be established, and must be automatically integrated into the
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national strategy to manage the pandemic or disaster. This plan shall be subjected to
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review every two (2) years. It shall address GBV and gender-differentiated needs at all
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stages of the pandemic management, and anticipating pandemic related events and
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factors that might impede the functioning of legal, medical, social, remedial and other
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protection measures and mechanisms, to include, but not limited to:


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(a) Reviewing lessons from the COVID19 pandemic to be able to address the
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specific barriers and obstacles faced by women during pandemics and disasters
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that manifest in GBV, taking into account intersecting vulnerabilities and the
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multiple burdens they experience, and addressing stigma and discriminatory
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practices, attitudes and behaviors resulting in GBV;
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(b) Gathering, managing, and utilizing data concerning the risks and incidence of
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GBV, including online GBV, to inform policies and programs to achieve gender
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inclusive responses and address gaps and lapses;
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(c) Providing prompt, accurate, disaggregated, accessible, up-to-date,
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comprehensible, science-based, and transparent data on women during
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pandemics anc disasters;
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(d) Developing protocols and guidelines of conduct relating to the delivery of service
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to women in the context of pandemics, providing access to essential services
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and government social protection and safety nets, including water, hygiene and
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sanitation (WASH), food and nutrition security;
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(e) Providing capacity-building for service providers and governmental workers on
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early identification and mitigation of such risks as well as strengthening
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nationwide heblines and community-level referral to ensure they are functional
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to prevent and respond to cases including chain management and service
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provision plans for these services to stay open during the outbreak;
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(f) Providing a clear channel of communication with GBV service providers and
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actors as well as women's organizations and local GBV service providers and
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survivor-centered referral systems through the utilization of technology;
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(g) Assisting in the planning of national, local and community units by developing,
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identifying anc sharing best practices;
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(h) Providing technical assistance, training, and consultation to improve
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preparedness and response capabilities, with focus on the needs of women and
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other vulnerable groups, including to support the achievement of evidence-
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based benchmarks and objective standards to monitor, assess and measure
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levels of preparedness, response and recovery;
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(i) Improving systems of public, private, and civil society collaboration and
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partnership to formulate, and address gaps and inefficiencies in the, policies,
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plans and programs to address GBV during pandemic, including systems of
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global cooperation; and
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(j) Carrying out other duties related to preparedness, response and recovery
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activities for women, as the Task Force may deem appropriate.
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ARTICLE III
3 
GENERAL DUTIES OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LOCAL
4 
GOVERNMENT UNITS
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Sec. 8. Duties of National Government Agencies and Local Government Units. -
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Every department, agency and local government unit must come up with a gender-
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responsive pandemic preparedness plan, manual or protocol for women in pandemics
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within sixty (60) days from receipt of the national plan and appoint one focal person to
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supervise and oversee the implementation of said pian, manual or protocol. The
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preparedness plan shouid outline the entity's plans to, where relevant:
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1) Monitor and gather data regarding the realities of women relating to gender-based
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vioience and enjoyment of their human rights in the context of a pandemic that would
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inform, craft and direct policies to be implemented by the agency in all the stages of
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pandemic management;
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2) Effectively prevent, respond and eliminate the incidence of gender-based violence;
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3) Consistent with the National Plan, develop and craft guidelines and instructions on
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practices, protocols, systems of coordination and networking, information and
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education of first resoonders, especially during the response and early recovery stage,
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safety and personal protection of workers, and needs of women, girls and at-risk
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individuals, groups and communities, and ensure its timeliness, responsiveness,
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availability and accessibility;
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4) Develop and craft guidelines and protocols for alternative work arrangements that
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take into account the gender-differentiated needs of female employees of the agency;
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5) Ensure that communications systems, referral systems, protection mechanisms and
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other measures on access to justice and effective remedies by women subject to
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gender-based violence are in place and continue to operate during the period of a
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pandemic;
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6) Where applicable, provide immediate 
haven, shelter and security, resources and
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support to women and girls subject to violence;
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7) Enable sufficient and effective reguiatory authority to respond and to prevent the
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incidence of gender-based violence during a pandemic, including but not limited to
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the relaxation of regulatory requirements that impede the delivery of services or its
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compliance during a pandemic, emergency procurement and provision of emergency
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funds for these purposes.
