REPR 
HOUSE 
INES 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
INTRODUCED BY: HON. REYNOLDS MICHAELT. TAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The American Restroom Association refers to "Potty Parity" as advocacy efforts 
and actual legislation that addresses the longer lines for women often seen at public 
restrooms.1 Research shows that the average time a woman spends in a toilet is 90 
seconds, and 5-10 minutes if she is witha child. A woman spends more time in the toilet 
due to biological, social, and cultural gender norms. Women must sit down while men 
can stand up. Women have to remove more clothing than men, whose clothing provides 
faster access. Changing a diaper or a sanitary napkin involves a number of steps and takes 
time.2 Moreover, parity can be defined by equal floorspace or by number of fixtures 
within the washrooms, sometimes adjusted for the longer average time taken and more 
frequent visits to the washroom for females, among other factors.3 
In the Philippines, existing legislation like the Republic Act No. 6541, otherwise 
known as the National Building Code of the Philippines, as implemented by Presidential 
Decree No. 1096 provides the minimum standards in relation to toilet and washroom 
infrastructure, but does not necessarily or particularly address the familiar long waiting 
lines at women's restrooms in crowded public places. 
Based on the foregoing, this bill seeks to address this particular matter by 
developing a toilet parity policy at crowded public placps for thèbenefit of all women. 
Foregoing considered; the passage of this Bill /s earnestly sought. 
HON. REYNOLDS MICHAEL T. TAN 
Representative, SBcond District of Samar 
Potty Parity: Overview. American Restroom Association. https:llamericanrestroom 20years.org/potty-parity/ (Last 
accessed August 8, 2025) 
2 Woods, Zonibel. (18 November 2016) Last Woman Standing: Toilet Equality for Men and Women. Asian 
Development Blog. https://blogsS.adb.org/blog/last-woman-standing-toilet-equality-men-and-women 
Potty Parity. Wikipedia. https:/len.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Potty parity (Last accessed August 8, 2025) 
August 18, 2025
4:59 pm
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assembled: 
REPRE 
SECTION 1. 
1001 
TIVES 
PHILIP PINES 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Approved, 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
AN ACT TO DEVELOP A TOILET PARITY POLICY' AT CROWDED PUBLIC 
PLACES, SUCH AS MALLS, SCHOOLS, STADIUMS, CONCERTS, FAIR 
GROUNDS, THEME PARKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the Congress 
INTRODUCED BY HON. REYNOLDS MICHAELT. TAN 
This Act shall be known as the "Toilet Parity Policy Act". 
SECTION 2. 
The ratio between the total number of toilets or water closets for females 
shall be two (2) toilets or water closets for females for every one (1) toilet, water closet or 
urinal built for males at crowded public places, such as malls, schools, stadiums, concerts, 
fair grounds, theme parks, government structures, and other similar establishments. 
SECTION 3. 
Within sixty (60) days from the promulgation of this Act, the 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Health (DOH), 
and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other relevant 
stakeholders shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
purpose of this Act. 
SECTION 4. 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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