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Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand eighteen.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 11313

An Act Defining Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets, Public Spaces, Online, Workplaces, and Educa
Training Institutions, Providing Protective Measures and Prescribing Penalties Therefor

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Safe Spaces Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policies. -It is the policy of the State to value the dignity of every human person and guaran
respect for human rights. It is likewise the policy of the State to recognize the role of women in nation-building and en
fundamental equality before the law of women and men. The State also recognizes that both men and women must h
equality, security and safety not only in private, but also on the streets, public spaces, online, workplaces and educat
training institutions.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act:

(a) Catcalling refers to unwanted remarks directed towards a person, commonly done in the form of w
and misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs;

(b) Employee refers to a person, who in exchange for remuneration, agrees to perform specified servi
another person, whether natural or juridical, and whether private or public, who exercises fundamenta
over the work, regardless of the term or duration of agreement: Provided, That for the purposes of this
person who is detailed to an entity under a subcontracting or secondment agreement shall be conside
employee;
 (c) Employer refers to a person who exercises control over an employee: Provided, That for the purpo
Act, the status or conditions of the latter’s employment or engagement shall be disregarded;

(d) Gender refers to a set of socially ascribed characteristics, norms, roles, attitudes, values and expe
identifying the social behavior of men and women, and the relations between them;

(e) Gender-based online sexual harassment refers to an online conduct targeted at a particular perso
causes or likely to cause another mental, emotional or psychological distress, and fear of personal sa
harassment acts including unwanted sexual remarks and comments, threats, uploading or sharing of
photos without consent, video and audio recordings, cyberstalking and online identity theft;

(f) Gender identity and/or expression refers to the personal sense of identity as characterized, among
manner of clothing, inclinations, and behavior in relation to masculine or feminine conventions. A pers
have a male or female identity with physiological characteristics of the opposite sex in which case this
considered transgender:

(g) Public spaces refer to streets and alleys, public parks, schools, buildings, malls, bars, restaurants,
transportation terminals, public markets, spaces used as evacuation centers, government offices, pub
vehicles as well as private vehicles covered by app-based transport network services and other recre
spaces such as, but not limited to, cinema halls, theaters and spas; and

(h) Stalking refers to conduct directed at a person involving the repeated visual or physical proximity,
consensual communication, or a combination thereof that cause or will likely cause a person to fear fo
safety or the safety of others, or to suffer emotional distress.

ARTICLE I
GENDER-BASED STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Section 4. Gender-Based Streets and Public Spaces Sexual Harassment. -The crimes of gender-based streets and p
spaces sexual harassment are committed through any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any
regardless of the motive for committing such action or remarks.

Gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment includes catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations,
misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist slurs, persistent uninvited comments or gestures on a person’s app
relentless requests for personal details, statement of sexual comments and suggestions, public masturbation or flash
private parts, groping, or any advances, whether verbal or physical, that is unwanted and has threatened one’s sense
space and physical safety, and committed in public spaces such as alleys, roads, sidewalks and parks. Acts constitut
gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment are those performed in buildings, schools, churches, res
malls, public washrooms, bars, internet shops, public markets, transportation terminals or public utility vehicles.

Section 5. Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Restaurants and Cafes, Bars and Clubs, Resorts and Water Parks,
Casinos, Cinemas, Malls, Buildings and Other Privately-Owned Places Open to the Public. -Restaurants, bars, cinem
buildings and other privately-owned places open to the public shall adopt a zero-tolerance policy against gender-base
and public spaces sexual harassment. These establishments are obliged to provide assistance to victims of gender-b
harassment by coordinating with local police authorities immediately after gender-based sexual harassment is reporte
CCTV footage available when ordered by the court, and providing a safe gender-sensitive environment to encourage
report gender-based sexual harassment at the first instance.
All restaurants, bars, cinemas and other places of recreation shall install in their business establishments clearly-visib
signs against gender-based public spaces sexual harassment, including the anti-sexual harassment hotline number i
letters, and shall designate at least one (1) anti-sexual harassment officer to receive gender-based sexual harassmen
complaints. Security guards in these places may be deputized to apprehend perpetrators caught in flagrante delicto a
required to immediately coordinate with local authorities.