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Concerned agencies may also be mandated to update such plans, manuals or
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protocols within a given timeframe after the issuance of the National Plan.
II


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Sec. 9. General duties of local government units. - In addition to the duties under
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the preceding Section local government units shall develop their pandemic preparedness
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protocols through a gender-differentiated localized response, taking into account the local
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contexts, cultural norms, and concerns of the different women sectors in their area. This
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includes protocols and systems for assistance to gender-based violence, provisions for
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access to sexual and rep'oductive health needs, and ensuring availability of basic services
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for women through all phases of the national response regarding the public health
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emergency.
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The Local Government Units shall ensure that they have capable and trained
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personnel to provide the essential services package for women and are oriented about
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the policies, principles and procedure regarding gender equality, prohibition against
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gender-based violence, and gender sensitivity as well as those governing the
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management of the pandemic and other public health emergencies. They are also
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mandated to use data-gathering and data-analytics to further improve and strengthen
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their services. They shal: also provide an accessible feedback mechanism to further guide
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their practice.
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Subject to health protocols, the Local Government Units, in coordination with civil
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society organizations, non-government organizations, private sector and other
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stakeholders, shall conduct regular dialogues and information drives with the community
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to educate them on gender issues as a preventive measure to prevent gender-based
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violence and address gender-differentiated needs. Through this multi-sectoral
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mechanism, women can participate and put forth their specific needs for integration in
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the local government pandemic programming and management.
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ARTICLE IV
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PROGRAMMING AND MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS GENDER-DIFFERENTIATED
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NEEDS OF WOMEN DURING A PANDEMIC
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Sec. 10. Leadership, Participation and Empowerment of Women. - Response and
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recovery systems must ensure that women are placed strategically and participate
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meaningfully in leadership, decision-making, and policy-making positions at all levels. In
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accordance with this, the lATF shall have the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)
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as permanent member. Forty percent (40%) of membership of all development or
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counterpart response council or bodies from the regional, provincial, city, municipal and
34 
barangay levels shall be composed of women.
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In the formulation, planning, programming and implementation of prompt,
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effective and survivor-centered measures to address issues of violence against women
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and girl-children, the most senior leadership position shall be held by a woman.
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Sec. 11. Guarantee of non-discrimination. - This Act shall prohibit discrimination
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in all forms committed against women as provided under the Magna Carta of Women
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during the occurrence o" a pandemic or any public health emergency.
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Sec. 12. Strengthening GBV Preparedness and Response Systems. - GBV
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preparedness and response systems during pandemics and disasters shall be considered
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essential services and appropriate budgetary allotment from the emergency funding shall
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be ensured towards the formulation, reprogramming or continuity of said systems.
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Services to respond to GBV shall remain uninterrupted and functional, even during
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quarantines and lockdowns. In particular:
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a) GBV services, especialiy temporary shelters, psychosocial services, appropriate
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medical aid, and legal aid, shall remain functional and accessible notwithstanding
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the occurrence cf a public health emergency. All government units, desks and
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offices involved in the GBV referral pathways, including hotlines, social protection,
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and community care services, must also be fully operational to enable timely
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reporting and response to GBV;
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b) Mechanisms under Republic Act No. 9262 for the processing and issuance of
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Barangay Protection Orders (BPO), Temporary Protection Orders (TPO) and
21 
Permanent Protection Orders (PPO) shall remain operative and the reglementary
22 
periods under the law shall be maintained;
23 
c) GBV services are to be made available to women staying in any detention,
24 
quarantine or isolation facilities where prolonged stay is required or necessary:
25 
Provided \ha\:t al personnel and decision-makers involved in camp coordination
26 
and camp management, such as in evacuation sites, transitory shelters and
27 
community-based/ home-based arrangements shall be capacitated to receive GBV-
28 
related complaints and provide GBV-related services;
29 
d) All duty-bearers "equired under Republic Act No. 11313 to establish mechanisms
30 
to receive and investigate complaints for violations of the Act must ensure that
31 
such mechanisms are functional and effective;
32 
e) Communication systems, with emphasis on localized communication down to the
33 
level of barangays, must be established in coordination with the Department of
34 
Information and Communications Technology and National Telecommunications
35 
Commission, for education and information dissemination on pandemic and
36 
emergency risks and access to social protection, safety nets, referral systems.
