CEDAW/C/SR.1406 38. Mr. Fos (Philippines), replying to the question raised about urban or rural dwellers affected by development projects, said that the Urban Development and Housing Act ensured the participation of the families concerned and provided for a consultation process, social services, livelihood support, a relocation entitlement, an ample period of 30 days to prepare for relocation and financial assistance. Families were moved either to alternative relocation sites or to urban low-rise buildings and were supplied with water, power and other basic services. Cash transfers were available for women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. The National Housing Authority was carrying out programmes that surpassed the provisions of the Urban Development and Housing Act, such as programmes to build communities, train leaders and inculcate an understanding of gender issues. 39. Ms. Mutin (Philippines), turning to a question raised about sharia law and the Magna Carta of Women, said that the Government of the Philippines acknowledged that the Code of Muslim Personal Laws was outdated and that amendments must urgently be introduced in such areas as polygamy and early and forced marriage, which violated women’s rights. There were ongoing discussions between religious scholars and leaders, representatives of progressive women’s groups and lawmakers about bringing the Code before Congress for amendment. Furthermore, the Gender and Development Code of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao contained a provision under which marriage to a child under the age of 18 was discouraged, and the highest religious policymaking body in the country had issued a fatwa on the model Islamic family that covered early and forced marriage and polygamy. 40. Ms. Sobritchea (Philippines) said that she would answer questions related to mining on indigenous lands. The Government had taken a number of measures to maximize benefits for the indigenous communities that chose to allow investors and mining companies to operate on their lands. A strict procedure was followed. The Government determined whether the area was suitable for mining and, when it gave its approval, the participatory planning and consultation process began. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples then certified that the particular indigenous community was willing to participate. The benefit was the payment of a royalty, which could be used to strengthen the community economy. There were programmes to provide alternative livelihoods in the event that traditional practices were interrupted by the mining industry. Women, in particular, were closely involved in planning for alternative livelihoods. 41. The political, social and cultural situation in indigenous areas presented an important challenge, however. Indigenous communities were often not united; there was tension and friction among the members. Sometimes more than one community shared the same land area. Clan killing was a grave political problem in areas where indigenous communities lived; there were also anti-Government groups posing challenges to the maintenance of law and order. In addition, there had been extrajudicial killings of anti-mining activists. Those were complex matters that varied from region to region. Mindanao, for instance, had its own legal framework for dealing with extrajudicial killings. 42. Ms. Villar (Philippines) said that, as a result of the many humanitarian emergencies that had occurred over the recent decade, the Government had significant experience in emergency response, disaster-risk reduction and climate change management. All initiatives were designed to ensure that women and girls were the primary focus of disaster response; woman- and child-friendly spaces were provided in evacuation centres and relocation sites to provide specialized care for their needs during crises. The Magna Carta of Women stipulated that women should be included in decision-making bodies on such matters as environmental and natural resource management, climate change adaptation and disaster response. In May 2016, President Aquino had signed the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act; the implementing regulations were currently being drafted. 8 GE.16-11725