Section 6. Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Public Utility Vehicles. -In addition to the penalties in this Act, the La
Transportation Office (LTO) may cancel the license of perpetrators found to have committed acts constituting sexual
in public utility vehicles, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) may suspend or rev
franchise of transportation operators who commit gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment acts. G
based sexual harassment in public utility vehicles (PUVs) where the perpetrator is the driver of the vehicle shall also
breach of contract of carriage, for the purpose of creating a presumption of negligence on the part of the owner or op
vehicle in the selection and supervision of employees and rendering the owner or operator solidarity liable for the offe
employee.

Section 7. Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces Committed by Minors. -In case the offen
committed by a minor, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall take necessary disciplinary
as provided for under Republic Act No. 9344, otherwise known as the "Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006".

Section 8. Duties of Local Government Units (LGUs). -local government units (LGUs) shall bear primary responsibilit
enforcing the provisions under Article I of this Act. LGUs shall have the following duties:

(a) Pass an ordinance which shall localize the applicability of this Act within sixty (60) days of its effec

(b) Disseminate or post in conspicuous places a copy of this Act and the corresponding ordinance;

(c) Provide measures to prevent gender-based sexual harassment in educational institutions, such as
campaigns and anti-sexual harassment seminars;

(d) Discourage and impose fines on acts of gender-based sexual harassment as defined in this Act;

(e) Create an anti-sexual harassment hotline; and

(f) Coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the implementatio

Section 9. Role of the DILG. -The DILG shall ensure the full implementation of this Act by:

(a) Inspecting LGUs if they have disseminated or posted in conspicuous places a copy of this Act and
corresponding ordinance;

(b) Conducting and disseminating surveys and studies on best practices of LGUs in implementing this

(c) Providing capacity-building and training activities to build the capability of local government official
implement this Act in coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). the Local Gove
Academy (LGA) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

Section 10. Implementing Bodies for Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces. -The Metro M
Development Authority (MMDA), the local units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for other provinces, and the W
Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) of the PNP shall have the authority to apprehend perpetrators and enforce the
law: Provided, That they have undergone prior Gender Sensitivity Training (GST). The PCW. DILG and Department o
Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be the national bodies responsible for overseeing the impl
of this Act and formulating policies that will ensure the strict implementation of this Act.

For gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment, the MMDA and the local units of the PNP for the pro
deputize its enforcers to be Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers (ASHE). They shall be deputized to receive complaint
street and immediately apprehend a perpetrator if caught in flagrante delicto. The perpetrator shall be immediately br
nearest PNP station to face charges of the offense committed. The ASHE unit together with the Women’s and Childre
PNP stations shall keep a ledger of perpetrators who have committed acts prohibited under this Act for purposes of d
a perpetrator is a first-time, second-time or third-time offender. The DILG shall also ensure that all local government b
expedite the receipt and processing of complaints by setting up an Anti-Sexual Harassment Desk in all barangay and
and to ensure the set-up of CCTVs in major roads, alleys and sidewalks in their respective areas to aid in the filing of
gathering of evidence. The DILG, the DSWD in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the PCW shal
if necessary to ensure that victims are provided the proper psychological counseling support services.

Section 11. Specific Acts and Penalties for Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets and Public Spaces. -The fo
are unlawful and shall be penalized as follows:

(a) For acts such as cursing, wolf-whistling, catcalling, leering and intrusive gazing, taunting, pursing,
invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent unwanted comments o
appearance, relentless requests for one’s personal details such as name, contact and social media de
destination, the use of words, gestures or actions that ridicule on the basis of sex, gender or sexual or
identity and/or expression including sexist, homophobic, and transphobic statements and slurs, the pe
telling of sexual jokes, use of sexual names, comments and demands, and any statement that has ma
invasion on a person’s personal space or threatens the person’s sense of personal safety –

(1) The first offense shall be punished by a fine of One thousand pesos (₱1,000.00) and comm
service of twelve (12) hours inclusive of attendance to a Gender Sensitivity Seminar to be con
the PNP in coordination with the LGU and the PCW;

(2) The second offense shall be punished by arresto menor (6 to 10 days) or a fine of Three th
pesos (₱3,000.00);

(3) The third offense shall be punished by arresto menor (11 to 30 days) and a fine of Ten tho
pesos (₱10,000.00).

