Arroyo signs Magna Carta of Women

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday signed into law the measure prohibiting discrimination against women, and recognizing and promoting their rights.

Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, signed at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang Palace, ensures women’s equitable participation and representation in government, political parties, international bodies, civil service and the private sector.

Witnessing the signing ceremony were Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

RA 9710 renames the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women as the Philippine Commission on Women, which will be the primary policy-making and coordinating body for women and gender equality concerns.

Under the new law, agencies such as the Departments of Labor and Employment and Social Welfare and Development are also mandated to help strengthen Philippine foreign posts’ programs for the delivery of services to women migrant workers.


Last March, the Senate and House of Representatives ratified the bill, which had been pending in Congress for more than 10 years.

"After all the attempts to block the passage of the Magna Carta of Women, the Filipino women have finally emerged victorious. This is a by-product of women’s continuous struggle for equality and serves as a gateway in support to women’s legitimate concerns," said Gabriela women's party-list Rep. Liza Maza, who was a member of the bicameral conference committee on the law and a co-author of the House version of the measure.

Maza, however, was not present during the signing ceremony.

According to Maza, the new law:

• Designates the Commission on Human Rights as the Gender and Development Ombud to ensure the promotion and protection of women’s human rights;

• Ensures mandatory training on human rights and gender sensitivity to all government personnel involved in the protection and defense of women against gender-based violence;

• Institutes affirmative action mechanisms so that "women can participate meaningfully in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs for national, regional, and local development."

The number of women in third level positions in government shall be increased to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance within the next five years while the composition of women in all levels of development planning and program implementation will be at least 40 percent;

• Ensures the equal treatment before the law by ensuring that the State shall take steps to review and when necessary, amend and/or repeal existing laws that are discriminatory to women within three years from the effectivity of the Magna Carta;

• Provides equal access and elimination of discrimination in education, scholarships, and training. Thus, "expulsion, non-readmission, prohibiting enrollment, and other related discrimination of women students and faculty due to pregnancy out of marriage shall be
outlawed."

• Promotes the equal status given to men and women on the titling of the land and issuance of stewardship contracts and patents; and

• Encourages Local Government Units (LGUs) to develop and pass a Gender and Development (GAD) code based on the gender issues and concerns in their respective localities based on consultation with their women constituents. - GMANews.TV