GENDER AND

DEVELOPMENT LAWS &

ISSUANCES
(1) R.A. No. 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health
Law of 2012, which, among others, seeks to provide age-appropriate reproductive
health and sexuality education to youth and adolescents;

(2) R.A. No. 10398 “Declaring November 25 of Every Year as National

Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW) and
Children;”

(3) R.A. No. 8504, or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998,
which seeks to provide HIV-positive individuals with basic health services and
social support, protect them from stigma and discrimination, and educate the
public (including schoolchildren) on sex, sexuality and gender as part of the
national policy to raise public awareness of HIV and AIDS and effect behavior
change among high-risk individuals;
(4) R.A. N0. 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women (2009), which seeks to
eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfilment, and
promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging to the
marginalized sectors of society. It is the local translation of the provisions of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women's (CEDAW), particularly in defining gender discrimination, state
obligations, substantive equality, and temporary special measures. Among other
provisions, it mandates the Philippine government to "ensure the substantive
equality of men and women" and to take steps to review, amend or repeal
existing laws that discriminate against women;

(5) Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Memorandum Circular 2014-

01, on the Submission of Policy Issuances on the Creation, Reconstitution and
or Strengthening of the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) and Updated
Directory of GFPS Members, to catalyze and accelerate gender mainstreaming;
(6) PCW-DILG-DBM-NEDA Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2013–01,
implementing the Guidelines on the Localization of the Magna Carta of Women
to ensure the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in local planning,
programming and budgeting, local legislation, project development,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation pursuant to R.A. 9710 or the Magna
Carta of Women (MCW);

(7) Executive Order No. 273, which approves and adopts a 30-year Philippine Plan
for Gender-Responsive Development (1995-2025) as a means to address and provide
direction for mainstreaming gender concerns in development;

(8) Republic Act 7845, or the General Appropriations Act of 1995, which provides
for Gender-Responsive Projects in all departments, bureaus, offices and
agencies of government;
(9) Republic Act 7192, or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act,
which promotes the integration of women as full and equal partners of men in
development and nation building; and mandates that assistance be provided in
ensuring the formulation and nationwide implementation of gender-responsive
government policies, programs and projects;

(10) Executive Order No. 348, which approves and adopts the Philippine
Development Plan for Women 1989-1992;

(11) Presidential Decree No. 633, creating the National Commission on the Role of
Filipino Women [1975], which seeks to achieve equality between men and women by
mandating government to undertake measures that would integrate women as full and
equal partners with men in the total development and peace effort.
 Related Laws

(1) R.A. No. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, which mandates the
provision of counseling or referral to appropriate services for perpetrators, victims,
and appropriate family members of students victimized by bullying. This is
specified in detail in the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) under
Rule IV, Sec. 7 (Intervention Programs);

(2) R.A. No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which
seeks to protect the well-being of its citizens, especially the youth, from the
harmful effects of dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being, as
well as to defend them against acts or omissions that can jeopardize their
development or put their lives at great risk.
 Related Laws

3) R.A. No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Act of 2010, which seeks to, among others, provide maximum care, assistance,
and services to individuals and families traumatized by disaster and help them
return to normal activities

4) R.A. No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse,

Exploitation and Discrimination Act, which seeks to protect children from all
forms of abuse, exploitation and discrimination including child prostitution, other
forms of sexual abuse, child labor, trafficking, neglect, cruelty, situations of armed
conflict, and other conditions prejudicial to their development
 DepED Issuances
(1) DepED Order No. 27, s. 2013 “Guidelines and Procedure on the
Establishment of DepED Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System
(GFPS) at the Regional, Division and School Levels” as an institutional
mechanism for ensuring gender mainstreaming within the Department;

(2) DepED Order No. 63, s.2012 “Guidelines on the Preparation of Gender
and Development (GAD) Plans, Utilization of GAD Budgets and Submission of
Accomplishment Reports;”

(3) DepED Order No. 45, s. 2012 “Implementing the Department of

Education’s HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Policy and Program in the
Workplace” which includes gender, sex, and sexuality education;
(4) DepED Memorandum No. 207, s. 2013 “2013 Annual 18-Day Campaign
to End Violence Against Women (VAW)” which seeks to undertake
consciousness-raising activities on the elimination of all forms of violence against
women (VAW);

(5) DepED Memorandum No. 197, s. 2012 “Gender Responsive Planning and
Budgeting for the Gender and Development Focal Point and Technical
Personnel;” and

(6) DepED Memorandum No. 140, s. 2012 “Establishment of the Gender and
Development (GAD) Focal Point System;” and

(7) DepED Order No. 40, s. 2012 or “DepED Child Protection Policy” which
promotes a policy protecting children from children in school from abuse,
violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying, and other forms of abuse.
(8) DepED Order No. 32, s. 2011 titled “Policies and Guidelines on Training
and Development (T&D) Programs and Activities” which reformulates policy
guidelines on designing T&D programs and in conducting activities for the
capacity and capability building of DepED personnel and staff
 Prohibitions
DepEd Order No. 6, s. 2012 titled “Guidelines on the Adoption And
Implementation of Public Health Policies On Tobacco Control And Protection
Against Tobacco Industry Interference,” which prohibit DepED personnel from:
(1) Having unnecessary interaction with the tobacco industry;
(2) Extending preferential treatment to the tobacco industry;
(3) Accepting gifts donations and sponsorships from the tobacco industry,
including those that may be coursed through DepED stakeholders, partners, or
third parties in the guise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects;;
Having any financial interest in the tobacco industry;
(4) Accepting any favors analogous to those mentioned above – such as having
any conflicts of interest with the tobacco industry; and
(5) Engaging in any occupational activity within the tobacco industry.
 This is also in compliance with Article 53 of the World Health Organization
(WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Joint
Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2010-01 issued by the Department of Health
(DOH) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

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