Intersex Philippines convened its second Intersex Rights Forum on 23 October 2026, calling for stronger legal protection and coordinated institutional action to advance the rights and welfare of intersex Filipinos and their families.
Supported by the Embassy of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the forum brought together government representatives, civil society organizations, human rights advocates, students and faculty members, media practitioners, and champions of equality across sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
Central to the discussions was the Cagandahan Bill, which seeks to establish an accessible administrative process for intersex Filipinos to change their first names and sex markers in official records. The forum examined the proposed legislation’s status and significance and sought stronger commitments from institutions that can help advance its passage and address the community’s needs.
“Over the past years, our community has taken significant strides toward visibility and recognition. But we also know that our fight for true administrative ease, self-determination, and legal protection is far from over. Many intersex Filipinos continue to face daily struggles from systemic barriers in obtaining accurate civil registration documents to the lack of accessible administrative processes to change their first names and sex markers in official records. That is precisely why we have this forum,” said Jeff Cagandahan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Intersex Philippines.
“We are at a critical moment where visibility must translate into protection and policy change. Through this forum, we aim to ensure that intersex Filipinos are no longer invisible in national conversations about equality, health, and human rights.”
Alexandria Clark, Second Secretary and CFLI Programme Manager of the Embassy of Canada, underscored the importance of public dialogue in advancing recognition and inclusion.
“Forums like this are an important part of this process. For many people, intersex issues remain poorly understood, but these efforts are also helping to advance important conversations around the proposed Cagandahan Bill. If passed, this legislation would represent an important step toward greater recognition and inclusion for intersex Filipinos,” Clark said.
Clark also emphasized the shared responsibility of advocates, public institutions, and community leaders in sustaining progress. “Meaningful progress requires not only the dedication of advocates and civil society, but also the engagement of policymakers, public servants, and community leaders. I encourage all of those who have the opportunity to shape public understanding to continue fostering informed and respectful conversations about intersex experiences and realities,” Clark stressed.
The forum’s program included a partner’s message from Atty. Sheela Villano-Millera, Chairperson of the Senate Gender and Development Office Focal Point System, and a video message from Senator Risa Hontiveros who filed the bill in the Senate. Rodela Pojas, Assistant Project Manager of Intersex Philippines, presented the impact of the INTERSEX Project, alongside the premiere of the organization’s intersex rights video campaign.
Cagandahan joined the forum’s panel discussion alongside Hon. Perci Cendaña, Representative of the Akbayan Party-list and one of the principal authors of the bill filed in the lower chamber; Atty. Elen De Vibar Pasion, Undersecretary and Chairperson of the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Patricia Sy, Development Management Officer of the Policy Linkages Office of the Commission on Human Rights; and Dr. John Paul Bagos, Head of the Reproductive and Gender Health Advocacy Council of the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism (PCEDM)
By connecting community experiences with legislative advocacy and institutional dialogue, the second Intersex Rights Forum reinforced a shared call: translate growing awareness into accessible services, responsive policies, and lasting legal protection for intersex Filipinos.
For further information about this initiative, reach out to Rodela Pojas at +63 981 157 4395 or email rodelapojas.ftbm@gmail.com. You can also stay updated by visiting Intersex Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
