Manila, Dec. 10 -- With the country marking the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), a party-list lawmaker has called on her colleagues to pass a bill that would impose stiffer penalties against sexual harassment in workplaces and educational institutions.

"I call on my fellow legislators to pass House Bill No. 3118, which amends the Safe Spaces Act, to show our solidarity with women and the drive to end the violence perpetrated against them," Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said in a statement on Wednesday.

House Bill No. 3118 seeks to establish higher penalties for gender-based sexual harassment.

The bill proposes a penalty of up to six years imprisonment, or a fine of not less than PHP250,000 but not more th...