THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TEE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXE’LANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides: 
“The State recognizes the role of women in nation- 
building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law 
of women and men.” 
Women play multiple and vital roles in economic development, but in many 
developmental activities, their roles have been overlooked, ignored, or displaced. 
The full participation of women in, and the full contribution of women to, the 
development process are essential to achieving growth, a more equitable distribution of 
resources and services to meet basic needs, a higher quality of life, and sustainable 
development. 
In food production, for instance, low-resource women farmers provide the critical 
labor and offer the best hope for increasing food supplies. With access to appropriate 
extension, credit, and marketing services, they can do much more. 
Women are also a major source of entrepreneurial talent in the informal sectors 
and with access to training, credit, and other forms of assistance, are expected to account 
for much of the growth in the private sector employment. 
The failure to effectively integrate women in development activities retards 
achievement of development goals. Hence, this bill seeks to promote the integration of 
women in the development process. 
LUISA ‘CLOI” P.~JERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THTRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
I 
J 
OF THE PNILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
$. - 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJElRCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING TB[E INTEGRATION OF WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT 
PROCESS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Women in Development 
Act, ” 
Section 2. Strengthening women in development policy. - The head of every 
government department, bureaus or agency shall take the following steps to strengthen 
the women in development policy and shall incorporate the active participation of local 
women and local women’s organizations in its programs, projects and activities 
(including their involvement in the planning, design, implementation, management, 
monitoring, and evaluation of the activities.) 
Section 3. Establishment of Task Force on Women Development. - (1) There 
shall be established within the department a task force on women in development, to be 
created under the Office of the President. The task force shall be responsible for - 
overseeing the implementation of this Act; 
consult with indigenous peoples and women’s organizations in 
developing strategies to overcome the obstacles to integration of 
women in the development process; 
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(C) 
establishing specific criteria for measuring and evaluating the 
government’s 
performance 
in 
incorporating 
women 
in 
development activities, and developing ways to institutionalize 
learning on women in development activities. Such criteria shall 
be adopted by each government department and agency in 
formulating its specific programs of action; 
collect sex-disaggregated data for, and include such data in, every 
department’s project paper, developmental program, as well as all 
relevant research projects 
ensure that project and program evaluations of the government 
include an assessment of the extent to which the project integrates 
women in the development process and of the impact of the project 
or program on women, including both positive and negative 
(D) 
@) 
implications of the project or program in enhancing the self- 
reliance of women and improving their incomes; 
ensure that strategies, projects, and programs identifl and take 
advantage of opportunities to assist women in activities that are of 
critical significance to their self-reliance and development, 
including (a) appropriate extension and related services to low- 
resource women who are engaged in subsistence or cash crop 
production, and (b) training, technical assistance, credit, and other 
services to strengthen the managerial skills and capabilities of 
women, with special attention to women’s institutions and women 
entrepreneurs; 
require that efforts to achieve the goal of integrating women into 
the government’s programs and activities be an important factor in 
the personnel evaluation process; and 
perform other acts necessary to effectively carry out the provisions 
of this Act. 
(F) 
(G) 
(H) 
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(2) 
Members shall not be paid by reason of their service on the Commission. 
Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in an 
amount to be determined by existing law. 
The Task Force may procure temporary and intermittent services to assist 
in the discharge of its functions. 
(3) 
Section 4. Membership, Number and Appointment - The Commission shall be 
composed of six (6) members to be appointed by the President as follows: 
(1) 
two (2) senior-level staff, 
regarding the integration of women in development process; 
two (2) members from among institutions in education or academia in the 
fields of women studies; 
two (2) members from among non-governmental organizations, people’s 
organizations or any similar entities that promote and advance the welfare 
of .women, minorities and individuals with disabilities 
who shall be in decision making positions 
(2) 
(3) 
Section 5. Powers of the Task Force. 
Hearings and Sessions - The Task Force may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 
take testimony, and receive evidence as it considers appropriate. It 
may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before 
it; 
Obtaining Official Data - The Task Force may secure directly 
from any department or agency information necessary to enable it 
to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Task Force head, the 
head of that department or agency shall hrnish that information to 
the Task Force; 
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(3) 
Mails - The Task Force may use mails in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the 
government; 
Contract Authority - To the extent provided in advance in 
appropriations act, the Commission may contract with and 
compensate government and private agencies or persons for the 
purpose of conducting research or surveys necessary to enable the 
Task Force to carry out its duties under this Act. 
(4) 
Section 6. Separability CZause. - I f  any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
Section 7. 
Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
Section 8: Eflectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
G Wtere ’ disk Iyellow/1439- women development 
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