13


1 
protection measures and other appropriate measures in cases of GBV, which shall
2 
include traditional modes of communication to reach women living in remote areas
3 
or areas with limited access such as newspaper, pamphlets, and radio. Provided,
4 
that, relevant and gender-fair language, format, and relevant channels that are
5 
culturally- and age-appropriate shall be taken into consideration to ensure effective
6 
communication with individuals and communities.
7 
Sec. 13. Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Rights and Essential Services
8 
Package. - It shall be the duty of national and local authorities to prioritize specific health
9 
needs of all women and girls at the community level, including in countries of destination
10 
for women migrants, particularly access to sexual and reproductive health services,
11 
including pre- and post-natal healthcare, access to essential services as defined above
12 
and physical rehabilitation during pandemics and other public health concerns,
13 
emergencies and disasters. The preparedness and response systems must include, but
14 
not limited to:
15 
(a) Available staff, funds and other resources;
16 
(b) Unhampered mobility and available public and safe transportation;
17 
(c) Availability and continuity of reproductive health commodities, goods and
18 
services and essential services or relief packages and hygiene kits, including
19 
emergency contraception, for women and girls of all ages;
20 
(d) Knowledge and awareness of women and communities of these available
21 
services, and continuous flow of SRHR information to young women to reduce
22 
unsafe and unhealthy sexual practices;
23 
(e) Gender-sensitive support to frontline health workers on both facility and
24 
community level;
25 
(f) Additional financial, human, or logistical support to female health workers to
26 
offset the additional burden of household management; and
27 
(g) Systematic coordination and planning of addressing the gaps in accessing SRH
28 
services;
29 
(h) Adoption of a strategy to ensure continuity and availability of ante and post-
30 
natal care and services during lockdowns as well as prompt access of pregnant
31 
women to the same, with corresponding precautions to protect them from risks
32 
of exposure such as, but not limited to, provision 
of maternal health
33 
information, provision of online check-ups, and updated referral hospitals and
34 
lying-in clinics during the lockdowns;
35 
(i) Provision to women deprived of liberty (WDL) of sufficient and regular access
36 
to sexual and reproductive health information, services, and products inside
14


1 
the detention and correctional facilities; Provided that, pregnant WDLs or those
2 
who have jus: given birth shall be allowed benefits including, but not limited
3 
to, house arrests, furloughs to attend to physical/medical checkups, release on
4 
recognizance, among others;
5 
0) Provision of reasonable accommodation to ensure women with disabilities'
6 
access to SRh services; and
7 
(k) Provision of SRH services to internally-displaced women and girls in home-
8 
based arrangements or in evacuation sites/transitory shelters.
9 
The Department of Health and each Barangay Health Emergency Response Team
10 
are mandated to ensure that the specific health needs, especially sexual health and
11 
reproductive needs, women and girls are included in the implemented essential health
12 
packages, systems and protocols in their constituency, including universal health
13 
coverage, during pandemics, subject to other existing laws.
14 
Sec. 14. Gendered Approach to Vaccination. - The procurement, allocation,
15 
distribution, delivery, facilitation and administration of vaccines must be transparent and
16 
must take into account gender-based differences in immunological responses, care
17 
burden or work of women both paid and unpaid, security of women against gender-based
18 
violence and other forms of attacks and other factors that increase women's vulnerability.
19 
Safe, efficacious and free vaccines or medications, including newly-approved ones for the
20 
current pandemic or health emergency, must be available and accessible to women,
21 
taking into account intersectional considerations that may impede such access and
22 
vulnerabilities of women that affect their right to life, health and security; provided that
23 
such access shall be in accordance with the priority and health protocols of the Philippines
24 
or relevant COD, and is rights-based, non-discriminatory, voluntary and based on
25 
informed consent. Information on vaccination and the scientific evidence behind it must
26 
be clear and effectively communicated. These gendered approach must be integrated in
27 
legal, policy and program implementation of vaccinations to address COVID 19 and other
28 
public health concerns, emergencies and disasters.
