CEDAW/C/PHI/Q/6/Add.1 The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has a database of Filipino emigrants called the “Filipinos Overseas Information System”. However, this contains information of emigrants who have returned their filled up forms to the Commission and cannot capture the information of those who did not respond to the CFO’s questionnaires. Many OFWs leave under various pretexts, making it difficult to protect their rights. Only when problems arise does the CFO learn of their plights. There is a difficulty of disseminating information widely, particularly on the risks faced by undocumented OFWs. The NCRFW is currently developing a national VAW documentation system which will also capture trafficking cases. The system is envisioned to link the databases of frontline VAW service agencies such as the Philippine National Police, the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Justice, and Local Government. As part of its development, the intake and tracking forms of these frontline service agencies are being examined and supplemental forms are being developed to capture the needed data. This project is expected to be completed by 2010. Included in the Interagency Committee Against Trafficking’s (IACAT) National Strategic Plan of Action is the setting up of a national trafficking database. However, this project has not yet taken off due to funding limitations. Participation in political and public life 12. In its previous concluding comments, the Committee recommended that temporary special measures be adopted to increase the participation of women in top-level decision-making positions in the public sector.2 Please provide an update on the status of proposed laws to provide for temporary special measures to increase women’s participation described in paragraph 43 of the report, as well as on any alternative measures contemplated or implemented to increase the number of women in public office. Two bills — the Local Sectoral Representation (LSR) which includes women representation and Gender Balance bills are currently pending on First Reading at the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippines in the 13th Congress. The LSR bills provide for the election of three sectoral representatives each in the provincial, municipal and councils (sanggunians) — one from the women sector, one from the workers and one from any of the following: the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons, and the elderly. The Gender Balance bills, on the other hand, propose to implement a gender quota system to ensure that women are granted the following: a) access to appointive positions in the national and local government; and b) full participation in the electoral and political process. The LSR bills are pending with the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms of the House of the Representatives and with the Committees on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws; and Local Government of the Senate of the Philippines. The Gender Balance bills are pending with the Committee on Women of the House of Representatives and Committees on Youth, Women and Family Relations; Civil Service and Government Reorganization; and Finance of the Senate of the Philippines. All bills were filed in 2004 or 2005. __________________ 2 10 Ibid., para. 302.