Mandaue City councilors have introduced a proposed ordinance to create a dedicated Anti-Sexual Harassment and Safe Spaces Office within the city government, tasked with investigating complaints against city officials and employees.
Ordinance details and authors
Draft Ordinance 99-2026, authored by Councilors Carlo Pontico Fortuna, Michelle Cortes-Zafra, Jessica Del Mar, Regal Cabahug V, and SK Federation President Francis Jumao-as, was referred to the committees on laws, appropriations, and women and family for review during a recent City Council session.
The proposed office would function under the city's Gender and Development (GAD) program, conducting investigations, recommending disciplinary actions, and providing victims with protection and relief.
Strengthening enforcement
Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna explained that while Mandaue City already has ordinances addressing sexual harassment and safe spaces violations, the new measure would establish a specialized office within the local government to handle complaints involving officials or employees. “What is important now is that we will create an office within the Mandaue City Government. Any complaints involving officials or employees who may have violated the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law or the Safe Spaces Act will be investigated by that office,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Fortuna added that the office would perform investigatory functions and recommend disciplinary actions based on findings, with final authority resting with the Office of the Mayor under Civil Service regulations. “The office will perform investigatory functions, then recommend based on its findings disciplinary actions and ultimately under the Civil Service regulations, the final authority is with the Office of the Mayor,” he said.
Confidential complaints and victim protection
The proposed office would accept confidential complaints to protect victims. “We can accept confidential complaints because all cases, especially those involving sexual harassment, are treated as confidential. We need to protect victims in these cases,” Fortuna said. He emphasized that the office aims to give more teeth to anti-sexual harassment and safe spaces laws within the local government.
The ordinance is currently undergoing committee review before it can be deliberated by the City Council.
