The City Government of Davao, through Execute Order No. 12, has reconstituted the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), an internal body that will handle sexual harassment reports within the institutions of the local government.
The executive order, signed May 3 of this year, cited the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313) which obligates local governments to “prevent, deter, or punish the performance of acts of sexual harassment”, mandating the creation of an internal mechanism that will deal with “gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace.”
The committee’s primary function is to receive complaints of sexual harassment, investigate sexual harassment cases through lawful procedure, and protect the welfare of a complainant.
The order also specifies that it is the duty of the committee to “ensure that the complainant does not suffer from retaliation or any disadvantage in terms of benefits or security of tenure, as well as to guarantee the observance of due process, gender-sensitive handling of the cases, and confidentiality of the identity of the parties involved.”
The CODI of the City Government of Davao is chaired by the head of the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) and vice-chaired by the City Legal Officer. Its members include the head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the head of the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), and two representatives from the Davao City Hall Employees Association (DCHEA).
The IGDD, the body’s secretariat, is in charge of proceedings and record-keeping. Within 10 days of the conclusion of a case, the committee is tasked to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the City Mayor’s Office.
The committee is also mandated to raise awareness on gender-based harassment and promote gender egalitarianism by leading “in the conduct of discussions about sexual harassment within the city government”.
The full copy of the executive order can be accessed here: https://www.davaocity.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Signed_RCD-2024-104161_ASD050324-34_1.pdf