29 
Sec. 15. Sociai protection. - It shall be the duty of national and local authorities
30 
such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and
31 
Employment, and Department of Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the
32 
various Local Government units, to target the most vulnerable and economically
33 
marginalized sectors of women, with emphasis on victims of gender-based violence. The
34 
measures shall include, but not limited to;
35 
(a) Empowering women through their access to sustainable livelihood and/or
36 
employment as may be practicable, such as through the capacity-building and
15


1 
other services rendered by local Public Employment System Offices and work-
2 
from-home programming, and access to flexible financing and loans;
3 
(b) Ensuring the unimpeded provision of safety nets and cash-based interventions
4 
to vulnerable and poor women, and solo parents;
5 
(c) Prioritizing gender alongside disability, age, and other overlapping
6 
vulnerabilities in the assessments of needs and decisions on targeting;
7 
(d) Ensuring that women victims have adequate access to counselling and shelters
8 
that have access to adequate resources for the needs of women, particularly
9 
health and social workforce; solo, young and 4Ps mothers;
10 
(e) Providing women access to opportunities such as trainings and seminars
11 
pertinent to their capacity to sustain themselves;
12 
(f) Ensuring that work environments, including work-from-home arrangements,
13 
are VAW-free through continuous monitoring of the situations of vulnerable
14 
women and their protection, guaranteeing accountability of the perpetrators
15 
and holding of regular seminars to educate on VAW issues and standards
16 
especially during a pandemic, among others;
17 
(g) Ensuring effective and inclusive grievance redressal mechanisms embedded in
18 
social protection programming which are designed to be accessible and
19 
inclusive of girls, women, persons with disabilities, children, older people, and
20 
other at-risk individuals and groups;
21 
(h) Providing work-from-home setup for women subjected to violence In their
22 
workplaces until the perpetrator has been held accountable;
23 
(i) Enforcing other laws and issuances which may be enacted by virtue of the
24 
existence of such public health emergency, which contain services and
25 
protection afforded to women, particularly on social protection.
26 
Sec. 16. Protection for Locally Stranded Individuals. - The Department of Interior
27 
and Local Government, in coordination with Local Government Units and the respective
28 
designated barangays, shall ensure the safety and security of all displaced migrants or
29 
individuals and at-risk individuals and groups due to the pandemic. This shall include an
30 
efficient mechanism for immediate delivery of food (in full respect for the Individual's
31 
dietary restrictions by reason of health or religion), shelter and medical supplies for
32 
women and children, including assisting mothers with breastfeeding, feed and care for
33 
their babies, protection against GBV, and other support.
34 
Sec 17. Economic Empowerment - The Department of Labor and Employment,
35 
together with local government units and offices, including the Public Employment
36 
Systems Offices, shall enact mechanisms and procedures to address the difficulties faced
16


1 
by women in the employment sector during the pandemic such as job loss and business
2 
closure. All measures shall tend to the continuous employment of women. These should
3 
include considerations regarding the workplace arrangements, marketplace and
4 
community supply chain, establishment of community level livelihood facilitators, and the
5 
women working in the informal economy. For this purpose, said units and offices must
6 
be well-equipped and capacitated to perform all measures necessary to address the
7 
livelihood and employment concerns of their constituents, with special attention to
8 
vulnerable women and the protection afforded to them under other laws.
9 
The Department of Labor and Employment and the Civil Service Commission are
10 
mandated to ensure that women are afforded flexible work arrangements during a public
11 
health emergency. They shall provide for rules and regulations for this purpose, taking
12 
into account the specific needs and concerns faced by women under such circumstances.
13 
The Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and
14 
Industry, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other relevant
15 
agencies shall also bolster entrepreneurship and provide adequate livelihood
16 
opportunities and skills development to women.
17 
Sec. 18. Protection of Rural Women and Indigenous Women. - The concerned
18 
local government unit shall ensure that women in rural and indigenous communities
19 
belonging to their jurisdiction have adequate and unimpeded access to health, legal, and
20 
socio-economic services. This guarantee for indigenous women must be undertaken with
21 
due respect to their indigenous health systems, practices and beliefs. They shall be
22 
furnished with the same, if not more, opportunities and facilities as those of their urban
23 
counterparts, as far as may be practicable.
