Philippine Laws on Women

Philippine Laws on Women

Raymund Christopher R. dela Peña

Saint Louis University

Filipino women have gained a lot of ground in becoming productive, valued members

and leaders of key sectors in Philippine society. Despite this, women continue to face challenges

and conditions that discriminate against them and threaten their safety and well-being. Laws are

powerful medium by which women can be empowered. In the light of Women’s Month this

March, a compilation on existing laws on women in the Republic of the Philippines is presented

and discussed on this paper. The different laws are categorized through the following:

W-ell-being

O-ccupation

M-atrimony

E-lection

N-ational Women’s Day

Well-being. This section deals with the different laws of the Philippines which look after the

well-being including the health status of every woman in the country. These laws include the

Republic Acts 7305, 7600, 7688, 7875, 7884, 8353, 8505, 8551, 9208, and 9262.

A. Republic Act No. 7305

The Republic Act No. 7305 or “The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers" which was

approved on March 26, 1992 grants additional benefits to public health workers which the

majority of whom are women. It aims to promote the social and economic well-being of health

workers and to develop their skills and capabilities. It also allows public health worker couples to

be employed or assigned in the same municipality, thereby ensuring that married female public

health workers are not forced to choose between family and career.

This law defines and sets the standards and terms of employment of a public health worker,

including rights, hours of work, and compensation and benefits. Section 9 specifically prohibits

discrimination against a public health worker with regard to gender, civil status, creed, religious

or political beliefs and ethnic groupings in the exercise of his/her profession.

However, Antonio (2013) pointed out some observations on this law. He noted that the

Republic Act No. 7305 mandates the payment of additional cash incentives and allowances to

health workers. However, implementation of this provision has been uneven in the two decades

since it was passed into law. Not all government agencies are implementing the law nor is it

being fully implemented among agencies that have adopted the legislation due to insufficiency of

funds. Further compounding the issue is the confusion as to who constitutes public health

workers and, therefore, who are entitled to its benefits, resulting to a perception that it has

become a milking cow of some public health workers. Finally, monitoring of policy

implementation has been generally weak.

B. Republic Act No. 7600

In June 2, 1992, the Republic Act No. 7600 was enacted to provide incentives to

all government and private health institutions with rooming-in and breastfeeding practices. This

act is also known as "The Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992". This law is "An Act

Providing Incentives to All Government and Private Health Institutions With Rooming-In and

Breastfeeding Practices and for Other Purposes".

This Act provides an environment where basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs

of mothers and infants immediately after birth are fulfilled through the practice of rooming-in

and breastfeeding. This law is in furtherance of the State policy to encourage the practice of

breastfeeding. Notably, it provides that the expenses incurred by a private health institution in

complying with its provisions are deductible expenses for income tax purposes. Also,

government health institutions are given additional appropriations equivalent to the savings they

may derive as a result of complying with the provisions of this law.

Domdom (2012) highlighted that this law served as the legal basis for the Mother-Baby

Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI). The law says that newborn infants delivered normally

should be placed on the mother’s breast immediately after birth and roomed-in within 30

minutes. If the infant was delivered by Caesarian section, the infant should be breast-fed and

roomed-in within three to four hours after delivery.

C. Republic Act No. 7688

Republic Act No. 7688 which was approved by President Fidel V. Ramos on March 3, 1994,

is an "An Act Giving Representation to Women in the Social Security Commission, Amending for

the Purpose Section 3(a) of Republic Act No. 1161, As Amended" . More specifically, this Act

provides that of the seven appointive members of the commission, at least two shall be women.

Of these seven appointive members, three shall come from the labor sector, and at least one of

them shall be a woman; three shall come from the management sector and at least one of them

shall be a woman; and one shall come from the general public.

D. Republic Act No. 7875

Republic Act No. 7875 as approved by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 14, 1995, is

known as the "National Health Insurance Act of 1995". It is "An Act Instituting a National

Health Insurance Program for All Filipinos and Establishing the Philippine Health Insurance

Corporation for the Purpose".

The NHI Law establishes the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) which

institutes a National Health Insurance Program for all Filipinos and creates the Philippine Health

Insurance Corporation and the National Health Insurance Fund. It also aims to improve the

implementation and coverage of the old Medicare program by including the self-employed and

the poor who cannot otherwise avail of health insurance.

