Bill seeking to provide free menstrual products for women filed in Senate
A bill that aims to provide free menstrual hygiene products to female students and women has been filed in the Senate.
Introduced by Sen. JV Ejercito, Senate Bill 2475 seeks to have the Department of Education provide free menstrual essentials to female students in public primary and secondary schools nationwide.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health will also have the responsibility of providing free menstrual hygiene products in every Barangay Health Center for women who do not have the means to buy them for themselves.
"For so long, we have neglected menstrual rights of girls and women of our country; one of them is denying their right to accessible and affordable menstrual care products," Ejercito stated.
"The lack of discourse on menstrual health care has resulted in discrimination and stigma causing some of our young Filipino students to miss school not only due to shame and embarrassment but also due to unaffordability," he added.
Ejercito, who is also the vice chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, further highlighted how proper access to such items can help women stay safe from infections.
"When people who menstruators-in-need are given equitable access to safe and free menstrual products to manage their menstruation, they decrease their risk of infections, which have effect on their sexual and reproductive health including reducing teen pregnancy and preventing urinary and reproductive tract infections," the lawmaker stressed
"It is time that we also advocate for the normalization of menstrual health and hygiene needs of menstruators from our country. It is time we prioritize the health of our girls and women by providing free-of-charge menstrual products to public school students and made available in public health centers," he continued.
Aside from Senate Bill 2475, two other House bills that seek to address women's menstrual needs were filed in Congress this year.
In January, Cotabato 3rd District Representative Samantha Santos filed House Bill No. 6728, while on March 22, Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas filed House Bill No. 7758.
Both are pursuing a menstrual leave for a maximum of two days per month to female employees. The difference is that Rep. Santos is seeking a 50 percent remuneration while Rep. Brosas deems that it should be a 100 percent wage for the employee during her leave.
As of writing, information on the progress is still forthcoming.