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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
23 NOV-8 P6-43
RtXElVCD B';'.
SENATE
s.B. No. 2475
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
PROMOTING MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE BY PROVIDING FREE 
MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC 
HEALTH CENTERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
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.
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.
The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for the recognition of menstrual health 
as a Health and Human Rights issue - a health issue with "physical, psychological, and 
social dimensions" and one that "needs to be addressed in the perspective of a life course 
- from before menarche or onset of menstruation to after menopause or the last set of 
menstruation.1"
Globally, cultural practices and taboos around menstruation have made great 
negative impact on the lives of girls and women, thus reinforcing gender inequality and 
exclusion.
1 https://www.who.int/news/item/22-06-2022-who-statement-on-menstrual-health-and-rights


On November 24, 2020, the Scottish Parliament made impeccable history by being 
the first country to provide free-of-charge menstrual products2 to those who need it.
UNICEF stated that, on any given day there are 800 million people who are 
menstruating3 and yet girls and women in underprivileged communities still experience 
period poverty.
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.
In this proposed measure, the Department of Education will be mandated to 
provide free menstrual products to female students, and for the Department of Health to 
provide free menstrual products in every Barangay Health Center for distribution to 
females who do not have the means to buy.
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.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
2 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880
3 https://www.unicef.org.au/stories/800-miiiion


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2475
23 NOV -8 P6:43
received bv
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
PROMOTING MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE BY PROVIDING FREE 
MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC 
HEALTH CENTERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Free Menstrua!Products
2 
Act of2023".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. - It is the policy of the State to
4 
protect and promote the right to health of all Filipinos, regardless of their sex and gender,
5 
and instill health consciousness among them, to provide equal access to education and
6 
work. It is also the policy of the State to promote gender equality by ensuring girls and
7 
women have access to proper menstrual health and hygiene.
8 
Sec. 3. Free Menstrua! Products in Public Schools. -The Department of Education
9 
(DepEd), through the public primary and secondary schools nationwide, shall provide free
10 
menstrual products to female students who may need it.
11 
Sec. 4. Free Menstrua! Products in Public Health Centers. - The Department of
12 
Health (DOH), in coordination with the Local Government Units, shall provide free
13 
menstrual products in every Barangay Health Center for distribution to females who
14 
cannot afford it.


1 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the
2 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH, DepEd, and DILG shall jointly issue implementing rules
3 
and regulations of this Act.
4 
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion of provision of this Act is declared
5 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
6 
remain in force and effect.
7 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
8 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
9 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
10 
accordingly.
11 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
12 
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,