Significantly, section 2 of this Republic Act recognizes that priority should be given to the

needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children, and that free medical

care should be given to paupers.

E. Republic Act No. 8353

Also known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 the Republic Act No. 8353, is a landmark

legislation for Filipino women because it provided for a broader definition of the crime of rape

and reclassifying it from a Crime Against Chastity to a Crime Against Persons. It was signed into

law by President Fidel V. Ramos on September 30, 1997, and became Article 266-A to 266-D

under Crimes Against Persons (Title Eight) of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines on

October 22, 1997. "An Act Expanding the Definition of the Crime of Rape, Reclassifying the

Same as a Crime Against Persons, Amending for the Purpose Act No. 3815, as Amended,

Otherwise Known as the Revised Penal Code, and for Other Purposes" (Also known as the "Anti-

Rape Law of 1997"). This reclassifies rape from a "crime against chastity" to a "crime against

persons."

The crime of rape, under the old provisions of the Revised Penal Code, was considered a

"Crime Against Chastity," implying that only "virtuous" or "chaste" women can be victims of

rape. More emphasis was placed on the "loss of chastity" of a woman or the denigration of her

"value" and the staining of her honor, rather than a violation of her being. It was considered a

private crime, and only the injured party or specific family members could file a complaint

against the perpetrator. Even then, most rape survivor-victims kept quiet about their violation,

because prosecution of the case leads to embarrassment, as the defense-respondents often sought

to prove that the victim was not "chaste"--thus no rape occurred.

As of 2006, Rape continued to be a problem, with most cases going unreported. During

the year, the PNP reported 685 rape cases. There were reports of rape and sexual abuse of

women in police or protective custody—often women from marginalized groups, such as

suspected prostitutes, drug users, and lower income individuals arrested for minor crimes. The

situation continued in 2007, with the number of reported rape cases increasing to 879

(Wikipedia, 2013).

It broadened the definition of the crime of rape, made marital rape punishable, and provided

certain circumstances wherein rape was considered a heinous crime meriting the death penalty.

F. Republic Act No. 8505

Republic Act No. 8505, known as the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998, is

an "An Act Providing Assistance and Protection for Rape Victims, Establishing for the Purpose a

Rape Crisis Center in Every Province and City, Authorizing the Appropriation of Funds

Therefor, and for Other Purposes".

This Republic Act directs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),

the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),

the Department of Justice (DOJ), and a lead non-government organization to establish in every

province and city a Rape Crisis Center located in a government hospital, health clinic or any

suitable place. It was approved by President Fidel V. Ramos on 13 February 1998.

The Philippine Commission on Women (1999) stated that due to cultural and social

stigmatization associated with rape, many women victims prefer to maintain their silence and

not report their ordeal to the authorities. But through the provision of suitable legal support

and health services, it is hoped that women victims of rape be encouraged to come forward

for proper intervention and justice to be served accordingly.

G. Republic Act No. 8551

Known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, amended

certain provisions of Republic Act No. 6975 the Republic Act No. 8551is entitled "An Act

Providing for the Reform and Reorganization of the Philippine National Police and for Other

Purposes, Amending Certain Provisions of Republic Act Numbered Sixty-Nine Hundred and

Seventy-Five Entitled, 'An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police Under a Re-

Organized Department of the Interior and Local Government, and for Other Purposes'"

It created the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP and provided for the creation of Women's

Desks in all police stations throughout the country.

The Women's Desks of the Philippine National Police was established by virtue of Republic

Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization

Act of 1998, to administer and attend to cases involving crimes against chastity, sexual

harassment, abuses committed against women and children and other similar offenses.

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 8551, mandating the establishment of Women's Desks in all

police stations, a total of 1,669 Women and Children's Desks have been established as of 2001,

manned by 2,259 PNP personnel. On March 9, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine National Police

(PNP) to expedite the recruitment of 400 new policewomen or "lady cops" to strengthen the

Women’s Desk in the country’s police stations (Wikipilipinas, n.d.).

