1. R.A.

9710 14 August 2009 Recognizing and protecting women’s rights, and banning discrimination against women

2. 7 years in the making; legislative debates started in 2002 (12th Congress) August 14, 2009 signed into law Took effect
on September 15, 2009 IRR adopted by PCW Commissioner March 30, 2010 Sen. Jamby Madrigal, chairperson of the
Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relationsprincipal author Sen. Pia Cayetano - principal sponsor

3. THE SIGNING OF MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN 3

4.        National Government Agencies Government bodies, instrumentalities, including Government-Owned and

5. It is a Comprehensive Women’s Human Rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by
Recognizing, Protecting, Fulfilling and Promoting the Rights of Filipino Women, especially those in the Marginalized
Sectors.

6.  Urban Poor Indigenous People  Children Women  Senior Citizens Solo Parents  Moro (Islamic Faith) Migrant
Workers  Person with Disabilities  Fisherfolk, Small Farmers and Rural Workers  Workers in the Formal Economy 
Workers in the Informal Economy

7.  Any Gender-based distinction, , exclusion or restriction which has the effect of impairing the recognition, enjoyment
exercise by women with freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil and other field  Any act of omission
that directly restricts women on their rights and access to opportunities , benefits and privileges  Discrimination
compounded with their status and condition such as ethnicity, age, poverty and religion

Goals of the Philippine Women’s Commission

8. 1. PROTECTION FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THOSE COMMITTED BY THE STATE

 Incremental at least 50-50 ratio of men and women in the recruitment and training of women in the Police Force,
Forensics, Medico Legal, Legal/Judicial Services and Social Work Services  Security in situation of emergency, armed
conflict and militarization

 All government personnel, LCEs, Appointing Authorities and Executive Managerial positions involved in the protection
and defense of Women shall regularly undergo the mandatory training on Gender and Human Rights  All Barangays
shall establish a VAW Desk and VAW programs and services shall be ensured at all times

10. 2. PROTECTION SECURITY IN TIMES OF DISASTER, CALAMITIES AND OTHER CRISIS SITUATIONS

 The National, Regional and Local Disaster Coordinating Councils shall ensure the participation women in the
development of a gender-responsive disaster management

 During disaster, calamities and crises, LGUs and concerned agencies shall develop and implement a genderresponsive
and rights-based work and financial plan (MISP, sexual violence, safety in evacuation centers)

12. 3. PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION

 Capacitate women employees to strengthen their qualifications and performance for third level positions

 Increase participation of women of at least 40% membership to all development councils  Representation of women
or women’s group in policy and decision making bodies in the international, national and local bodies

13. 3. EQUAL TREATMENT BEFORE THE LAW

 Repeal or amend the existing laws that are discriminatory to women

Family Code: Art 14- Giving preference to the father’s consent to the marriage of children between 18 and 21
Family Code: Art 96 – Giving preference to the husband’s decision on the administration of conjugal properties Art 211-
Giving preference to the husband’s decision over the persons of their common children

Art 225– Giving preference to the husband’s decision on the exercise of legal guardianship over the property of
unemancipated common child

Art 55 – Repeated physical abuse and grossly abusive conduct as ground for legal separation

Revised Penal Code: Art 333– On Adultery and Concubinage

Art 220– On the definition of vagrants and prostitutions

Art 351- On Premature marriages

Art 247- On Death inflicted under exceptional circumstances

17. Did you know that… The Revised Penal Code gives different grounds for adultery and concubinage – an offense
referred to in the Family Code as sexual infidelity. For the wife, sexual infidelity means one act of sexual intercourse with
other men. For the husband, it is sexual intercourse under scandalous circumstances, keeping another woman in the
conjugal abode or cohabitation with her in another dwelling. The strict definition of adultery for the wife is indeed to
prevent the introduction into the family of spurious heirs and in the process, protect the economic interests of the
husband. The law on concubinage, on the other hand, appears intended to allow the husband’s flagrant but prudent
playing around. 17

