Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7331

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

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 approval of this measure is sought.

LFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7331

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFANT-FRIENDLY FACILITIES IN

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND MAJOR ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES

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

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

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

¢. “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.

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.
PARTI
ACCESS TO CHILD-FRIENDLY SEATING

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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 II
ACCESS TO DIAPER-CHANGING STATIONS FOR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S
RESTROOMS,


SEC. 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.

SEC. 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 IIL
OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 8. Implementation. - The Secretary of Health is mandated to provide
the implementing rules and regulations of this law.

SEC. 9. Penalties. - Major establishments that fail to comply with any of the
provisions of this Act within one 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)
for every succeeding month until compliance is made.

SEC. 10. 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.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or any part thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 18. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,