To raise awareness of sexual harassment and guarantee a safe space for its employees, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has conducted an orientation on the Safe Spaces Act of 2019 or Republic Act (RA) 11313 for its executives nationwide.
In a statement, DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said that the orientation on “Bawal Bastos” Law is part of the agency’s Gender and Development (GAD) activities to celebrate Women’s Month, which gathered 300 participants.
“This management will not tolerate any big or small acts of harassment. I, not only as your Secretary but as a father and a good shepherd, therefore call on our GAD committees nationwide led by Undersecretary Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh to leave no stone unturned to implement the Safe Spaces Act,” Sampulna said on March 30.
He added that the orientation also familiarized DENR officials with the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 or RA 7877 and its penalties for violators under RA 11313 and Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 11, series of 2021.
Meanwhile, Teh explained that heads of offices have the power to prevent sexual harassment issues in workplaces and will be held liable if they take no action on reported incidents were taken.
“Aside from refraining from committing acts of gender-based sexual harassment, employees and co-workers must provide emotional or social support to fellow employees, co-workers, colleagues, or peers who are victims of gender-based sexual harassment and report acts of gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace,” she said.
“We, as officials, need to come up with measures to encourage victims to speak up. We should practice a zero-tolerance policy towards these kinds of actions within the DENR,” she added.
Aside from the orientation, the agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine Commission on Women also held a webinar on Adopting a Culture of Safety and Safe Work Spaces last March 22.
The DENR GAD office plans to implement a skills development program that teaches its employees to understand behaviors, investigate, convey mental health resources, and set up a counseling program for workers or victims. The initiative is part of the agency’s “Bawal Bastos sa DENR” campaign.