BA-ACT NO. 8 (Bangsamoro Women Commission Act of 2020)

BILL NO. 34

BANGSAMORO PARLIAMENT Republic of the Philippines

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao BARMM Compound, Cotabato City

BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY

FIRST REGULAR SESSION)

BANGSAMORO AUTONOMY ACT NO.8

Begun and held in Cotabato City, on Friday, the 29th day of March, 2019

CREATING THE BANGSAMORO WOMEN COMMISSION OF THE BARMM PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS,FUNCTIONS AND COMPOSITION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AN ACT

Be it enacted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament in session assembled

Commission Act of 2020. Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Bangsamoro Women

known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. of women in nation building and regional development in Republic Act No. 11054 otherwise Section 2. Declaration of Policy.- The Bangsamoro Government reaffirms the vital role

fundamental rights of women to representation in all levels of governance, to engage in lawful shall also ensure the representation and participation of women in governance as provided for under Section 5,Article XIII of Republic Act No.11054 otherwise known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. employment and be protected from exploitation, abuse or discrimination, as embodied in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It The Bangsamoro Government recognizes, promotes, protects, and upholds the

building efforts, including conflict prevention, conflict resolution and conflict management, in keeping with its commitment under United Nation Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 The Bangsamoro Government ensures that women are at the forefront of all peace-

TITLE I: THE BANGSAMORO WOMEN COMMISSION

Minister shall exercise supervision over the Commission which shall have the same status as that Bangsamoro Women Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. The Chief of a Bangsamoro Government agency attached to the Office of the Chief Minister. Section 3. Bangsamoro Women Commission Creation. - There is hereby created a

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ued The Commission shall exercise corporate powers. It shall have a seal and may sue and be

of governance, policy and decision-making. rights as human rights, work for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women ensure that legal measures are taken to promote gender justice, women's rights and welfare, and promote gender and development including the meaningful participation of women in all levels Section 4. Mandate. - The Commission shall promote, protect and uphold women's

making, coordinating and monitoring body of women, gender and development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. In furtherance of the above-stated mandate, the Commission shall be the primary policy

Lanao del Sur including Marawi City, and Maguindanao including Cotabato City and the 63 barangays of North Cotabato. and four 4) regular Commissioners representing the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region namely, the Province of Basilan including Lamitan City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Section 5. Composition. -- The Commission shall be composed of one (1) Chairperson

peoples and settler communities. For this purpose, the heads of the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs and the office for settler communities, or if unqualified, their representatives. shall be designated as ex-officio Commissioners, respectively. The ex-officio Commissioners shall have the right to vote. There shall be two ex-officio Commissioners representing the non-moro indigenous

Commissioner, unless she possesses the following qualifications: Section 6. Qualification. - No person shall be appointed as Chairperson or a

5 3 ( (1 () ( A resident of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region at least five (5) years prior to the A registered voter in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region; Have occupied positions of responsibility and leadership in the government, duly Have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. At least 25 years of age at the time of appointment; registered women's organizations, or women-serving organizations and/or institutions; A citizen of the Philippines date of appointment;

A majority of the Commissioners shall hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

Chairperson and the four Commissioners of the Bangsamoro Women Commission. Section 7. Appointment and Term of Office. - The Chief Minister shall appoint the

the term of three (3 years. In all cases, no member of the commission including the chairperson shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms. two 2 members for four (4 years and two 2 members for three (3) years. The succeeding appointment after the expiration of the term of the first in appointees under this act shall serve Of those first appointed under this Act, the chairperson shall hold office for five (5) years.

TITLE II:POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Commission shall have the following powers: Section 8. Powers of the Commission. - In the performance of its functions, the

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a. To select, hire and promote the Division Chief and other personnel lower than Salary

D To suspend, dismiss or otherwise discipline for a cause officials and employees of the Grade 25 of the Commission subject to civil service rules and regulations;

To enter into contract in relation to their mandates; Commission except officials and employees from Salary Grade 25 and up;

A To acquire, possess, and dispose of real and personal properties in furtherance of its

Solicit and accept grants, aid, donations and gift, in cash or in kind, or enter into mandates:

agreements with any legitimate entity, local or foreign, consistent with its mandate; S To accredit women and people's organizations operating in the Bangsamoro engaged in

women's rights protection and promotion; and g.To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its creation

Section 9. Functions of the Commission. - the Commission shall have the following functions:

1.Policy Formulation and Technical Assistance:

1.1. Issue guidelines for the formulation of gender development plans of the

Bangsamoro Government and of the Local Government Units within the

1.2 Prepare the Bangsamoro Gender and Development plan with relevant Bangsamoro Autonomous Region;

1.3 Conduct research to support the development of policies for women ministries, agencies, offices and other stakeholders;

1.4. 1.5 Pilot special programs for women that can be replicated in the designed to promote, uphold, protect the welfare and rights of women; Recommend policies and legislations to the Bangsamoro Parliament Bangsamoro;

relating to women, in coordination with concerned ministries, offices and

1.6. agencies; and Provide technical assistance and capacity building to the Bangsamoro

Government agencies, LGUs and stakeholders.