(b) For acts such as making offensive body gestures at someone, and exposing private parts for the s
gratification of the perpetrator with the effect of demeaning, harassing, threatening or intimidating the
party including flashing of private parts, public masturbation, groping, and similar lewd sexual actions

(1) The first offense shall he punished by a fine of Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00) and com
service of twelve (12) hours inclusive of attendance to a Gender Sensitivity Seminar, to be con
the PNP in coordination with the LGU and the PCW;

(2) The second offense shall be punished by arresto menor (11 to 30 days) or a fine of Fifteen
pesos (₱15,000.00);

(3) The third offense shall be punished by arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months) and
Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000.00).

(c) For acts such as stalking, and any of the acts mentioned in Section 11 paragraphs (a) and (b), whe
 accompanied by touching, pinching or brushing against the body of the offended person; or any touch
pinching, or brushing against the genitalia, face, arms, anus, groin, breasts, inner thighs, face, buttock
part of the victim’s body even when not accompanied by acts mentioned in Section 11 paragraphs (a)

(1) The first offense shall be punished by arresto rnenor (11 to 30 days) or a line of Thirty thou
(₱30,000.00), provided that it includes attendance in a Gender Sensitivity Seminar, to be cond
the PNP in coordination with the LGU and the PCW;

(2) The second offense shall be punished by arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months) o
Fifty thousand pesos (₱50,000.00);

(3) The third offense shall be punished by arresto mayor in its maximum period or a fine of On
thousand pesos (₱100,000.00).

ARTICLE II
GENDER-BASED ONLINE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Section 12. Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment. -Gender-based online sexual harassment includes acts that u
information and communications technology in terrorizing and intimidating victims through physical, psychological, an
threats, unwanted sexual misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist remarks and comments online whether p
through direct and private messages, invasion of victim’s privacy through cyberstalking and incessant messaging, up
sharing without the consent of the victim, any form of media that contains photos, voice, or video with sexual content,
unauthorized recording and sharing of any of the victim’s photos, videos, or any information online, impersonating ide
victims online or posting lies about victims to harm their reputation, or filing, false abuse reports to online platforms to
victims.

Section 13. Implementing Bodies for Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment. -For gender-based online sexual ha
the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNPACG) as the National Operational Support Unit of the PNP is primarily respons
implementation of pertinent Philippine laws on cybercrime, shall receive complaints of gender-based online sexual ha
and develop an online mechanism for reporting real-time gender-based online sexual harassment acts and apprehen
perpetrators. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) of the DICT shall also coordinate with th
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to prepare appropriate and effective measures to monitor and penalize gender-based online sexual harassment.

Section 14. Penalties for Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment. -The penalty of prision correccional in its mediu
a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos
(₱500,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of any gender-ba
sexual harassment.

If the perpetrator is a juridical person, its license or franchise shall be automatically deemed revoked, and the person
be the officers thereof, including the editor or reporter in the case of print media, and the station manager, editor and
in the case of broadcast media. An alien who commits gender-based online sexual harassment shall be subject to de
proceedings after serving sentence and payment of fines.

Exemption to acts constitutive and penalized as gender-based online sexual harassment are authorized written order
court for any peace officer to use online records or any copy thereof as evidence in any civil, criminal investigation or
crime: Provided, That such written order shall only be issued or granted upon written application and the examination
or affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses may produce, and upon showing that there are reasonable grounds
that gender-based online sexual harassment has been committed or is about to be committed, and that the evidence
obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution or prevention of such crime.
Any record, photo or video, or copy thereof of any person that is in violation of the preceding sections shall not be adm
evidence in any judicial, quasi-judicial, legislative or administrative hearing or investigation.