H. Republic Act No. 9208

Republic Act No. 9208, otherwise known as "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003," is

“An Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate the Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and

Minors, Establishing the Necessary Institutional Mechanism for the Protection and Support of

Trafficked Persons, Providing Penalties for its Violations, and Other Purposes"

It provided for the establishment of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking tasked to

monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, the Act. It defines the various acts and

other forms of trafficking in persons, considers such acts as crimes against persons, and imposes

stiffer penalties and sanctions. Furthermore, it entitles victims to privacy rights, legal protection,

and witness protection programs.

Wikipedia (2013) cited that the Vatican stated that the Philippines has a serious trafficking

problem of women and children illegally recruited into the tourist industry for sexual

exploitation. Destinations within the country are Metro Manila, Angeles City, Olongapo City,

towns in Bulacan, Batangas, Cebu City, Davao and Cagayan de Oro City and other sex tourist

resorts such as Puerto Galera, which is notorious, Pagsanjan, Laguna, San Fernando Pampanga,

and many beach resorts throughout the country.

I. Republic Act No. 9262

The United Nations General Assembly defines "violence against women" as "any act of

gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or

suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,

whether occurring in public or in private life." The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of

Violence Against Women noted that this violence could be perpetrated by assailants of either

gender, family members and even the "State" itself (Wikipedia, n.d.)

Cited as Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, the Republic Act No.

9262 is "An Act Defining Violence Against Women and Their Children, Providing for Protective

Measures for Victims, Prescribing Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes"

This republic act also establishes an Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and

Their Children tasked to formulate programs to eliminate such acts of violence, as well as to

develop capability programs for their employees to become more sensitive to their client's needs.

It also recognizes battered woman syndrome as a valid defense, notwithstanding the absence of

any of the elements for justifying circumstances of self-defense.

Occupation. This section pertains to the different Philippine laws on women with regards to

their occupational status. These laws include Presidential Decree No. 148, Republic Acts 1564,

6237, 2714, 6657, 6725, 7322, 7882, 8042, 8187.

A. Presidential Decree No. 148

"Amending Further Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Six Hundred Seventy-Nine

as Amended, Commonly Known as The Woman and Child Labor Law"

Presidential Decree No. 148, issued on March 13, 1973 by President Ferdinand Marcos, is a

presidential decree amending certain sections of Republic Act No. 679, or the Woman and Child

Labor Law, which was repealed by Presidential Decree No. 442, the Labor Code of the

Philippines, on May 1, 1974. Parts of this decree, however, were incorporated into the Labor

Code.

The Labor force; female (% of total labor force) in Philippines was last reported at 38.80

in 2010, according to a World Bank report published in 2012. Female labor force as a percentage

of the total, show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises

people ages 15 and older who meet the International Labor Organization's definition of the

economically active population. (Trading Economics, n.d.).


Taking effect on June 16, 1951, the Republic Act No. 1564 is an act that amended

Commonwealth Act No. 647 which is "An Act Granting Maternity Leave to Women in

Government Service Under Temporary Appointments Who Have Rendered Less Than Two Years

of Service, by Amending Commonwealth Act Numbered Six Hundred and Forty-Seven as

Amended".

Maternity leave is very important to mothers. Melnick (2011) stressed that women with

3-month-old infants who worked full time reported feeling greater rates of depression, stress,

poor health and overall family stress than mothers who were able to stay home (either because

they didn’t have a job or because they were on maternity leave).


"An Act to Establish in the Department of Labor a Bureau to be Known as Women and

Minors Bureau". Republic Act No. 2714 is an Act that provides for the creation of the Women

and Minors Bureau in the Department of Labor under the executive authority of a Director, and

granting the powers and duties of the bureau. Under this Act, the Women and Minors Division of

the Bureau of Labor Standards is abolished and its functions, records, equipment, funds and

personnel are transferred to the new Women and Minors Bureau. This Republic Act was

approved on June 18, 1960.


As approved on June 19, 1971, the Republic Act No. 6237 is

"An Act Further Amending Republic Act Numbered Six Hundred Seventy-Nine, as

Amended by Republic Act Numbered Eleven Hundred Thirty-One”. The Republic Act No. 679,

is also known as the Woman and Child Labor Law.