18. 3. EQUAL TREATMENT BEFORE THE LAW  LGUs shall review existing ordinances and policies, repeal or amend them
accordingly  Nothing in this section shall preclude the recommendation for the passage of new laws

19. 4. EQUAL ACCESS AND ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIP & TRAINING

 For DepEd, CHED and TESDA to develop and promote gender-sensitive curriculum, instructional materials, capacity
building for faculty and personnel  Enrollment of women in non-traditional skills training in vocational and tertiary
levels shall be encourage

 Expulsion and non-readmission of women faculty and student due to pregnancy outside of marriage shall be outlawed
 Pregnant students shall be assisted while in school of available support services and counseling to ensure completion
of their studies

21. 5. WOMEN IN SPORTS

 Train more female coaches for girls and women’s teams

 Conduct activities such as sports clinics and seminars for potential female leaders, coaches and teachers at least once a
year  Provide equal incentives and awards for both men and women for any competition

 Provide sufficient funds and equal opportunities for women athletes and coaches

22. 6. WOMEN IN MILITARY, POLICE & OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES

 Grant same privileges and opportunities on pay increases, benefits, awards and remunerations

 Equal consideration in the area of filed assignment, functions and peacekeeping duties where women can exercise and
develop their full potentials  Consideration on women’s physical and biological built in physical fitness tests as
requirements for entry, promotion or schooling

 Accord women and men the same capacity to act and enter into contracts, including marriage, except for such
positions where a marriage ban for specific period of time is required for both men and women  Provide the benefits
under existing laws such as maternity leaves, solo parent privileges and leaves due to gynecological disorders
 Ensure the rights of women in the military and police to decent and separate facilities and personal protective
equipment to ensure their safety  Establish a child-care facility, breastfeeding room for military, police and other
women employees

 Increase the quota to 20% for female to PMA, OCS, PNPA, PPSC  Concerned agencies shall support women in the
military in training and peacekeeping operations

 The dignity of women and their roles and contributions in all spheres of private and public life shall be promoted  OPS
shall provide over-all direction, guidance and monitoring as lead agency of government mass media  Enhancement of
programming, production and image-making that present women’s needs, issues and concern

27. 7. NON-DISCRIMINATORY AND NON-DEROGATORY PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN MEDIA AND FILM

 Allocation of space, airtime and resources for the airing of advertisements that promote women’s human rights 
Ensuring that in all school of journalism, information and communication and national media federation and association,
the gender equality are integrated in the human resource development

 Self –regulatory for media, television, cable, film and advertising shall also ensure compliance with the Act.

 Creation of Local Media Board (LMB) in all LGUs to monitor the implementation shall be encourage to monitor the
implementation.

29. 8. WOMEN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH  Access to Comprehensive Health Program - Maternal Care (pre-natal, delivery and
post-natal, infant health and nutrition) - Promotion of Breastfeeding and Proper Nutrition for lactating mothers -
Responsible, ethical, legal, safe and effective family planning

 Access to Comprehensive Health Program - Family and State collaboration in youth sexuality education and health
services without prejudice to the duty of parent to educate their children - Prevention and Management of Sexually
Transmitted Infections (STI), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

 Access to Comprehensive Health Program - Prevention and management of reproductive tract cancers and other
gynecological conditions and disorders - In case of VAWC victims, comprehensive health services shall be provided
(psychosocial, therapeutic, medical and legal interventions) - Care of elderly women - Management, treatment and
intervention of mental health problems of women and girls

 Roles of Agencies: DOH - Review/revise existing health programs, projects and develop plans and guidelines -
Formulate education and advocacy strategies - Establish coordination mechanisms with other stakeholders and
concerned agencies to reduce maternal mortality - Institutionalize a sex-disaggregated databank on health related
concerns - Monitor/evaluate health and nutrition programs

 Roles of Agencies: DepEd - Provide functional girl-child and adolescent health services in every school Philhealth - Shall
include maternal care and women’s health services in its benefit packages

 Roles of Agencies: DOLE - Shall require workplaces to provide facilities such as breastfeeding areas, toilets, dressing
room and seats appropriate for women employees without compromising their efficiency. ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
- Shall review all existing programs and development plans and guidelines on health services, nutrition, mental health for
women