ARTICLE III
QUALIFIED GENDER-BASED STREETS, PUBLIC SPACES

AND ONLINE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Section 15. Qualified Gender-Based Streets, Public Spaces and Online Sexual Harassment. -The penalty next highe
will be applied in the following cases:

(a) If the act takes place in a common carrier or PUV, including, but not limited to, jeepneys, taxis, tric
app-based transport network vehicle services, where the perpetrator is the driver of the vehicle and th
party is a passenger;

(b) If the offended party is a minor, a senior citizen, or a person with disability (PWD), or a breastfeedi
nursing her child;

(c) If the offended party is diagnosed with a mental problem tending to impair consent;

(d) If the perpetrator is a member of the uniformed services, such as the PNP and the Armed Forces o
Philippines (AFP), and the act was perpetrated while the perpetrator was in uniform; and

(e) If the act takes place in the premises of a government agency offering frontline services to the pub
perpetrator is a government employee.

ARTICLE IV
GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

Section 16. Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. -The crime of gender-based sexual harassment in
workplace includes the following:

(a) An act or series of acts involving any unwelcome sexual advances, requests or demand for sexua
any act of sexual nature, whether done verbally, physically or through the use of technology such as t
messaging or electronic mail or through any other forms of information and communication systems, t
could have a detrimental effect on the conditions of an individual’s employment or education, job perfo
opportunities;

(b) A conduct of sexual nature and other conduct-based on sex affecting the dignity of a person, whic
unwelcome, unreasonable, and offensive to the recipient, whether done verbally, physically or through
technology such as text messaging or electronic mail or through any other forms of information and
communication systems;

(c) A conduct that is unwelcome and pervasive and creates an intimidating, hostile or humiliating envi
the recipient: Provided, That the crime of gender-based sexual harassment may also be committed be
peers and those committed to a superior officer by a subordinate, or to a teacher by a student, or to a
trainee; and

(d) Information and communication system refers to a system for generating, sending, receiving, stori
otherwise processing electronic data messages or electronic documents and includes the computer s
 other similar devices by or in which data are recorded or stored and any procedure related to the reco
storage of electronic data messages or electronic documents.

Section 17. Duties of Employers. -Employers or other persons of authority, influence or moral ascendancy in a workp
have the duty to prevent, deter, or punish the performance of acts of gender-based sexual harassment in the workpla
Towards this end, the employer or person of authority, influence or moral ascendancy shall:

(a) Disseminate or post in a conspicuous place a copy of this Act to all persons in the workplace;

(b) Provide measures to prevent gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace, such as the cond
sexual harassment seminars;

(c) Create an independent internal mechanism or a committee on decorum and investigation to invest
address complaints of gender-based sexual harassment which shall:

(1) Adequately represent the management, the employees from the supervisory rank, the rank
employees, and the union, if any;

(2) Designate a woman as its head and not less than half of its members should be women;

(3) Be composed of members who should be impartial and not connected or related to the alle
perpetrator;

(4) Investigate and decide on the complaints within ten (10) days or less upon receipt thereof;

(5) Observe due process;

(6) Protect the complainant from retaliation; and

(7) Guarantee confidentiality to the greatest extent possible;

(d) Provide and disseminate, in consultation with all persons in the workplace, a code of conduct or w
policy which shall:

(1) Expressly reiterate the prohibition on gender-based sexual harassment;

(2) Describe the procedures of the internal mechanism created under Section 17(c) of this Act

(3) Set administrative penalties.

Section 18. Duties of Employees and Co-Workers. -Employees and co-workers shall have the duty to:

(a) Refrain from committing acts of gender-based sexual harassment;

(b) Discourage the conduct of gander-based sexual harassment in the workplace;

(c) Provide emotional or social support to fellow employees, co-workers, colleagues or peers who are
gender-based sexual harassment; and
 (d) Report acts of gender-based sexual harassment witnessed in the workplace.

Section 19. Liability of Employers.— In addition to liabilities for committing acts of gender-based sexual harassment,
may also be held responsible for:

(a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section 17 of this Act, as provided in the penal provision

(b) Not taking action on reported acts of gender-based sexual harassment committed in the workplace

Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
thousand pesos (₱5,000.00) nor more than Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00).

Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section, shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
thousand pesos (₱10,000.00) nor more than Fifteen thousand pesos (₱15,000.00).

