REPUBLIC ACT No.

7877 AN ACT DECLARING SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNLAWFUL IN THE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR TRAINING ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Sect o! ". Title. - This Harassment ct of %&&'.# ct shall be !no"n as the # nti-Se$ual

Sect o! #. (eclaration of Policy. - The State shall value the dignity of every individual) enhance the development of its human resources) guarantee full respect for human rights) and uphold the dignity of "or!ers) employees) applicants for employment) students or those undergoing training) instruction or education. To"ards this end) all forms of se$ual harassment in the employment) education or training environment are hereby declared unla"ful. Sect o! $. *or!) +ducation or Training -Related) Se$ual Harassment (efined. - *or!) education or training-related se$ual harassment is committed by an employer) employee) manager) supervisor) agent of the employer) teacher) instructor) professor) coach) trainor) or any other person "ho) having authority) influence or moral ascendancy over another in a "or! or training or education environment) demands) re,uests or other"ise re,uires any se$ual favor from the other) regardless of "hether the demand) re,uest or re,uirement for submission is accepted by the ob-ect of said ct. .a/ 0n a "or!-related or employment environment) se$ual harassment is committed "hen: .%/ The se$ual favor is made as a condition in the hiring or in the employment) re-employment or continued employment of said individual) or in granting said individual favorable compensation) terms of conditions) promotions) or privileges1 or the refusal to grant the se$ual favor results in limiting) segregating or classifying the employee "hich in any "ay

"ould discriminate) deprive ordiminish employment opportunities or other"ise adversely affect said employee1 .2/ The above acts "ould impair the employee3s rights or privileges under e$isting labor la"s1 or .4/ The above acts "ould result in an intimidating) hostile) or offensive environment for the employee. .b/ 0n an education or training environment) se$ual harassment is committed: .%/ gainst one "ho is under the care) custody or supervision of the offender1 .2/ gainst one "hose education) training) apprenticeship or tutorship is entrusted to the offender1 .4/ *hen the se$ual favor is made a condition to the giving of a passing grade) or the granting of honors and scholarships) or the payment of a stipend) allo"ance or other benefits) privileges) or consideration1 or .5/ *hen the se$ual advances result in an intimidating) hostile or offensive environment for the student) trainee or apprentice. ny person "ho directs or induces another to commit any act of se$ual harassment as herein defined) or "ho cooperates in the commission thereof by another "ithout "hich it "ould not have been committed) shall also be held liable under this ct. Sect o! %. (uty of the +mployer or Head of 6ffice in a *or!-related) +ducation or Training +nvironment. - 0t shall be the duty of the employer or the head of the "or!-related) educational or training environment or institution) to prevent or deter the commission of acts of se$ual harassment and to provide the procedures for the resolution) settlement or prosecution of acts of se$ual harassment. To"ards this end) the employer or head of office shall:

.a/ Promulgate appropriate rules and regulations in consultation "ith and -oint%y approved by the employees or students or trainees) through their duly designated representatives) prescribing the procedure for the investigation of se$ual harassment cases and the administrative sanctions therefor. dministrative sanctions shall not be a bar to prosecution in the proper courts for unla"ful acts of se$ual harassment. The said rules and regulations issued pursuant to this subsection .a/ shall include) among others) guidelines on proper decorum in the "or!place and educational or training institutions. .b/ Create a committee on decorum and investigation of cases on se$ual harassment. The committee shall conduct meetings) as the case may be) "ith officers and employees) teachers) instructors) professors) coaches) trainors) and students or trainees to increase understanding and prevent incidents of se$ual harassment. 0t shall also conduct the investigation of alleged cases constituting se$ual harassment. 0n the case of a "or!-related environment) the committee shall be composed of at least one .%/ representative each from the management) the union) if any) the employees from the supervisory ran!) and from the ran! and file employees. 0n the case of the educational or training institution) the committee shall be composed of at least one .%/ representative from the administration) the trainors) instructors) professors or coaches and students or trainees) as the case may be. The employer or head of office) educational or training institution shall disseminate or post a copy of this ct for the information of all concerned. Sect o! &. 7iability of the +mployer) Head of 6ffice) +ducational or Training 0nstitution. - The employer or head of office) educational or training institution shall be solidarily liable for damages arising from

the acts of se$ual harassment committed in the employment) education or training environment if the employer or head of office) educational or training institution is informed of such acts by the offended party and no immediate action is ta!en. Sect o! '. 0ndependent ction for (amages. - 8othing in this ct shall preclude the victim of "or!) education or training-related se$ual harassment from instituting a separate and independent action for damages and other affirmative relief. Sect o! 7. Penalties. - ny person "ho violates the provisions of this ct shall) upon conviction) be penali9ed by imprisonment of not less than one .%/ month nor more than si$ .:/ months) or a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos .P%;);;;/ nor more than T"enty thousand pesos .P2;);;;/) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. ny action arising from the violation of the provisions of this ct shall prescribe in three .4/ years. Sect o! 8. Separability Clause. - 0f any portion or provision of this ct is declared void or unconstitutional) the remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not be affected by such declaration. Sect o! (. Repealing Clause. - ll la"s) decrees) orders) rules and regulations) other issuances) or parts thereof inconsistent "ith the provisions of this ct are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Sect o! "). +ffectivity Clause.- This ct shall ta!e effect fifteen .%'/ days after its complete publication in at least t"o .2/ national ne"spapers of general circulation. pproved: .Sgd./ EDGARDO *. ANGARA President of the Senate

.Sgd./ *OSE DE VENECIA, *R. Spea!er of the House of Representatives This ct is a consolidation of House Bill 8o. &52' and Senate Bill 8o. %:42 "as finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on <ebruary =) %&&'. .Sgd./ EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN Secretary of the Senate .Sgd./ CAMILO L. SABIO Secretary >eneral House of Representatives pproved: <ebruary %5) %&&' .Sgd./ FIDEL V. RAMOS President of the Philippines