Press Release
October 18, 2007

MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO WOMEN
Villar wants more women directors in GOCCs

Senate President Manny Villar filed a bill seeking to empower women and guarantee their basic rights to achieve gender equality in the country.

The bill, also known as the Magna Carta of Filipino Women, seeks to give women equal opportunity to be appointed in government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).

Villar's Senate Bill 1712 is entitled, "An Act enabling Filipino women to realize their full potentials in the service of the nation and ensuring their equality with men, ordaining a Magna Carta of Filipino Women therefor and for other purposes."

The measure states, "Full equality of women shall be advanced in public corporate management through appointments of women in various GOCCs, including those that are considered highly technical or technologically oriented."

"Initially, 33 percent of the available directorship positions shall be allotted to women, and within five years after the effectivity of the Act, the 50-50 gender balance must be achieved," it stipulates.

Aside from positions in GOCCs, the bill also seeks to give women equal opportunity in the private sector, "The State shall take measures to encourage women leadership in the private sector in the form of incentives."

"The State shall take steps to review and when necessary, amend or repeal existing laws that are discriminatory to women within three years from the effectivity of the Act," the measure states.

It further provides, "The State shall remove gender stereotypes and images in educational materials. Gender-sensitive language shall be used at all times. Capacity-building on gender and development, peace and human rights, education for teachers and all those involved in the education sector shall be pursued toward this end. Partnerships between and among players of the education sector, including the private sector and church or faith groups shall be encouraged.

Enrollment of women and men in non-traditional skills training in vocational and tertiary levels shall also be encouraged.

The bill also seeks to ban the discrimination against women due to pregnancy, "Expulsion, non-readmission, prohibition of enrollment and other discrimination of women students due to pregnancy outside of marriage shall be outlawed."

An active advocate of women's rights, Villar stressed, "In recognition of the exemplary role of women in our country and their contributions in governance, this measure is filed to further empower them and give them their rightful place in our society."

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