24 
Sec. 19. Utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). - This
25 
Act mandates the emphasis on the enhancement of the capacity of ICT systems to
26 
facilitate and aid the implementation of provisions under this Act. The Department of
27 
Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications
28 
Commission, in coordination with public utilities and telecommunication providers, shall
29 
develop efficient and effective management information systems on GBV and other sexual
30 
exploitations, and other gender and inclusion issues, provide assistance to relevant
31 
agencies and civil society organizations, provide assistance to ensure the accessibility of
32 
the services provided through the use of ICT system including, but not limited to,
33 
immediate assistance from the Philippine National Police, information dissemination
34 
through short message service, and other services. ICT assistance shall include
35 
strengthening ICT literacy of women especially in poor communities and remote areas.
17


1 
reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, such as provision of Filipino Sign
2 
Language, among others.
3 
Sec. 20. Protection for Women Migrant Workers and their Chiidren - Interagency
4 
bodies such as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (lATF),
5 
Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and Their Children (lACVAWC), Inter-
6 
Agency Council Against Trafficking (lACAT) and the Sub-Committee on International
7 
Migration and Developnrent (SCIMD), as well as government agencies part of the OCTA
8 
(one-country team approach in countries of destination) such as the Department of
9 
Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare
10 
Administration, and Department of Social Welfare and Development are mandated to
11 
ensure that women migrant workers are given adequate resources and access to legal,
12 
medical, and social services in the receiving State, during transit and upon return,
13 
especially during repatriation. Relevant embassies and foreign affairs personnel must
14 
ensure the protection of women migrant workers and their children during pandemic and
15 
other emergencies. Coordination among these bodies is imperative, taking into account,
16 
but not limited to, the following:
17 
a) Responsibility to prevent and reduce GBV in migrant women and their children,
18 
including through international, regional, and bilateral cooperation;
19 
b) Development of consistent and coherent frameworks and protocols between
20 
the host country and country of origin for the expedited process of seeking
21 
redress by women subjected to violence;
22 
c) Global partnership and international cooperation such as through drafting
23 
agreements on the extension of stay permits of the women migrant workers
24 
and their children between the host country and the country 
of origin and
25 
through the relaxation of migrant workers' requirements to access social
26 
services;
27 
d) Migrants and marginalized and other at-risk individuals or groups should be
28 
included in the public health strategies with due consultation with them;
29 
e) Grant of bilateral incentives between countries to encourage employers to
30 
renew contracts for existing workers in the host country;
31 
f) Labor, economic livelihood, and social protections for migrant;
32 
g) Freedom of movement;
33 
h) Non-discrimination;
34 
i) Access to Health, especially sexual and reproductive health rights services;
35 
j) Access to Justice; and
36 
k) Access to Soc al Protection and Social Services.
18


1 
Sec. 21. Specific protective measures for Women Migrant Workers and their
2 
Children, including victims of Anti Trafficking in Persons. - In relation to the preceding
3 
section, the following measures shall be undertaken, among other appropriate measures:
4 
a) During crisis preparation:
5 
1. Track information on conflicts and natural and climate-induced disasters
6 
and potential impact on migrants and their children;
7 
2. Orient and sensitize male responders and decision-makers on gender-
8 
responsive pandemic and disaster management policies;
9 
3. Collect and share information on women migrant workers and their
10 
children, subject to privacy, confidentiality, 
security, and safety 
of
11 
migrants;
12 
4. Incorporate women migrant workers and their children in the
13 
prevention, preparedness, and 
emergency response systems and
14 
contingency planning;
15 
5. Communicate effectively with migrants;
16 
6. Establish coordination agreements beforehand; and
17 
7. Build capacity and learn lessons from emergency response and post-
18 
crisis action.
19 
b) During emergency response:
20 
1. Communicate widely with women migrant workers and their children on
21 
evolving crises and how to access help;
22 
2. Facilita:e migrants' ability to move safely;
23 
3. Provide humanitarian assistance without discrimination;
24 
4. Establish clear referral procedures and systems;
25 
5. Relocate women migrant workers and their children, when needed;
26 
6. Uphold the principles of non-refoulement and refugee and stateless
27 
protection.