Section 20. Routine Inspection. -The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the private sector and the Ci
Commission (CSC) for the public sector shall conduct yearly spontaneous inspections to ensure compliance of emplo
employees with their obligations under this Act.

ARTICLE V
GENDER-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN
EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS

Section 21. Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Educational and Training Institutions.— All schools, whether public
shall designate an officer-in-charge to receive complaints regarding violations of this Act, and shall, ensure that the vi
provided with a gender-sensitive environment that is both respectful to the victims’ needs and conducive to truth-tellin

Every school must adopt and publish grievance procedures to facilitate the filing of complaints by students and facult
Even if an individual does not want to file a complaint or does not request that the school take any action on behalf of
or faculty member and school authorities have knowledge or reasonably know about a possible or impending act of g
based sexual harassment or sexual violence, the school should promptly investigate to determine the veracity of such
information or knowledge and the circumstances under which the act of gender-based sexual harassment or sexual v
were committed, and take appropriate steps to resolve the situation. If a school knows or reasonably should know ab
gender-based sexual harassment or sexual violence being committed that creates a hostile environment, the school m
immediate action to eliminate the same acts, prevent their recurrence, and address their effects.

Once a perpetrator is found guilty, the educational institution may reserve the right to strip the diploma from the perpe
issue an expulsion order.

The Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) of all educational institutions shall address gender-based sexu
harassment and online sexual harassment in accordance with the rules and procedures contained in their CODI man

Section 22. Duties of School Heads. -School heads shall have the following duties:

(a) Disseminate or post a copy of this Act in a conspicuous place in the educational institution;

(b) Provide measures to prevent gender-based sexual harassment in educational institutions, like info
campaigns;

(c) Create an independent internal mechanism or a CODI to investigate and address complaints of ge
 sexual harassment which shall:

(1) Adequately represent the school administration, the trainers, instructors, professors or coa
students or trainees, students and parents, as the case may be;

(2) Designate a woman as its head and not less than half of its members should be women;

(3) Ensure equal representation of persons of diverse sexual orientation, identity and/or expre
CODI as far as practicable;

(4) Be composed of members who should be impartial and not connected or related to the alle
perpetrator;

(5) Investigate and decide on complaints within ten (10) days or less upon receipt, thereof;

(6) Observe due process;

(7) Protect the complainant from retaliation; and

(8) Guarantee confidentiality to the greatest extent possible.

(d) Provide and disseminate, in consultation with all persons in the educational institution, a code of c
school policy which shall:

(1) Expressly reiterate the prohibition on gender-based sexual harassment;

(2) Prescribe the procedures of the internal mechanism created under this Act; and

(3) Set administrative penalties.

Section 23. Liability of School Heads.— In addition to liability for committing acts of gender-based sexual harassmen
school heads, teachers, instructors, professors, coaches, trainers, or any odier person who has authority, influence o
ascendancy over another in an educational or training institution may also be held responsible for:

(a) Non-implementation of their duties under Section 22 of this Act, as provided in the penal provision

(b) Failure to act on reported acts of gender-based sexual harassment committed in the educational in

Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
thousand pesos (₱5,000.00) nor more than Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00).

Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section, shall upon conviction, be penalized with a fine of not less than
thousand pesos (₱10,000.00) nor more than Fifteen thousand pesos (₱15,000.00).

Section 24. Liability of Students.— Minor students who are found to have committed acts of gender-based sexual ha
shall only be held liable for administrative sanctions by the school as stated in their school handbook.

Section 25. Routine Inspection.— The Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CH
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall conduct regular spontaneous inspections to
compliance of school heads with their obligations under this Act.

ARTICLE VI
COMMON PROVISIONS

Section 26. Confidentiality.— At any stage of the investigation, prosecution and trial of an offense under this Act, the
victim and the accused who is a minor shall be recognized.

Section 27. Restraining Order.— Where appropriate, the court, even before rendering a final decision, may issue an
directing the perpetrator to stay away from the offended person at a distance specified by the court, or to stay away fr
residence, school, place of employment, or any specified place frequented by the offended person.

