= 3 THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9710, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN” Pursuant to Section 44 of Republic Act No. 9710, An Act Providing for the MagnaCarta of Women,the following Rules and Regulations are hereby promulgated: Rule 1: General Provision Ea Title - These Rules and Regulations shall be known andcited as The Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta of Women." Purpose — These Rules and Regulations are hereby promulgated to prescribe the procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the “Magna Carta of Women"in orderto facilitate the compliance therewith and to achieve the objectives thereof. Ee Construction — These Rules and Regulationsshall beliberally construed in favor of womenin order to promote theprinciples and rights of women and to achieve the objectives of the “Magna Carta of Women.” Etre Coverage — Implementation of these Rules and Regulations includes all concerned national government agencies (NGAs), bodies, instrumentalities, including government-ownedand- controlled corporations (GOCCs), private entities, local government units (LGUs), private and state universities and colleges (SUCs), and private and public schools. The equivalent units in autonomousregions shalllikewise be accountable to implement these Rules and Regulations. Ear Declaration of Policy — Recognizing that economic,political, and sociocultural realities affect women’s current condition, the State affirms the role of womenin nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men. It shall promote empowerment of women,pursue equal opportunities for women and men, and ensure equal access to resources and to development results and outcome.Further, the State realizes that equality of men and womenentails the abolition of the unequalstructures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. To realize this, the State shall endeavor to develop plans,policies, programs, measures, and mechanisms to address discrimination and inequality in the economic,political, civil, social, and culturallife of women and men. The State condemns discrimination against womenin all its forms and pursuesbyall appropriate meansand withoutdelaythepolicyofeliminating discrimination against womenin keeping with the Convention onthe Elimination ofAll Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)and otherinternational instruments consistent with Philippine law. The State shall accord womenthe rights, protection, and opportunities available to every memberofsociety. The State affirms women's rights as humanrights andshall intensify its efforts to fulfill its duties underinternational and domestic lawsto recognize, respect, protect, fulfill, and promote all fundamental freedoms and human rights, encompassing all civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights of women, especially marginalized women, without distinction ordiscrimination on account ofclass, age, sex, gender, language,ethnicity,religion, ideology, disability, education, and status. The State shall provide the necessary mechanisms to enforce women's rights and adopt and undertakeall legal measures necessaryto foster and promote equal opportunity for womento participate and contributepolitically, economically, socially, and culturally. The State,in ensuring the full integration of women's concerns in the mainstream of development, shall provide ample opportunities to enhance and develop their skills, acquire productive employment, and 44