House OKs bill amending antisexual harassment law

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill expanding the coverage of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law.

Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, chair of the women and gender equality committee, said the bill would strengthen the mechanisms for monitoring compliance with policies against sexual harassment in the workplace and schools.

House Bill No. 5663, authored by Representatives Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela and Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur will amend Republic Act No. 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.

It expands the scope of the law by defining sexual harassment as “an act which may be committed physically, verbally or visually with the use of information communication technology or any other means of technology within or outside the place of employment, training or education.”

The acts to be included in the coverage of the law are “unwanted, unwelcome or inappropriate sexual advances, demanding sexual favors by an employer, manager, supervisor, teacher, professor, coach, trainer or any person who have authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another’s work, training or education, or making any offensive remark about the victim’s sexual orientation.”

The bill also covers those who have authority or influence in approving or granting appointments, employment, favorable compensation, promotions or privileges, admission to educational scholarships, payment of stipends, allowances, other benefits, privileges or other considerations.

Under the proposed law, Andaya said it would be the responsibility of the employer or head of the work-related educational, or training environment or institution to prevent or deter sexual harassment.

“Any person who directs or induces another to commit any act of sexual harassment or who cooperates in the commission by another, without which it would not have been committed, shall also be held liable under the proposed act,” he said.

“A harasser is no longer confined to just being someone who has authority or moral ascendancy over the victim but anyone, including a colleague or subordinate staff, who makes gestures which are sexual in nature and create an intimidating, hostile or humiliating working, learning or training environment for the recipient of said unwelcome gestures,” Andaya said.

Under the measure, the employer or head of office is mandated to adopt a comprehensive, detailed and written policy on sexual harassment, outlining the detailed procedure for the investigation of sexual harassment cases and the administrative sanctions.