Republic Act No. 6657 is also known as the "Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of

1988". It was signed into law by President Corazon Aquino on June 10, 1988. "An Act

Instituting a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to Promote Social Justice and

Industrialization Providing the Mechanism for Its Implementation, and for Other Purposes". This

act guarantees and assures equal rights to land ownership, equal share on farm produce and

representation in advisory or appropriate decision-making bodies to qualified women.

This Republic Act provides for the creation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform

Program (CARP). It provides for a system of acquisition of lands and compensation therefor,

identifies the qualified beneficiaries, sets retention limits for landowners and also defines the

parameters for the redistribution of lands to qualified beneficiaries.

The CARP provides for special areas on concern in its Chapter X. Among these special

areas, to be given due consideration in the distribution and ownership of land and representation

in decision-making bodies, are subsistence fishermen, veterans and retirees, agriculture

graduates, and rural women.

G. Republic Act No. 6725

Republic Act No. 6725, approved on May 12, 1989, is an act "An Act Strengthening the

Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women With Respect to Terms and Conditions of

Employment, Amending for the Purpose Article One Hundred Thirty-Five of the Labor Code, as

Amended". This act strengthens the prohibition of discrimination against women in employment,

promotion and training opportunities.

Sexual discrimination against women in the workplace has been making news headlines

for years, but the history’s largest civil rights lawsuit has just been certified that has the potential

to change the job environment for all women. The Courts and legal practitiones should remain

vigilant that the magna carta and treaties for protection of women against sexual discrimination

in the workplace is implemented in accordance with the visions and spirit of the laws (Dillomes,

2011).

H. Republic Act No. 7322

This Act increases maternity benefits of women workers in the private sector from a 45-

day to 60-day benefit equivalent.

"An Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private Sector,

Amending for the Purpose Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161, as Amended, and for Other

Purposes"

Republic Act No. 7322, signed by President Corazon Aquino on March 3, 1992, which also

states that the benefits provided for in the act does not diminish the existing benefits already

provided for in existing laws and private agreements.

I. Republic Act No. 7882

This provides assistance to women, particularly those who own small businesses and

those who have proven themselves to have good track records in their respective businesses, in

order to fully harness the talents and skills of our female labor force. "An Act Providing

Assistance to Women Engaging in Micro and Cottage Business Enterprises, and for Other

Purposes"

Republic Act No. 7822, approved on February 20, 1995, is an act providing for assistance

to Filipino women who are engaged in micro and cottage enterprises. It covers all women who

are citizens of the Philippines and at least 18 years of age, regardless of civil status. It gives those

women who are engaged in business in the micro and cottage industries, as well as those women

who are certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to

have engaged in the appropriate training and are qualified to engaged in the said industries,

priority in obtaining loans from government financing institutions for the purchase of equipment,

tools and materials for their business. The Act prohibits the mortgage or encumbrance of such

equipment procured through the loan while the loan is not yet fully paid, and also prohibits

refusal or delay, without justifiable cause, in granting the loans, providing penalties for the

violations of these prohibitions.

J. Republic Act No. 8042

This Act states that although it is the policy of the State not to promote overseas

employment as a means for sustaining economic growth and national development, it recognizes

the contributions of overseas workers to the economy and provides for more protection and

assistance for migrant workers and overseas Filipinos. It expands the definition of illegal

recruitment so that even a licensee may be liable for illegal recruitment, and gives the

government the power to place a ban on the deployment of migrant workers when national

interest or public welfare warrants.

It also expressly provides that the date of its approval by the President, June 7, 1995, will

be celebrated as Migrant Workers Day.

"An Act to Institute the Policies of Overseas Employment and Establish a Higher

Standard of Protection and Promotion of the Welfare of Migrant Workers, Their Families and

Overseas Filipinos in Distress, and Other Purposes"

This Act authorizes the granting of small loans to women for the purchase of necessary

tools or equipment for the businesses of their choice, and provides free technical training under

the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), now TESDA.

This Republic Act expressly calls for gender-sensitivity in the formulation and

interpretation of policies affecting migrant workers, and recognizes the equality of women and

men before the law, the contributions of women migrant workers, and the significant role of

women in nation-building. It mandates that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Boards should each have a member from the

women's sector, and that at least one of the two sectoral representatives of migrant workers in

Congress should come from the women's sector (Wikipedia, n.d.).

