A lawmaker on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to sign an enrolled bill that strengthens the protection of women in public places.
AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin said the enactment of the Safe Street, Public and Online Spaces Act as (House Bill 8794) will provide women a better sense of security.
“President Duterte should sign this bill before the end of the month to cap the celebration of International Women’s Month,” Garin, a deputy speaker, said.
The measure penalizes acts that invade a victim’s sense of personal safety on the streets, in public spaces, and online. The bicameral report has been ratified by the Senate last Feb. 6.
As co-author of the bill, Garin said the campaign against sexual harassment should not only be limited to the celebration of International Women’s Month and that all Filipinos, in their own capacity, can contribute to making this country a place that upholds the culture of respect.
She also underscored the need to expedite the measure’s enactment to begin the national campaign for the awareness of the law which shall be led by the Philippine Commission on Women, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other accredited women’s groups.
The bill provides that Metro Manila enforcers and the local unit enforcers of the Philippine National Police for other provinces shall be deputized as Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers to apprehend harassers and enforce the law provided that they have undergone Gender Sensitivity Training. The PCW, DILG, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology shall be in-charge for oversight of the law and shall formulate policies as needed for the strict implementation of the measure.