Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BIL NO. 2825 _

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
PROMOTING MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE BY PROVIDING FREE
MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO INDIGENT WOMEN AND TO GIRLS ENROLLED IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Every month, more than two billion people around the world menstruate —
a normal monthly bleeding that occurs in women as part of the menstrual cycle.
Yet, according to the United Nations (UN) Women, an entity dedicated to gender
equality and the empowerment of women, millions of women and girls cannot
afford menstrual products to manage their menstrual health and hygiene
thereby unjustly interrupting their lives, rights, and freedoms.*

This sad plight of women and girls is described by the UN Women as
period poverty: the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation
and hygiene facilities and education and awareness to manage menstrual health.

Based on the Age and Sex Distribution in the Philippine Population (2020
Census of Population and Housing) of the Philippine Statistics Authority, women
of reproductive age, that is 15 to 49 years old, totaled to 27.85 million or 51.9
percent of the 53.65 million female household population in 2020.

A study entitled “Period poverty among adolescent girls from the City of
Manila, Philippines: Determinants and Impacts on their wellbeing” determines
and describes the level of period poverty of 60 adolescent girls from the City of
Manila and its association with their socio-demographic, household
characteristics, and physiological and psych-emotional well-being.

The study revealed that “almost all respondents are poor, and their
parents have low educational attainment. Most have access to water and toilet
at home and have a range of one to seven household members. Statistical test
results showed that period poverty is evident to adolescent girls. Of the four
domains, menstrual hygiene practices yielded a high score, and proper waste
management has a moderate score. In contrast, information seeking and pain
management practices have a low score. Further, the study showed that certain

Period Poverty - why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods, 24 May
2024, UN Women (attns:ix

024/05 /period-poverty-why-m of girls
Gs) Accessed on 09 July 2025



socio-demographic and household characteristics such as family monthly income,
parents’ occupation, and water source could increase the likelihood of adolescent
girls to experience period poverty. Meanwhile, the study revealed that
adolescent girls’ well-being is at risk during menstruation. The experience of
period poverty of adolescent girls, specifically their information seeking behavior,
can exacerbate their emotional well-being. This study concludes that girls from
an urban poor community and belong to a poor family could heighten their
exposure to period poverty, which puts their well-being in poor condition.
Further studies on adolescent girls coping strategies in addressing period
poverty are recommended, including other determinants should be explored so
that policies can be created to protect the well-being of adolescent girls.’

A civil society organization, Humanist Alliance Philippines (HAPI), found
that in 2023, 74 percent of women between the ages of 14 and 30 have missed
work or school because they did not have access to feminine hygiene products
or “felt too embarrassed to leave the house due to the lack of products."?

Menstrual justice advocates and public health experts underscored the
urgent need to address period poverty in the country it being a health and
economic issue that can hinder participation in the workforce or in school.*

In this light, this measure seeks to provide free menstrual health and
hygiene products to indigent women nationwide and to girls enrolled in public
schools to resolve the issue on the lack of access to sanitary items.

The bill also mandates the promotion and use of Philippine-made
menstrual hygiene and health products to foster the domestic industry on
sanitary goods.

Overall, this measure seeks to improve the country's human development
and its local industries as well as help in the attainment of gender equality,
social dignity, and sustainable development goals.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Qardan A
IRIS MARIE D. MONTES
Kababathan Kabalikatan para sa Kapakanan
at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-list

V. (2021). Period poverty among adolescent girls from the City of Manila,

nines: Determinants and Impacts on their wellbeing. Retrieved from
t epository.disu.edu.ph/etdm_pehsci3 Accessed on 09 July 2025

3 Empo-WOMEN-t: Fighting Period Poverty, HAPI Admin, June 21, 2023

(hits apiumanist.org/2023/06/21/empo-women-t-fighting-period-poverty/)

Accessed on 09 July 2025

* Advocates, public health experts raise urgent need to address period poverty in PH,

University of the Philippines, Philip Jamilla, May 14, 2024 (https://up.edu.ph/advocates-
iblic-heaith-experts-raise-urg to-address-period-poverty-in-ph/) Accessed on

09 July 2025



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
PROMOTING MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE BY PROVIDING FREE
MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO INDIGENT WOMEN AND TO GIRLS ENROLLED IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Menstrual Products
Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of all Filipinos, regardless of their sex and gender,
and instill health consciousness among them, to provide equal access to
education and work, It is also the policy of the State to promote gender equality
by ensuring girls and women have access to proper menstrual health and
hygiene.

SEC. 3. Distribution of Free Menstrual Products in Public Schools. - The
Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Education
(DepEd), shall provide free menstrual products to female students enrolled in all
public primary and secondary schools nationwide.

SEC. 4. Distribution of Free Menstrual Products in Public Health Centers. -
The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and Local Government Units (LGUs), shall distribute
menstrual products to indigent women, as identified and verified by the DSWD
or by the local social welfare and development officer of the LGU, through its
Barangay Health Centers nationwide.

SEC. 5. Promotion of Locally-Made Menstrual Hygiene Products. - In
coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Tatak
Pinoy Council, the DOH shall ensure that locally-made menstrual hygiene
products are included in the distribution of free menstrual hygiene products
depending on availability and in accordance with the provisions of relevant
procurement laws.

Guidelines shall be formulated by the DTI and the Tatak Pinoy Council to
promote and to develop the domestic menstrual hygiene product industry in line
with Republic Act No. 11981.


SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in consultation and
coordination with the DepEd, the DSWD, the DTI shall promulgate the
Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity
of this Act.

SEC. 7. Appropriations.- The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be included in the budget of the DOH under the General Appropriations
‘Act (GAA).

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. 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.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,