Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her support for proposed legislative measures that would address the specific needs for equality, health reforms, and social security of the LGBTQIA+ community.
VP Sara pushes for creation of pro-LGBTQIA commission
Published Jun 25, 2025 04:53 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions from the media during an interview in San Fernando, Pampanga. (Santi San Juan/MANILA BULLETIN)
In her speech during the “Kasarilayaan 2025” event on Wednesday, June 25, organized by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for this year's Pride Month, the official also pushed for the establishment of a National LGBTQIA+ Commission to “serve as the comprehensive lead agency, coordinating with government bodies, formulating evidence- based policies, and developing vital empowerment programs.”
Recognizing the challenges faced by the community, Duterte called for the passing of three critical legislations, such as Senator Robin Padilla’s Senate Bill No. 449, which seeks to amend the Family Code by defining civil unions as legal relationships for same-sex couples, and granting rights in areas like property, inheritance, adoption, and social security.
“I invite scholars to study the social and economic implications of the Civil Union Act as we endeavor to address the unique circumstances of civil partners, moving beyond mere accommodation to genuine, tailored inclusion,” she said.
The Vice President also expressed support for the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act, which was authored by Senators Grace Poe, Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Imee Marcos, and Jinggoy Estrada.
“This bill, consolidating earlier efforts, is not merely about protecting a specific group; it is about upholding human dignity for all, as enshrined in global human rights covenants. This is a universal human obligation, and it is time we enshrine it into national law,” Duterte said.
She also called for the strengthening of Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, to include the establishment of LGBTQIA+ focal desks in law enforcement agencies and offices.
The official is also pushing for the creation of halfway homes and emergency shelters for survivors of abuse, as well as dedicated helplines for psychosocial support under the existing law.
In an ambush interview, she explained that the OVP reviewed these proposals and found them to be “ripe” for passage after she was asked about Senator Risa Hontiveros’ controversial SOGIE Equality Bill that repeatedly failed to hurdle Congress in the last few years.
The Vice President did not directly reject or express support for Hontiveros’ proposal.
“So, ito (Safe Spaces Act, Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act, and Civil Union Act) ang mga nakita namin per legal review namin na handang-handa na siya and ripe na siya para supportahan at ipasa (these are the ones we saw per our legal review as ripe for support and passage),” she added.
Vice President Sara Duterte leads the signing of pledge of support of LGBTQIA during the annual Pride reception held by her office in Pampanga. Also in the photo are Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño. (Santi San Juan/MANILA BULLETIN)
In her speech, Duterte underscored the need to expand national social protection programs to cover non-traditional families.
“This is not just about fairness; it is about smart economics and building a truly inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has the opportunity to achieve financial stability and contribute their full potential,” Duterte said.
“To build a society that embodies equity and justice, we must turn our attention to the foundational pillars of our society: our laws. Let us cast our gaze forward, recognizing the vital role of a robust legislative agenda in securing the rights and dignity of every LGBTQIA+ Filipino,” she added.
Furthermore, the official has enumerated suggestions to craft new policies or expand existing ones to include members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Chief among these recommendations are an Expanded Access to Mental Health and HIV Health Services to “deploy more gender- sensitive counselors in public health centers, expand life-saving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programs, integrate SOGIESC modules into health education, and bolster community-based outreach.”
She also identified the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community during times of disasters, urging for an “inclusive humanitarian response” because “LGBTQIA+ individuals have unique needs.”
“We must develop gender-sensitive evacuation plans, including separate shelters, and ensure the participation of LGBTQIA+ persons in local disaster risk reduction and management councils,” she stressed.
LGBTQIA+ individuals must also be included in national demographics and health surveys.
“What gets measured, gets done. To genuinely serve the community, we urgently need disaggregated data on LGBTQIA+ well-being, vulnerabilities, and population figures from agencies like the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Health,” she furthered.
With the OVP prepared to help the LGBTQIA+ community achieve their dreams for equality, Duterte called on lawmakers, civil society partners, and the Filipino public “to join us in this crucial endeavor.”
“Let us transform our aspirations into concrete laws, building a Philippines where every single person can live with dignity, security, and pride. Together, let us lift and uplift LGBTQIA+ voices, enrich dialogue, and strengthen our collective calls for equality and inclusion within Philippine society,” she added.