Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN AND 
BY POLITICAL PARTIES, GIVING INCENTIVES THEREFOR, CREATING 
THE WOMEN IN POLITICAL PARTIES EMPOWERMENT FUND, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Women have been recognized by the State in their significant 
contributions to nation-building and their equal role with men. However, 
legislations to protect and promote gender equality have been gradual over 
the years. The enactment of the Magna Carta of Women in 2009 was a victory 
achieved after decades of it languishing in previous Congresses. 
Worldwide, there is a prevalent belief that Filipino women have attained 
higher status in Asia Pacific because of better access to education and 
opportunities to participate outside their homes including careers in politics. 
However, since 2012, women in the national legislature barely consist of a 
quarter of the entire congress at only 23% with minimal increase to 28% after 
a decade.1  
The sheer presence of women in politics is a challenge to the country’s 
true vision of gender equality. This bill seeks to ensure critical mass and 
equal participation of women in the national legislature to be able to advance 
gender equality and close the current gender gap in health care, education, 
and labor force participation among other issues that hinder women to take 
up equal space in society.  
1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/730298/the-philippines-proportion-of-seats-held-by-
women-in-national-parliament/ Accessed on November 8, 2022 
November 9, 2022
2:52 pm
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It is our belief that this bill is both crucial and urgent not only in putting 
women in leadership positions to promote women’s issues but more 
importantly, for the State to fully realize its commitment to gender equality 
and human rights after it signed the United Nation’s Convention of the 
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1980. 
This version of the Women Participation and Representation in Political 
Parties Bill has been deliberated by the Committee on Women and Gender 
Equality in the 18th Congress but has failed to pass into law. However, this 
bill is hereby refiled to honor the tedious committee consultations and 
deliberations with stakeholders done in previous congresses. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is urgently 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN AND 
BY POLITICAL PARTIES, GIVING INCENTIVES THEREFOR, CREATING 
THE WOMEN IN POLITICAL PARTIES EMPOWERMENT FUND, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Women 
Participation and Representation in Political Parties Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to Section 14, Article II (State 
Policies) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which recognizes the role of 
women in nation-building and ensures fundamental equality before the law 
of men and women, and to Section 14, Article XIII (Social Justice and Human 
Rights) of the same Constitution, which makes it an obligation of the State to 
provide facilities and opportunities for women that will enhance and enable 
them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation, it is hereby 
declared the policy of the State to promote women participation and equitable 
representation of women by providing incentives to political parties which 
have women agenda and which have internal policies which promote women 
participation and equitable representation.  
Further, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as Magna 
Carta of Women states that, “The State shall undertake temporary special 
measures to accelerate the participation and equitable representation of 
women in all spheres of society particularly in the decision-making and policy-
making processes in government and private entities to fully realize their role 
as agents and beneficiaries of development.” Likewise, Section 11 (e) of the 
Magna Carta of Women, provides incentives to political parties with women’s 
agenda. It shall likewise encourage the integration of women in the leadership 
hierarchy, internal policy-making structures, appointive and electoral 
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nominating processes”.  
 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
 
(a) Lawful election expenses and expenditures - shall refer to any type 
of expense incurred, regardless of source and purpose, that relates 
directly or indirectly, to the conduct of the electoral campaign of a 
woman candidate. It includes all payments of money or anything of 
value, or a contract, promise or agreement to spend, for the purpose 
of influencing the results of the elections. It includes the use of office 
space and facilities personally owned by the woman candidate, the 
monetary value of which shall be assessed based on the market rates 
prevailing in a particular area: Provided, That for purposes of this 
Act, the term shall refer exclusively and specifically to campaign 
expenditures of women candidates. 
(b) Certified political party - shall refer to a political party qualified to 
receive incentives for the development and implementation of its 
women and gender and development agenda and to augment funds 
reserved for the campaign expenditures of its women candidates, 
and certified as such by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), 
with the assistance of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). 
(c) Disclosure requirement - shall refer to the duty of women candidates 
and political parties, as defined in this Act, to reveal the details of 
the incentives and expenditures given and received by them as 
incentives and their share in the Women in Political Parties 
Empowerment Fund. 
(d) Woman member of a political party - shall refer to a biological or 
transgender woman of good standing in a political party who 
complied with the requirements of party membership, including the 
payment of membership dues, and coming from the women sector. 
(e) Political party - shall refer to a political party, party-list or an 
organized group of persons duly registered with the Commission on 
Elections, pursuing or advocating a platform, principles and policies 
for the general conduct of government and for women’s 
empowerment, and which nominates and supports its members as 
candidates for public office. 
(f) Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund - shall refer to the 
fund for the development and implementation of a political party’s 
women and gender and development agenda, and which may be 
used to augment funds for the campaign activities of women 
candidates, as provided for by this Act. 
 
SECTION 4. Development and Implementation of a Women and Gender 
and Development Agenda. – Political parties are mandated to craft and 
implement a clear women and gender and development agenda and program 
consistent with their party philosophy and ideals. The members of the political 
party shall endeavor to act in accordance with this agenda and pursue 
programs to fulfill party commitments. This agenda shall form part of the 


requirements for the accreditation of political parties by the COMELEC. The 
PCW shall assist the political parties in development of this agenda. 
 