 Roles of Agencies: LGUs - Shall promulgate and implement genderresponsive local ordinances that promote the
comprehensive health of girls, adolescents, women and elderly women, such as GAD Code and Reproductive Health
Code - Formulate Human Resource Development Plan that will ensure the ff: a. Sufficient number of skilled health
professionals to attend all deliveries

36. 8. WOMEN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH  Roles of Agencies: LGUs b. Availability of qualified and capable health service
providers - Develop and allocate budget for health programs - Monitor the progress of program implementation -
Enhance Parent Effectiveness Services and Programs to include continuing education on gender based violence (VAWC,
Rape, Incest, Prostitution, trafficking) in every barangay

37. 8. WOMEN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH  Roles of Agencies: LGUs - Coordinate with DOH on the provision of health services -
Strengthen the Local Health Board - Develop/design an award system to encourage excellent performance on women’s
health programs - Organize communities/dialogues with the private sector to implement health programs for women
and girls

38. 8. WOMEN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH  Roles of NGOs - Encourage to strengthen advocacy, participation and assist the
LGUs on the implementation of health programs  Comprehensive Health Information and Education - Sexuality
education in public and private schools - Sexuality education for parents to enhance communication with their children

39. 8. WOMEN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH  Comprehensive Health Information and Education - Trainings for health service
providers - Teen centers for health and sexuality education and counseling

40. 9. SPECIAL LEAVE BENEFITS FOR WOMEN  Any female employee in the public and private sector regardless of age
and civil status shall be entitled to a special leave of two (2) months with full pay based on her gross monthly
compensation due to surgery caused by gynecological disorders with ff conditions: - She has rendered at least six (6)
months continuous employment service - In the event of an extended leave, she may use her earned leave credits - This
special leave shall be non-cumulative and non-convertible to cash

41. 10. EQUAL RIGHTS IN ALL MATTERS RELATING TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RELATIONS  The DSWD, DOH and
POPCOM shall set standards and develop gender-fair modules on marriage, family relations, parent effectiveness  The
LGUs shall: - Provide trainings and seminars on the popularization of rights and obligations of spouses towards each
other, to impede the stereotyping of roles, multiple burden and subordination of women

 The LGUs shall: - Pre-marriage counseling program - Advocacy on the moral obligation and responsibility in assuring
the rights and wellbeing of their children, including number and spacing of children - Include in the trainings and
seminars in brgys the Family Code

RELATIONS  The Supreme Court, DOJ, IBP and lawyers shall ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment
agenda are mainstreamed and integrated in the regular Mandatory Continuing Legal Education courses conducted for
legal practitioners

44. 1. 2. 3. 4. Food Security and Productive Resources Right to Housing Right to Decent Work Right to Livelihood, Credit,
Capital and Technology 5. Right to Education and Training 6. Right to Representation and Participation 7. Right to
Information 8. Social Protection

45. 9. Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Identity and Integrity 10.Peace and Development 11.Women in Especially
Difficult Circumstances (WEDC) 12.Services and Interventions for WEDC 13.Protection for Girl Children 14.Protection of
Senior Citizens

46.  Gender Mainstreaming as Strategy for Implementing the Magna Carta of Women I Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring
and Evaluation II GAD Code III Creation/strengthening of the GAD Focal Points IV GAD Database

47. Executive Committee Local Chief Executive members Chair of Sanggunian Committee on Women, Children and
Family Chair of Committee on Appropriations Representatives from: Technical Working Group / Secretariat members
Technical Staff from various LGU Departments Technical Staff from concerned Sanggunian Committees PNP Women’s
Desk Indigenous Peoples PWDs Private Sector Other NGOs

48.  The CHR shall recommend to the CSC DILG Sandiganbayan Office of the Ombudsman the sanctions either
administrative or disciplinary for individuals who fail to comply with and implement the Act, including non-compliance to
the GAD Budget Policy.

49. END OF PRESENTATION THANK YOU…..