FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN}..I.E 
S.No. 
1~28 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 14 provides: 
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure 
the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. 
Women have historically been underrepresented in scientific and engineering 
occupations, and although progress has been made over the last several decades, there is 
stillroom for improvement. Female students earn fewer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees 
in science and engineering. Among recent bachelors of science and bachelor of engineering 
graduates, women are less likely to be in the labor force, to be employed full-time, and to be 
employed in their field than are men. Moreover, a substantial salary gap exists between men and 
women with doctorates in science and engineering. Limited access is the first hurdle faced by 
women seeking industrial jobs in science and engineering. 
Whiie progress has been made in recent years, common recruitment hiring practices that 
make extensive use of traditional networks often overlook the available pool of women. Once on 
the job, many women find paternalism, sexual harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, 
different standards for judging the work afmen and women, lower salary relative to their male 
peers, inequitable job assignments, and other aspects of a male-oriented culture that arc hostile to 
women. They, to a greater extent than men, find limited opportunities for advancement, 
particularly for moving into management positions, and the number of women who have 
achieved the top levels in corporation is much lower than expected, 
This bill seeks to establish a commission that would examine these issues and help: 
a) to focus attention on the importance of eliminating artificial barriers to the recruitment, 
retention, and advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology, and 
in all employment sectors of the Philippines; 
b) to promote workforce diversity; 
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c) to sensitize employers to the need to recruit and retain women and minority scientists, 
engineers, and computer specialists; 
d) to encourage the replication of successful recruitment and retention programs by universities, 
corporations, and agencies having difficulties in employing women in the fields of science, 
engineering, and technology, 1 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session 
2 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENftf28 
S.No. ___ 
--C..... 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN 
3 
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Commission on the 
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Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act." 
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SECTION 2. Commission on the Advancement of Women in Engineering, Science and 
7 
Technology Development. - There is established a commission to be known as the "Commission 
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on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development" (in this 
9 
Act referred to as the 'Commission'). 
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SECTION 3. Duty of the Commission. - The Commission shall review available research, 
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and if determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional research to -
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(A) Identify the number of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the 
13 
Philippines in specific types of occupations in science, engineering, and technology 
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development; 
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(B) Examine the preparedness of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities to -
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(1) Pursue careers in science, engineering and technology development; and 
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(2) Advance to positions of greater responsibility within the academia, industry, and 
18 
government; 
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1 
(C) Describe the practice and polices of employees and labor unions relating to the 
2 
recruitment, retention, and advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities 
3 
in the fields of science, engineering, and technology development; 
, 
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(D) Identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers to, the recruitment, retention, and 
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advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, 
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engineering, and technology development in academia, industry, and govermnent; 
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(E) Compile a synthesis of available research on lawful practices, polices, and programs 
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that have successfully led to the recruitment, retention, and advancement oJ women, minorities, 
9 
and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering, and technology development; 
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(F) Issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies that govermnent (including 
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Congress, academia, private industry can follow regarding the recruitment, retention, and 
12 
advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering, and 
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technology development; 
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(G) Identify the disincentives for women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities to 
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continue graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics, and computer science; 
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(H) Identify university undergraduate programs that are successful in retaining women, 
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minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and technology 
18 
development; 
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(I) Identify the disincentives that lead to a disproportionate number of women, minorities, 
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and individuals with disabilities leaving the fields of science, engineering, and technology 
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development before completing their undergraduate education; 
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SECTION 4. Membership. - The Commission shall be composed of six members to be 
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appointed by the President as follows: 
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(A) Two (2) members from among for-profit entities that hire individuals in the fields of 
2S 
engineering, science, or technology development; 
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(B) Two (2) members from among institutions in education or academia in the fields of 
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life science, physical science, or engineering; and 
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1 
(C) Two (2) members from among non-govemmental organizations, people's 
2 
organizations or any similar entities that promote and advance the welfare of women, minorities 
3 
and individuals with disabilities. 