K. Republic Act No. 8187

This Act allows every married male employee in the private and public sectors to not

work for seven days but continue to earn compensation on the condition that his legitimate

spouse has delivered a child or suffered a miscarriage, for purposes of enabling him to

effectively lend support to his wife in her period of recovery and/or in the nursing of the newly-

born child.

"An Act Granting Paternity Leave of Seven (7) Days With Full Pay to All Married

Employees in the Private and Public Sectors for the First Four (4) Deliveries of the Legitimate

Spouse With Whom He is Cohabiting and for Other Purposes" (Also known as the Paternity

Leave Act of 1996)

Under this law, "delivery" does not only mean that the employee's spouse has given birth.

It also covers the instance where the employee's spouse has suffered a miscarriage. Significantly,

the purpose of this law is to enable the male employee "to effectively lend support to his wife in

her period of recovery and/or in the nursing of the newly-born child" (Wikipedia, n.d.).

Matrimony. This section deals with the different existing laws in the Philippines which

regards about women on matrimony and family. It includes the Executive Order No. 209,

Presidential Decree No. 1083, and Republic Acts 8171, 8369, and 8972.

A. Executive Order No. 209

“The Family Code of the Philippines”, or Executive Order No. 209, was enacted into law

by President Corazon C. Aquino on July 6, 1987. It was intended to supplant Book I of the Civil

Code of the Philippines concerning persons and family relations. The work on the provisions of

the Family Code began as early as 1979, and had been drafted by two (2) successive committees,

the first committee was headed by Supreme Court Justice Flerida Ruth Romero, and the second

was chaired by Supreme Court Justice J.B.L. Reyes. The need was seen to amend the Civil Code

through the Family Code in order to, among others, change certain provisions implanted from

foreign sources which had proved unsuitable to Filipino culture; and to attune to contemporary

developments and trends.

The Family Code covers fields of significant public interest, especially the law on

marriage. It contains, among others, the definition and requisites for marriage, as well as the

grounds for its annulment. It also contains the law on conjugal property relations, the rules on

establishing filiation, and the governing provisions on support, parental authority, and adoption.

The current version of the Family Code of the Philippines was amended in February 23,

1998 by Executive Order No. 227 and Republic Act No. 9225.

C. Presidential Decree No. 1083

Presidential Decree No. 1083, also known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the

Philippines, is a law that recognizes the legal system of the Muslims in the Philippines as part of

the law of the land and seeks to make Islamic institutions more effective, codifies Muslim

personal laws, and provides for an effective administration and enforcement of Muslim personal

laws among Muslims. It was promulgated by President Ferdinand Marcos on February 4, 1977 to

finalize

"A Decree to Ordain and Promulgate a Code Recognizing the System of Filipino Muslim

Laws, Codifying Muslim Personal Laws, and Providing for Its Administration and for Other

Purposes"

This Presidential Decree creates Shari'a courts tasked with the resolution of disputes that

may arise under its provisions, and allows these courts to create Agama Arbitration Councils in

appropriate instances. It creates the office of Jurisconsult in Muslim law, which has the authority

to render legal opinions on matters concerning Muslim law. It also recognizes five Muslim legal

holidays and provides for their proper observance. It defines what constitutes communal property

and customary contracts in accordance with Muslim law, and provides for the effects of

conversion to Islam. It also penalizes offenses and violations of its provisions.

Notably, PD 1083 provides only for Muslim personal laws, e.g. marriage, divorce, and

succession, and not for other Muslim laws. It specifically recognizes the validity of divorce

among Muslims, although divorce is not allowed between other Filipinos. It also recognizes

polygamy in accordance with Muslim law, such that persons married in accordance with its

provisions shall not be liable for bigamy.


Republic Act No. 8171 is a law that provides for the repatriation of Filipino women who

have lost their Philippine citizenship by virtue of their marriage to alien nationals, and of natural-

born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of political or economic

necessity, including their minor children. It is

"An Act Providing for the Repatriation of Filipino Women Who Have Lost Their

Philippine Citizenship by Marriage to Aliens and of Natural-Born Filipinos"

This is under the condition that they are not opposed to organized government, they do

not have terrorist leanings, they have not been convicted of moral turpitude, and they do not have

mental alienation or incurable contagious disease. The Act also provides for the procedure of

repatriation.


