Rights and Empowerment The law specifically mandates that health and non-health facilities, establishments and institutions establish lactation stations, or private, clean, sanitary, and well-ventilated rooms or areas in the workplace or public places where nursing mothers can wash up, breastfeed or express their milk comfortably and store this afterward.122 Lactation stations should be provided with the necessary equipment and facilities and must not be located in the toilet. Failure of private entities to establish lactation stations merits a fine ranging from Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) up to One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000.00) and a possible revocation of their business permits or licenses to operate. Similar violations in the public sector expose heads of agencies to risk of facing administrative sanctions. Equal Rights in All Matters Relating to Marriage and Family Relations (sec. 19) The MCW mandates the State to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations.123 While the MCW provides that customary laws shall be respected, the same should not however, discriminate women.124 Republic Act No. 10572 which amended Sections 73 and 111 of the Family Code, makes it clear that a married woman can dispose of her exclusive property unconditionally. It also affirms the right of the wife to exercise any legitimate profession, occupation or business without the need for her husband’s consent. The husband may object to his wife’s profession, but his objections must be anchored on valid, serious and moral grounds. In case the husband objects after benefits have already accrued to the family, the resulting obligation will still be charged to the community property. Conversely, if the objection is raised before the accrual of benefits, the resulting obligations will be charged to the separate property of the wife. 87 Rights and Empowerment of Women in the Marginalized Sector 1. In relation to food security and productive resources (Sec. 20)125 (a) On the Right to food The MCW mandates the State to guarantee (1) availability of food in quality and quantity sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals, (2) physical and economic accessibility of food that is culturally acceptable, safe and free from unsafe substances;(3) availability of full, accurate and truthful information about safe and health-giving foods, how to produce and have regular access to them.126 In relation to food safe and free from unsafe substances, R. A. 9711 (2009) on the Strengthening of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) empowers FDA to conduct appropriate tests on all applicable health products to ensure safety, efficacy, purity and equality. Under the same law, the FDA can, upon verified complaint or motu propio issue cease and desist orders as against manufacturers or distributors, order the ban, recall, withdrawal and or destruction as of any health product found to have caused death serious illness or serious injury to a consumer or patient, or is found to be imminently injurious, unsafe, dangerous, or grossly deceptive.127 (b) On the Resources for Food Production; The relevant provision of the MCW calls upon the State to guarantee women’s vital role in food production which may be achieved through the recognition and prioritization of women’s right to land, credit and infrastructure support, technical training and technological and marketing assistance. This section provides, among others to (1) right to titling of land and the issuance of stewardship contracts and patents, (2) recognition of women as agrarian reform beneficiaries defined by women’s relationship to tillage, (3) recognition of women’s customary rights to land, (4) right to information 122 Sec. 3(p), id.. 125 Sec. 20, id. 123Sec. 19, first paragraph, Magna Carta of Women. 126Sec. 20(a), id. 124 Sec. 19, second paragraph, id. 127 Sec. 2, RA 9711. CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines