Sexual harassment, a pervasive issue that has plagued public institutions for decades, has been a significant concern in the Philippines.

To address this problem, the Philippine government enacted the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7877). This landmark legislation provides a legal framework to combat sexual harassment and create safer environments for all. 

In addition, the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313) was established to strengthen protections against sexual harassment by expanding its scope to cover a wider range of environments such as streets, public transportation, and even online spaces. 

The infographic below provides a visual overview of the legilsations that protect Filipinos from sexual harassment and what can be done to responsibly enact this in any citizen's life should they face this issue. 

Who to Call 

If sexual harassment persists, please consider reporting the incident to the authorities. You can file a formal complaint with the following offices:

• PNP Women and Children Protection Center: 0919 777 7377 (SMART) | 0966 725 5961 (Globe)
• PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group: (02) 8723 0401 | 0968 867 4302 (SMART) | 0967 136 0322 (Globe)
• National Bureau of Investigation: 8523 8231 to 38
• Bantay Bata Helpline: 163
• DSWD: 0919 911 6200 (SMART) | 0917 110 5686 and 0917 827 2543 (Globe)
• Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE): 1349
• National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis: 1553 | 0908 639 2672 (SMART) | 0917 899 8727 and 0966 351 4518 (Globe)
• Public Attorney’s Office (PAO): (02) 8929 9436 | (02) 8426 2075 | (02) 8426 2801 | (02) 8426 2450 | (02) 8426 2987 | (02) 8426 2683
• NCMH Women and Child Protection Unit: 8 541 9001 (Loc 383)