"An Act Establishing Family Courts, Granting them Exclusive Original Jurisdiction over

Child and Family Cases, Amending Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended, Otherwise Known as

the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for other Purposes"

Republic Act No. 8369, known as the Family Courts Act of 1997, establishes the family

courts of the Philippines, granting them exclusive original jurisdiction over Child and Family

Cases, amending Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 (Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980), and

appropriating funds for its implementation. It establishes the Social Services and Counseling

Division (SSCD), which shall provide appropriate social services to all juvenile and family cases

filed with the court..


"An Act Providing for Benefits and Privileges to Solo Parents and their Children,

Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes" (Also known as Solo Parents Welfare Act

of 2000)

Republic Act No. 8972, known as "Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000," aims to develop a

comprehensive program of social development and welfare service for solo parents and their

children to be carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the

Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Higher Education

(CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority(TESDA), the National

Housing Authority (NHA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other related

government and non-government agencies.

Election. This section deals with the different laws of the Philippines which deal with women

who hold any position and work in any government offices in the country. These laws include

Act No. 4112, the Republic Acts No. 7160, 7941, 3835, and Commonwealth Act No. 625.

A. Act No. 4112

This Act, which made Filipino women the first to obtain the right of suffrage in Asia, was

approved by President Manuel L. Quezon on December 7, 1933. Act No. 4112 is an

"An Act to Amend Section Four Hundred and Thirty-One of the Administrative Code, As

Amended, By Granting the Right of Suffrage to the Women and Making Them Eligible to All

Public Offices, and for Other Purposes"

The members of the 1935 Constitutional Convention limited the right of suffrage to male

citizens because of the belief that there was no popular demand for the right of suffrage by

Filipino women themselves. At that time, it was also claimed that granting women the right to

vote would cause disruption in family unity as the women would become actively engaged in

politics. But the proponents of the bill on women's suffrage argued that the right to vote would

make women more interested in the management of the affairs of the government.

(Wikipilipinas, 2013).


The Local Government Code, or Republic Act No. 7160, establishes the system and powers

of provincial, city, municipal and barangay governments in the Philippines. It is the governing

law on local governments. Specifically, this is "An Act Providing for a Local Government Code

of 1991" - The Local Government Code has been amended to provide seats for women in all of

the 1,600 local legislative assemblies nationwide.

Participation of Filipino women in Philippine politics was encouraged during the Beijing

Declaration in 1995 at the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women. In February

2005, however, a United Nations review on the progress of Philippine women and their role in

politics revealed that despite "an increase in the quality of female politicians, there was not

enough increase in" the number of women participants in government activities. From 1992 to

2001, Filipino women had been elected as local chief executives, functioning as mayors,

governors, and captains of villages (Wikipedia, 2013).


The Republic Act 7941 provides for the election of party-list representatives through the party-

list system and the inclusion of women in the sectoral party list.


The Philippine history is replete with exploits of women who, not only are fighters, but who

excel in other fields of endeavor that are dominated by men. It is in this context that women

became part of it. They had their gigantic share to the military efforts – whether in the

battlefields or behind the fighting lines. Among these breed of new Filipino are the women-

soldiers of the AFP. They have become down-to earth, practical, and industrious, without

sacrificing their gracious femininity. They stand ready to work diligently, not minding their own

personal comfort for public cause, not out of spirit of rivalry with men or to exalt the cult of

feminine superiority, nor for some political purpose but, in a constructive side-by side

partnership with their male comrades in the service of our country and people (Policarpio, 2005).

One law in the Philippines pertains to women in the military. The Republic Act 3835 as amended

by Presidential Decree 1043 is "An Act to Establish the Women's Auxiliary Corps in the Armed

Forces of the Philippines, to Provide the Procurement of its Officers and Enlisted Personnel, and

for Other Purposes”.

National Women’s Day. This section pertains to Philippine laws on women with a general

purpose. It includes Republic Act No. 6949, 7192.

