Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
vir 2 JAN 2020.
: SS,
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:

First Regular Session

6017

House Bill No.

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

AN ACT REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFANT-FRIENDLY
FACILITIES INGOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER
ESTABLISHMENTS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Parents with little children in tow often find it difficult to enjoy their food while
eating out, especially if the food service establishment does not have child-friendly
seats. In addition, they also have difficulty finding an appropriate place to change the
diapers of their babies in public places.

This bill seeks to provide relief to these parents by requiring food service
establishments to provide child-friendly seats, and for major establishments and all
government offices to have at least one diaper-changing station in each floor of their
establishment and/or offices. Major establishments include malls, shopping centers,
theaters, movie houses, convention centers, sports arenas, auditoriums, cultural
complexes, exhibition halls, permanent amusement parks, health facilities, restaurants
that can seat 50 people or more, gasoline stations that have restrooms that are open
to the public, and establishments measuring 25,000 feet or more.

Covered establishments are also given one year from the effectivity of this Act
to comply with these requirements. Any establishment found non-compliant with the
foregoing requirements shall be meted a penalty of Php2,000 per day of violation.

Requiring child-friendly seats in these establishments seeks to ensure that
patrons of food service establishments will be free from worry and anxiety when their


children are present with them at these establishments. It also gives them comfort
that they have an accessible place to go to when their children need to change.

Indeed, the passage of this bill is in accord with the Article 2 of the Consumer
Act of the Philippines, which provides that “[iJt is the policy of the State to protect the
interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of
conduct for business and industry” and to “implement measures... [for their] protection
against hazards to health and safety [.]”

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

emies Wolb__

HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA

fOMINGO ¢. RA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

é 6017
House Bill No.

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

AN ACT REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFANT-FRIENDLY
FACILITIES INGOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER
ESTABLISHMENTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Infant-Friendly Facilities
Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that all Filipinos are
entitled to access to convenient facilities that will enable them to properly undertake
their childcare responsibilities. Towards this end, this State shall ensure that these
facilities are sanitary, safe and readily available and accessible for all persons, and
shall specialized seating for infants and children.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — The following terms shall be used in this Act:

a) Common Seating shall refer to the actual number of seats available for
customers of a particular food service establishment;

b) Child-Friendly Seating shalll refer to high chairs or any seating apparatus that
will allow infants or children to be seated at tables or counters at an elevated
distance from the ground;

c) Early-stage child shall mean any child of any age whose size and
developmental stage allows placement in child-friendly seating equipment;


d) Diaper-changing station shall mean an area where a person can change the
diapers of a child. The station shall accommodate at least a 20-pound child and
shall have a trash bin for the disposal of diapers. It shall also have hand washing
facilities in good working condition;

e) Food Service Establishment shall mean any privately owned facility business,
firm or enterprise that is primarily oriented towards the provision of food and
related services. These include restaurants, eateries or other facilities that are
contained within malls or other larger structures, as well as those establishments
that have their own independent infrastructure. This does not apply to food
service establishments that do not allow persons under 18 years of age to enter
the premises;

f) Major establishments shall include malls, shopping centers, theaters, movie
houses, convention centers, sports arenas, auditoriums, cultural complexes,
exhibition halls, permanent amusement parks, health facilities, restaurants that
can seat 50 people or more, gasoline stations that have restrooms that are open
to the public, and establishments measuring 25,000 feet or more, excluding
industrial buildings and nightclubs or bars that do not permit anyone who is under
18 years of age to enter the premises, among others;

g) Government offices shall mean all local and national government offices,
agencies, and government owned and controlled corporations; and

h) Patrons refer to any individual or group that avails of any of the offered food, as
well as the services of the food service establishment.

|, ACCESS TO CHILD FRIENDLY SEATING

SECTION 4. Provision of Child-Friendly Seating. - Food service establishments
are required to have, at all times, child-friendly seating equipment for patrons that have
at least one (1) early-stage child present with them at the time that they procure the
food or the services of the establishment.

SECTION 5. Proportion of Child-Friendly Seating to Common Seating. - Food
service establishments shall have at least one (1) child-friendly seat for every ten (10)
common seats available.

Il. ACCESS TO DIAPER-CHANGING STATIONS FOR MEN’S AND WOMEN’S
RESTROOMS

SECTION 6. General. - All major establishments and government offices shall be
have at least one (1) safe, sanitary, and convenient baby diaper-changing station that
is accessible to restrooms used exclusively by women and restrooms used exclusively
by men, or at least one safe, sanitary, and convenient baby diaper-changing station
that is accessible to both men and women; Provided, That a diaper-changing station


shall be available in each floor occupied by the major establishment and the
government office.

SECTION 7. Exceptions. - Section 6 of this Act shall not apply to a restaurant with a
seating capacity of at least 50 people, if there is a centrally located facility with a baby
diaper-changing station located within 300 feet of the entrance to the restaurant.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health (DOH) and other relevant
stakeholders shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 9. Transition Period. — All covered establishments existing at the time of
the approval of this Act and government offices shall have a period of one year from
the effectivity of this Act to comply with the provisions hereof.

SECTION 10. Penalties. - A major establishment or food service establishment that
fails to comply with any provisions of this Act shall be liable for a fine of Two Thousand
Pesos (Php2,000.00) for every day of violation

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,