The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995: An Assessment of Its Implementation in the Municipal Government of Dasmarinas, Cavite

Abstract

This study is an assessment of the implementation of R.A. 7877, otherwise known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, in the Municipal Government of Dasmarinas, Cavite in the light of the concept of gender fairness. The main aim of this study is to determine whether implementation of the Act is effective in the sense that sexual harassment incidents are prevented and resolved through it. Assessment was done in the context of gender fairness, that is, whether implementation reflects the prevalence of the concept among the employees of the Municipal Government of Dasmarinas, Cavite. Thus the research has two interrelated dimensions, effectiveness of the Act’s implementation and the prevalence of gender fairness. Research findings have led to the conclusion that the Act is implemented not through formal mechanisms or institutions, but through the prevalence of gender fairness itself among the employees of the Municipal Government. It was previously thought that formal implementation of the Act’s provisions will bring about more gender fairness in the working environment of the Municipal Government. However, it was found out that gender fairness existing among the employees, together with other social conditions and constraints, actually facilitates the informal implementation of the Act. Nevertheless, the principal indicators of effective implementation, particularly prevention and resolution of actual sexual harassment incidents, were still identified, and this rendered the researcher able to prove his hypothesis that the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 is effectively implemented in the Municipal Government of Dasmarinas, Cavite.