28 
c) After the crisis:
29 
1. Address migrants' and their children's immediate needs and support
30 
them to rebuild 
their lives;
31 
2. Ensure rehabilitation, integration and other interventions;
32 
3. Support migrant women's and their children's host communities.
33 
Victims of Anti-Trafficking in Persons shall be given support and assistance for their
34 
immediate rescue, repatriation and reintegration.
35
36 
CHAPTER IV
19


1 
FINAL PROVISIONS
2 
Sec. 22. Appropriations. - The funds appropriated from the Calamity Fund for
3 
disaster risk reduction management and calamities amounting to 100 miiiion, as weil as
4 
from portions of the Gender and Development (GAD) budget or special health funds of
5 
agencies or local government units, may be used for the purposes above including for
6 
the implementation of the National Preparedness and Response Plan. Should the amount
7 
be insufficient to cover the necessary expenses, further financial support will come from
8 
the national government, subject to the guidelines of the Department of Finance in
9 
coordination with the Deoartment of Interior and Local Government.
10 
Sec. 23. Penalties. - The following penalties and sanctions are hereby established:
11 
a. Any person or entity found to have committed any act of discrimination
12 
against women during a pandemic or disaster shall be penalized with a
13 
fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (PhP20,000.00) but not
14 
more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP50,000.00), or imprisonment of
15 
not less than one month but not more than six months, or both such
16 
fine or punishment, at the discretion of the proper Court: Provided, that
17 
if he or she is a government employee, he or she shall also be held
18 
administratively liable, without prejudice to criminal liability under this
19 
Act;
20 
b. Any public officer mandated to impiement this Act, who shali fail to
21 
perforrr in accordance with the mandates, duties, tasks and other acts
22 
imposed by this law shall be administratively liable for neglect in the
23 
performance of duty: Provided, that should damage or injury be inflicted
24 
on any person by reason of such neglect, the aggrieved party can have
25 
recourse against the erring public officer, employee or private individual
26 
for appropriate civil and criminal remedies;
27 
c. Any person found to have committed violations of Republic Act No.
28 
7877, Republic Act No. 9208 as amended. Republic Act No. 9262,
29 
Republic Act 9775, Republic Act No. 9995, Republic Act No. 11313, as
30 
well as the crimes of rape, acts of lasciviousness, online sexual abuse
31 
and exploitation of children, as well as analogous crimes involving
32 
gender-based violence, shall be meted the penalties in the
33 
aforementioned laws in its maximum period when the crime is
34 
committed in quarantine facilities, or against persons designated as at-
35 
risk individuals and/or members of at-risk groups, or during a pandemic
20


1 
and/or disaster when the said pandemic and/or disaster provided
2 
enabling or facilitating conditions for the commission of the crime.
3 
Sec. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The PCW, as the lead agency,
4 
shall, in coordination with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Inter-Agency Task
5 
Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Interior and Local Government,
6 
Department of Health, Commission on Population and Development, Department of Labor
7 
and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Foreign
8 
Affairs, National Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department
9 
of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice Philippine
10 
National Police and all concerned government departments and agencies, with the
11 
participation of civil society organizations, academe, private sector, public health
12 
practitioners and other key actors and stakeholders, formulate the implementing rules
13 
and regulations (IRR) of this Act within thirty (30) days after its effectivity.
14 
Sec. 25. Congressional Oversight - Both Houses of Congress, particularly the
15 
Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality of the Senate
16 
and Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the House of Representatives shall
17 
oversee the implementation of this Act. The CHR, as Gender Ombud, shall likewise review
18 
the implementation after one (1) year, and subsequently, every year, in accordance with
19 
the recovery and rehabintation plans of the government.
20 
Sec. 26. SuppletoryApplications. -The applicable provisions of the Revised Penal
21 
Code shall have suppletory application insofar as they are consistent with the provisions
22 
of this Act.
23 
Sec. 27. SeparabHity Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid
24 
or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.
25 
Sec. 28. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
26 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, or is shown
27 
to facilitate or enable tie commission of gender-based violence are hereby repealed,
28 
amended, or modified accordingly.
29 
Sec. 29. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
30 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
31 
Approved,
21