SECTION 5. Participation and Representation in Political Parties. – 
Women representation in a political party shall refer to the integration of 
women in the leadership of a political party and its internal policy-making 
structures: Provided, That such leaders are bona fide women members of the 
political party: Provided, further, That representation shall be within the 
gender quota, wherein the percentage of either women or men in a political 
party shall not be less than forty percent (40%) nor more than sixty percent 
(60%) of the leadership and internal policy-making structures of the political 
party: Provided further, That political parties participating in the party-list 
system may still qualify for the incentive for as long as the percentage of 
women in their leadership and internal policy-making structure is at least 
forty percent (40%) even if it exceeds sixty percent (60%).  Provided, finally, 
That the COMELEC, shall certify the ratio of representation of women and 
men in a political party. 
 
SECTION 6. Participation and Representation by Political Parties. – 
Women representation by a political party shall refer to the nomination of 
women as official candidates of the political party to elective positions in the 
government: Provided, That such nominees are bona fide women members of 
the political party: Provided, further, That representation shall be within the 
gender quota, wherein the percentage of either women or men by a political 
party shall not be less than forty percent (40%) nor more than sixty percent 
(60%) of those nominated as official candidates of the political party: Provided 
further, That political parties participating in the party-list system may still 
qualify for the incentive if at least three (3) of their nominees are women: 
Provided, further, That the COMELEC, shall certify the ratio of representation 
of women and men by a political party and substitution of women nominees 
by men candidates shall not be allowed. Any substitution made in violation 
thereof, shall cause the political party to return the amount released to it 
through the women empowerment fund.  
 
SECTION 7. Incentives for Women Representation In and By A Political 
Party. – A political party registered with and certified by the COMELEC to 
have women representation as stated in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act, shall be 
allowed to access the Women in Political Parties Empowerment Fund, 
established by virtue of this Act, to fund their women and gender and 
development agenda, and to augment funds for the campaign expenditures of 
their women candidates. 
 
SECTION 8. Establishment of the Women in Political Parties 
Empowerment Fund. – There is hereby established a Women in Political 
Parties Empowerment Fund, hereinafter referred to as the “Fund,” which shall 
be the source of incentives for political parties complying with Section 7 of 
this Act. The incentives given to political parties from the Fund shall be used 
directly and exclusively for the following purposes: 
 


(a) Development and implementation of the political party’s women and 
gender and development agenda, and 
(b) Finance of the campaign activities of the political party’s women 
candidates. 
 
The share of each of the political parties from the Fund shall be released only 
upon proof that the concerned political party has raised an amount 
specifically for the development and implementation of the political party’s 
women and gender and development agenda: Provided, That the 
notwithstanding Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this Act, no political party shall be 
given its share in the Fund until it has given proof that there are political 
party funds segregated and reserved for the political party’s women and 
gender and development agenda: Provided, further, That the amount to be 
released from the fund shall be equal to the amount so segregated and 
reserved: Provided, finally, That unreleased amounts because of the political 
party’s failure to segregate and reserve such amounts, if any, shall be forfeited 
and reverted to the General Fund of the government. 
 
For purposes of this Act, all releases from the Fund during a non-election year 
shall be used exclusively for the political party’s women and gender and 
development agenda. Amounts released from the Fund during an election year 
shall be divided as follows: (1) sixty percent (60%) shall be used for campaign 
expenditures, and (2) forty percent (40%) shall be used for women and gender 
and development agenda. 
 
 
The political parties availing of the incentives from the Fund shall maintain a 
separate financial account for the amounts given them by virtue of this Act.  
 
SECTION 9. Allowable Women and Gender and Development Activities. 
– The COMELEC and the PCW shall issue guidelines for the development and 
implementation of gender and development programs and activities under 
Section 8 of this Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Certification. – A political party which conforms with Sections 
5 and 6 of this Act, and which desires to be entitled to the incentives, rights 
and privileges and to perform the responsibilities, provided in this Act, may 
ask for a Certification from the COMELEC, under such rules and regulations 
that the COMELEC, in coordination with the PCW, shall prescribe consistent 
with the provisions of this Act. The criteria in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act 
shall set the eligibility requirement for the said Certification. A duly-certified 
political party shall be entitled to the incentives, rights and privileges and to 
perform the responsibilities, as provided in Sections 7 and 11 of this Act. 
 
SECTION 11. Full Disclosure. – A political party whose officials are certified 
by the COMELEC to be eligible and which, in fact, has availed of the incentives 
under Section 7 of this Act, shall be required to submit with the PCW, the 
COMELEC and the Commission on Audit (COA) a public disclosure of the 
amounts it received and the expenditures made thereon at the end of every 
fiscal year. 


 
SECTION 12.  Failure to Comply with Disclosure Requirements. – Failure 
of a certified political party to comply with the provisions of this Act, 
particularly with Section 11, will result in its disqualification from receiving a 
share in the Fund and the forfeiture of all rights and privileges to which the 
said political party would have been entitled under this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 
13. 
Appropriations. 
– 
The 
amount 
necessary 
for 
the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 14.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the COMELEC as the lead agency, in 
coordination with the PCW, all concerned government departments and 
agencies and at least three (3) women’s organizations with proven track record 
of involvement and promotion of the rights and welfare of Filipino women shall 
formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 15. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 16. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this 
Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances, which are inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act, particularly those in the Magna Carta of Women (R.A. 9710), if any, 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or any national paper of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,