CEDAW/C/SR.327 English Page 5 participation of women in dairy-related projects. The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women had expanded, and had added a division to ensure the gender responsiveness of proposed legislation and a division to monitor implementation of international commitments and national policies on women. 17. The 1990 Republic Act No. 6955, which banned arranged marriages, had resulted in the disappearance of advertisements for commercially arranged marriages with foreign men, although a substantial number still took place. Government was considering potential loopholes in the legislation. The Government had also taken steps to require women intending to marry foreign nationals to attend counselling. The 18. The bill creating the Philippine Commission on Women would expand and strengthen the present National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women. The bill had been passed in the House of Representatives, and was under study in the Senate. 19. Presidential issuances had some limitations compared to laws because they applied only to the executive branch, but they were easier to promulgate and had far-reaching influence on executive agencies and local government. 20. A working group on statistics had completed a set of indicators on the situation of women which would become the basis of a plan to fill in gaps in gender-related statistics. Other efforts included the quantification of housework, and development of a survey on the incidence of violence against women and children. 21. Implementation of laws largely rested with the executive branch of the Government, which was also responsible for monitoring implementation. 22. Under the Philippine Development Plan for Women, programmes had been undertaken to raise awareness, build up enabling mechanisms and develop capabilities among government officials so as to ensure implementation of the plan. The Plan had helped to sharpen the focus of government programmes for women, had led to the opening up of non-traditional areas for skills development and had placed the Government’s international commitments and State policies and laws under a unified, coherent framework. Gender mainstreaming had been adopted in support of the Plan. 23. The National Statistics Office study of the treatment of men and women in various sectors had covered the demographic, economic, social and special concerns sectors. 24. The Constitution mandated the equality before the law of men and women. However, there was a need to amend some areas of criminal law, such as the provisions on prostitution. Gaps in the effective application of laws affecting women were often due to basic deficiencies in the substance of the laws. Women’s views were now being considered in an effort to close gender-related gaps in legislative proposals. 25. Republic Act No. 6725 provided for the elimination of certain discriminatory practices, such as payment of lesser compensation to women. There was as yet no study on pay equity standards. / ...