Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFANT-FRIENDLY FACILITIES IN 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND MAJOR ESTABLISHMENTS 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under Article XV of the 1987 Constitution, “the State recognizes the 
Filipino family as the foundation of the nation” and it shall defend “the right 
of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition.” Given the 
policy of the State to protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous 
social institution, parents and guardians must be provided with a supportive 
environment that acknowledges their responsibilities in raising their children 
and attending to their needs. 
This bill seeks the mandatory provision of diaper-changing stations in 
restrooms or in a common area accessible to both men and women. This is in 
recognition of Filipino fathers who have taken an active role in child-care 
tasks. Currently, it has been observed that many establishments do not have 
diaper-changing tables while those that do have these stations have installed 
the said devices in women’s restrooms only. This proposed measure also 
requires all food service establishments to provide child-friendly seats for their 
customers. 
Through this simple initiative, we are building a society that recognizes 
the value of family quality time and helps parents and guardians in rearing 
the young for civic efficiency. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 
September 14, 2022
8:19 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFANT-FRIENDLY FACILITIES IN 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND MAJOR ESTABLISHMENTS 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
PART I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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 respective responsibilities of childcare. The State is mandated 
to ensure that these facilities are sanitary, safe and readily available for all 
persons, and that all private and public establishments comply with these 
conditions for the benefit of the general public. 
The State further recognizes the collective need for ensuring that families with 
infants or toddlers are entitled to facilities that will cater to their needs of 
specialized seating for their comfort and convenience without requiring these 
families to procure additional equipment for their infants or young 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” shall refer to high chairs or any seating
apparatus that will be used to allow infants or children to be seated
at tables or counters at an elevated distance from the ground.
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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 handwashing facilities, in good repair and 
working. 
 
e. “Food Service Establishment” shall mean any privately-owned 
facility business, firm or enterprise that is primarily oriented towards 
the provision of food services from its customers, the general public. 
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 operate as 
nightclubs or bars that do not permit anyone who is under 18 years 
of age to enter the premises. 
 
f. “Major establishment” shall mean malls, shopping centers, 
theaters or 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 opened to the 
public and establishments measuring 25,000 feet or more. This does 
not apply to an industrial building or to a nightclub or bar that does 
not permit anyone who is under 18 years of age to enter the premises. 
This section also does not apply to a restroom located in a health 
facility if the restroom is intended for the use of one patient or 
resident at a time. 
 
g. “Government offices” shall mean all local and national government 
offices, 
agencies, 
and 
government-owned 
and 
controlled 
corporations. 
 
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. 
 
 
PART II 
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 services of the establishment. 
 


SECTION 5. Proportion of Child-Friendly Seating to Common Seating. – 
Owners and managers of food service establishments must ensure that they 
will be able to provide a proportion of at least one (1) child-friendly seat for 
every ten (10) common seat available. 
 
 
PART III 
ACCESS TO DIAPER-CHANGING STATIONS FOR MEN’S AND WOMEN’S 
RESTROOMS 
 
SECTION 6. In General. – There shall be at least one 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 in all major establishments and government offices. 
 
SECTION 7. Exceptions. – Section 6 shall not apply if the local building 
inspector determines that the installation of a baby diaper-changing station is 
not feasible or would result in a failure to comply with applicable building 
standards governing the right of access for persons with disabilities. This 
provision shall also not apply to a restaurant with a seating capacity of 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. 
 
 
PART IV 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 8. Implementation. – Within thirty (30) days from the approval of 
this Act, the Secretary of Department of Health, in coordination with relevant 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Penalties. – Major establishments that fail to comply with any 
of the provisions of this Act within one (1) year from its enactment shall be 
meted with a warning. Major establishments that fail to comply with the 
provisions of this Act six months after being issued a warning shall pay two 
thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00) for every succeeding month until compliance 
is made. 
 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 


SECTION 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,