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The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology shall automatically seat as 
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chainnan of the commission in an ex-officio capacity. Each member shall be appointed for the 
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life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the maimer in which the 
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original appointment was made. Members shall not be paid by reason of their service on the 
8 
Commission. Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in an amount to be 
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determined by existing law. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a 
10 
quorum for the transaction of business. 
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The Commission shall meet not fewer than five ( 5 ) times in connection with and 
12 
pending the completion of the report described in this Act. The Commission shall hold additional 
13 
meetings for such purpose if the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the Commission 
14 
requests additional meetings in writing. 
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SECTION 5. Directors and Staff o/the Commission; Experts And Consultants. -
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(A) Director. - The Commission shaH appoint and fix the pay of a Director and additional 
17 
personnel as the Commission considers appropriate. 
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(B) Experts and Consultants. - The Commission may procure temporary and intennittent 
19 
services to assist in the discharge of the Commission's functions. 
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SECTION 6. Powers o/the Commission. -
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(A) Hearings and Sessions. - The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this 
22 
act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the 
23 
Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
24 
witnesses appearing before it. 
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1 
(B) Powers of Members and Agents . • Any member or agent of the Commission may, if 
2 
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to lake by 
3 
this section. 
4 
(C) Obtaining Official Data . . The Commission may secure directly from any department 
5 
or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 
6 
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall fumish that 
7 
information to the Commission. 
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(D) Mails . . The Commission may use mails in the same manner and under the same 
9 
conditions as other departments and agencies of the govemment. 
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(E) Contract Authority . . To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the 
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Commission may contract with and compensate govemment and private agencies or persons for 
12 
the purpose of conducting research or surveys necessary to enable the Commission to carry out 
13 
its duties under this Act. 
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SECTION7. Report. . Not later than 1 year aiter the date on which the initial 
15 
appointments are complete, the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a 
16 
written report containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission 
17 
resulting from the study conducted under section 3. 
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SECTION 8. Construction; Use of Information Obtained. ·Nothing in this Act shall be 
19 
construed to require any non·govemmental entities such as business, college or university, 
20 
foundation, or research organization to provide information to the Commission conceming such 
21 
entity's personnel policies, including salaries and benefits, promotion criteria, and affirmative 
22 
action plans. No information obtained from any entity by the Commission may be used in 
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connection with any employment related liti'gation. 
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SECTION 9. Termination; Access to Information . . The Commission shall terminate 30 
25 
days after the submitting the reports required in this act. On or before the date of the termination 
4 


1 
of the Commission, the Commission shall provide to the Department of Science and Technology 
2 
the information gathered by the Commission in the process of carrying out its duties under this 
3 
Act. The department shall act as a central repository for such information and shall make such 
4 
information available to the public, including malting such information available through 
5 
Internet. 
6 
SECTION 10. Review of Information Provided by the Department of Science and 
7 
Technology and Other Agencies. -
, 
8 
(A) Provision of Information. - At the request of the Commission, the DOST and any 
9 
other department or agency shall provide to the Commission any information determined 
10 
necessary by the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act, including-data on academic 
11 
degrees awarded to women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering, 
12 
and technology development and workforce representation and the retention of women, 
13 
minorities, individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering and technology 
14 
development; and 
15 
(B) Review of Information. -The Commission shall review any information provided and 
16 
shall include in the report required under Section 7 on how to correct any deficiencies in the 
17 
collection of the types of information described in that subsection, and in the analysis of such 
18 
data, which might impede the characterization of the factors which affect the attraction and 
19 
retention of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the field of science, 
20 
engineering, and technology development. 
21 
SECTION 11. Authorization of Appropriations. - These are authorized to be appropriated 
22 
to carry out this Act -
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(1) Three Million Pesos (P3,OOO,OOO.OO) for the fiscal year during which this Act is approved; 
24 
and 
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(2) Three Million Pesos (P3,000,OOO.OO) for next succeeding fiscal year. 
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• 
1 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
3 
valid and subsisting. 
4 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
5 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, role or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
6 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
7 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
8 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
6