Section 28. Remedies and Psychological Counselling.— A victim of gender-based street, public spaces or online sex
harassment may avail of appropriate remedies as provided for under the law as well as psychological counselling ser
the aid of the LGU and the DSWD, in coordination with the DOH and the PCW. Any fees to be charged in the course
availment of such remedies or psychological counselling services shall be borne by the perpetrator.

Section 29. Administrative Sanctions.— Above penalties are without prejudice to any administrative sanctions that m
imposed if the perpetrator is a government employee.

Section 30. Imposition of Heavier Penalties.— Nothing in this Act shall prevent LGUs from coming up with ordinance
impose heavier penalties for the acts specified herein.

Section 31. Exemptions.— Acts that are legitimate expressions of indigenous culture and tradition, as well as breastf
public shall not be penalized.

ARTICLE VII
FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 32. PNP Women and Children’s Desks.— The women and children’s desks now existing in all police stations
on and attend to all complaints covered under this Act. They shall coordinate with ASHE officers on the street, securi
privately-owned spaces open to the public, and anti-sexual harassment officers in government and private offices or s
the enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

Section 33. Educational Modules and Awareness Campaigns.— The PCW shall take the lead in a national campaign
awareness of the law. The PCW shall work hand-in-hand with the DILG and duly accredited women’s groups to ensu
participate in a sustained information campaign and the DICT to ensure an online campaign that reaches a wide audi
Filipino internet-users. Campaign materials may include posters condemning different forms of gender-based sexual
informing the public of penalties for committing gender-based sexual harassment, and infographics of hotline number
authorities.

All schools shall educate students from the elementary to tertiary level about the provisions of this Act and how they c
cases of gender-based streets, public spaces and online sexual harassment committed against them. School courses
include age-appropriate educational modules against gender-based streets, public spaces and online sexual harassm
shall be developed by the DepEd, the CHED, the TESDA and the PCW.

Section 34. Safety Audits. -LGUs are required to conduct safety audits every three (3) years to assess the efficiency
effectivity of the implementation of this Act within their jurisdiction. Such audits shall be multisectoral and participatory
consultations undertaken with schools, police officers, and civil society organizations.
Section 35. Appropriations.— Such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be indicate
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). National and local government agencies shall be authorized to utilize their
Gender and Development (GAD) budget, as provided under Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as "The Magna
Women" for this purpose. In addition, LGUs may also use their mandatory twenty percent (20%) allocation of them an
internal revenue allotments for local development projects as provided under Section 287 of Republic Act No. 7160, o
known as the "Local Government Code of 1991".

Section 36. Prescriptive Period.— Any action arising from the violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall presc
follows:

(a) Offenses committed under Section 11(a) of this Act shall prescribe in one (1) year;

(b) Offenses committed under Section 11(b) of this Act shall prescribe in three (3) years;

(c) Offenses committed under Section 11(c) of this Act shall prescribe in ten (10) years;

(d) Offenses committed under Section 12 of this Act shall be imprescriptible; and

(e) Offenses committed under Sections 16 and 21 of this Act shall prescribe in five (5) years.

Section 37. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.— There is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight C
monitor the implementation of this Act and to review the implementing rules and regulations promulgated. The Comm
be composed of five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Spea
House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be co-chaired by the Chairpersons of the Se
Committee on Women, Children. Family Relations and Gender Equality and the House Committee on Women and G
Equality.

Section 38. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).— Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
lead agency, in coordination with the DILG, the DSWD, the PNP, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the DOH
the DepEd, the CHED, the DICT, the TESDA, the MMDA, the LTO, and at least three (3) women’s organizations activ
issues of gender-based violence, shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act.

Section 39. Separability Clause.— If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining pro
affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 40. Repealing Clause.— Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, adm
order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or ame
accordingly.

Section 41. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in an
newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,

(Sgd) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

Speaker of the House of Representatives

(Sgd) VICENTE C. SOTTO III

President of the Senate
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1558 and House Bill No. 8794 was passed by the Senate of the P
and the House of Representatives on February 6, 2019.

(Sgd) DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING

Acting Secretary General
House of Representatives

(Sgd.) MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA

Secretary of the Senate

(Sgd) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

President of the Philippines

Approved: April 17, 2019.

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