Anti-catcalling Bill Approved By Senate On Final Reading

Senate Approves the Anti-catcalling Bill on Final Reading

ANTI-CATCALLING – The Senate approved the anti-catcalling bill on the third and final reading last Monday, October 8.

Women and the LGBTQ community are usually the victims of this inappropriate behavior. It scares most of the females where they got sly remarks from strangers.

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Senator Risa Hontiveros, made a move regarding this issue. She wants to make everyone feel safe walking on the streets especially the women.

catcalling
Photo Source: thefertilechickonline.com

Based on a report from Philstar, Senator Risa Hontiveros is the principal author and sponsor of this anti-catcalling bill. She said this is a “major pushback”.

“With this measure, we will reclaim the streets… and make them safe for all,” she said.

anti-catcalling
Photo Source: theAsianparent Philippines

Senator Risa Hontiveros is hopeful that the bill would change the people’s language habits and to prevent any forms of gender-based harassment and to convince the public to be gender-sensitive.

risa hontiveros
Photo Source: INQUIRER

The Senate Bill 1326 or the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017 aims to penalize catcalling, cursing, and wolf-whistling.

It also includes persistent requests of the person’s name and contact information and the use of words to banter identity in public places.

anti-catcalling
Photo Source: The Philippine Star

Based on the report, Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan), at the House of Representatives, filed a counterpart bill and said it is still pending at the committee level.

Quezon City is the first to pass the first ordinance against street-level harassment of women last 2016. Second to it is the local government of Manila which also passed an ordinance regarding the same form of harassment in the city.

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