A. Republic Act No. 6949

Republic Act No. 6949, approved on by President Corazon C. Aquino on April 10, 1990, is

"An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known

as National Women's Day"

To ensure meaningful observance of the holiday, the law directs all heads of government

agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations as well

as local government units, and employers in the private sector to encourage and afford sufficient

time and opportunities for their employees to engage and participate in any activity conducted

within the premises of their respective offices or establishments to celebrate the National

Women's Day (Wikipilipinas, n.d.).


Republic Act No. 7192, known as the Women in Development and Nation Building Act, is an

"An Act Promoting the Integration of Women as Full and Equal Partners of Men in Development

and Nation Building and for Other Purposes".

It was passed by the Congress of the Philippines on December 11, 1991, and was approved

by President Corazon C. Aquino on February 12, 1992 (Wikipilipinas, n.d.).

References

Antonio, C. (n.d.). Policy critique: Republic Act No. 7305 (The Magna Carta of Public Health

Workers) and Its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. Research Gate.

Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

www.researchgate.net/publication/233782699_Policy_critique_Republic_Act_No._7305

_(The_Magna_Carta_of_Public_Health_Workers)_and_Its_Revised_Implementing_Rul

es_and_Regulations

Dillomes, A. J. (n.d.). *** The Advocate ***: Sexual Discrimination Against Women in the

Workplace. *** The Advocate ***. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://ibp-

advocate.blogspot.com/2011/03/sexual-discrimination-against-women-in.html

Domdom, A. (n.d.). Infant-feeding policies in PH | Inquirer Opinion. Inquirer Opinion |

Philippine News for Filipinos. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://opinion.inquirer.net/29463/infant-feeding-policies-in-ph

Glynn, S. J., & FArrel, J. (n.d.). The Importance of Preschool and Child Care for Working

Mothers | Center for American Progress. Center for American Progress. Retrieved

September 6, 2013, from

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education/report/2013/05/08/62519/the-

importance-of-preschool-and-child-care-for-working-mothers/

Human trafficking in the Philippines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the

free encyclopedia. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_the_Philippines

IRIN Asia | PHILIPPINES: Legal system falls short on human trafficking | Philippines |

Economy | Gender Issues | Human Rights | Migration. (n.d.). IRIN • humanitarian news

and analysis from Africa, Asia and the Middle East - updated daily. Retrieved August 17,

2013, from http://www.irinnews.org/report/85378/philippines-legal-system-falls-short-

on-human-trafficking

Melnick, M. (n.d.). Study: Why Maternity Leave Is Important | TIME.com. Health & Family | A

healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit | TIME.com. Retrieved September 6, 2013,

from http://healthland.time.com/2011/07/21/study-why-maternity-leave-is-important/

National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women. (n.d.). Philippine Laws and Jurisprudence

Databank - The Lawphil Project. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://www.lawphil.net/administ/ncrfw/ncrfw.html

Nawal, K. (n.d.). Party list Gabriela vows to step it up | Inquirer News. Inquirer News | Latest

Philippine News for Filipinos. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/417797/party-list-gabriela-vows-to-step-it-up

Policarpio, J. (n.d.). Women in the Philippine Military. Free Forum Hosting - ZetaBoards.

Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://s3.zetaboards.com/Defense_Philippines/topic/831896/1/

Rape in the Philippines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free

encyclopedia. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_the_Philippines#cite_note-3

Rape | Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.). Philippine Commission on Women | National

Machinery for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. Retrieved September 6,

2013, from http://www.pcw.gov.ph/focus-areas/violence-against-women/rape

Santos, M. D. (2009). Pinay mail-order brides still rampant in SKorea | Pinoy Abroad | GMA

News Online.GMANetwork.com - Online home of the Kapuso Network. Retrieved August

17, 2013, from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/172203/pinoyabroad/pinay-

mail-order-brides-still-rampant-in-skorea

Violence against women - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_women

Women in the Philippines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_Philippines

Women's Desks - WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Main Page -

WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 6, 2013,

from http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Women's_Desks

Women's Suffrage Bill. (n.d.). Wikipilipinas. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Women's_Suffrage_Bill

country;, n. i. (n.d.). Philippine nationality law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the

free encyclopedia. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_nationality_law

Documents

Philippine Laws on Women