2.Ensure and Monitor Compliance:

2.1. Monitor, assess and ensure compliance of Bangsamoro Government

agencies with the issued guidelines and implementation of their GAD plans. For this purpose, the Commission may require all ministries.

2.4. 2.2. 2.3. Recommend polices to the Bangsamoro Government measures for the Monitor and assess the compliance of the Bangsamoro Government on Participate in the reporting to international bodies tasked to monitor and utilization thereof. the Philippines is a signatory; plan and budget as well as regular reports on the status of implementation successful implementation of GAD plans; CEDAW,UNSCR 1325, and all other international instruments to which agencies and offices of the Bangsamoro Government to submit their GAD

implementation of CEDAW and other instruments.

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3.Coordination with Bangsamoro Government, LGUs and Stakeholders:

3.2 3.1. Closely work with and coordinate with the Bangsamoro Planning and Refer specific cases of women needing assistance and interventions to furtherance of evidence-based policies for the welfare of women; Development Authority (BPDA to generate sex dis-aggregated data in

3.4. 3.3 Convene an advisory council composed of representatives from traditional leaders, Bangsamoro communities outside BARMM and local government units in the BARMM and one woman representative each from the following stakeholders: youth, civil society organizations religious leaders. For this purpose, the Commission shall issue guidelines for the convening of the Council. other institutions and stakeholders to address gender-based violence, and other women's issues; Bangsamoro ministries and other offices including representatives from Bangsamoro Government agencies, national government agencies and Work with law enforcement agencies, Shari'ah and regular courts, and other stakeholders:

In addition, the Commission may perform any and all other acts incidental to delivery of its mandate.

TITLE III: ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

officio Commissioners. As a collegial body, the Commission shall promulgate rules, orders, and resolutions necessary for the efficient conduct of its business and administration, towards the performance of its mandates. Commission is composed of the Chairperson, four (4) regular Commissioners and two (2) ex- Section 10. The Commission as a Collegial Body.- The Bangsamoro Women

concurrence and signature of majority of Members thereof. and resolution en banc. Every such order or resolution of the Commission must bear the In the exercise of its powers and functions, the Commission shall sit and render its order

needed in any en banc meeting of the Commission. The Commission shall meet regularly. A majority of the Members constitutes a quorum

the following offices and units: Section 11. Structural Organization of the Commission. -- The Commission shall have

4.Administrative and Finance Services Division which shall provide administrative support 5. Technical Services Division which shall be responsible for providing the Commission 2.Office of the Commissioners; 3. Office of the Executive Director which shall be the head Secretariat of the Commission 1.Office of the Chairperson; with efficient and effective services in terms of planning, implementation, monitoring services to the Commission and to its divisions and offices; and and shall also be in charged with the over-all supervision of the operations of the Commission;

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and evaluation. It shall be composed of 3 units. namely: Policy and Program Development Unit (PPDU, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (MEU, and Coordinating and Public Engagement Unit.

Section 12. Salaries. - The Chairperson and the regular Commissioners shall receive compensation equivalent to salary grade 28 and 27, respectively.

Section 13. Offices of the Commissioners. - Each Commissioner shall have an office in the province that she represents.

auditing rules and regulations. transferred to the Commission, for efficiency of operation, subject to usual accounting and Section 14. Access to Funds. - The budget allocated for the Commission shall be directly

for the Personal Services,Fourteen Million Pesos (P14,000,000 for the Miscellaneous and Other Section 15.Appropriations.-The initial amount of Fifteen Million Pesos (P15,000,000)

Operating Expenses, and One Million Pesos (P1,000,000 for the Capital Outlay of the Commission shall be sourced from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) and the

operating expenses and capital outlay may be charged to the MPBF and Contingent Fund. rules and regulations. Additional funding for personnel services, maintenance and other Contingent Fund, respectively in accordance with Bangsamoro Act No.3, subject to existing

Subsequent funding requirements shall be included in the Bangsamoro Appropriations Act.

shall remain valid and binding. held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise affected Section 16. Separability Clause. -If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be

thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 17. Repealing Clause. -- All regional laws, orders, rules and regulations or parts

in a newspaper of local circulation in the BARMM. Section 18. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15 days after its publication

APPROVED.

ATTY. LI PANGALIAN M.BALINDONG

Speaker

This Act was passed by the Bangsamoro Parliament on January 31, 2020.

PROF|RA%YB Secretarygeneral NGKAL

APPROVED:

Date: 0&-13-2020 AHOD BALAWAGEBRAHIM Chief Minister

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