Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

45390
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide young women’s kit to female pupils and
students in public schools.

One salient characteristic that distinguishes men and women is
menstruation, menses or menstrual period. It is the regular discharge of
blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the
female genital organ. The first menstruation or menarche usually begins
between 12 and 15 years of age, but may occasionally start at 8 years of age.

Menstruation is vital in procreation because it prepares the bodies
of women for reproduction. This monthly menstrual period causes
discomfort to women. Its symptoms and common signs include acne,
tender breast, bloating, feeling tired, irritability and mood changes.

The unexpected arrival of the first menstruation or menarche
causes confusion and panic among the inexperienced teenagers. Due to
the sudden start of menstruation, these young women do not have
immediate access to necessary menstruation items like sanitary napkins.
Most of the time, they experience their first menstruation when they are
within the premises of the school and are not allowed to go out for

security purposes.

To remedy the needs of female students to cope with the dilemma
brought about by the start of their menstrual periods while in school, the
Department of Education issued DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2016 entitled
“Policy and Guidelines for the Comprehensive Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene in Schools (WINS) Program which ensures a

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system and support mechanisms for effective menstrual hygiene
management, requires training of teachers, heads of schools, facilities
coordinators to acquire a higher awareness of correct hygiene and
sanitation practices, and develop positive health behavior.

The Department of Health shall be the lead agency in the
identification of the contents of the Young Women’s Kit and in
coordination with the DepEd, PCW and NWC, create and develop
materials to educate students, parents, guardian, and school personnel.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly

sought.

RIA CHRISTINA &. FARINAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 459°

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias

AN ACT
PROVIDING YOUNG WOMEN’S KIT TO FEMALE STUDENTS
IN ALL PUBLIC ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Be it 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 “Young
Women’s Kit Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to
recognize the role of women in nation-building, and to adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services
available to all the people at affordable cost. Towards this end, the State
shall provide hygiene kits for the menstrual needs of female students in

public schools and shall implement a complementary program that shall


promote awareness to address the stigma and misconceptions attached to
menstruation, and foster greater understanding of reproductive health.

SEC. 3. Young Women’s Kit Program. — This Act hereby
establishes the Young Women’s Kit Program which will provide free
young women’s kits to female pupils and students of elementary and
secondary public schools and implement the awareness campaign
designed to educate students, parents, guardians, and school personnel on
the menstrual process, and the stigma, misconception, and gender norms
attached to it.

Young women’s kit shall refer to a menstrual kit in a compact
package that shall contain commonly used items and medicine for
menstrual health and hygiene such as, but not limited to, sanitary napkins,
tampons, pantyliners, disinfectant, pain reliever, disposable underwear.

SEC. 5. Objectives of the Program. — The program shall have the
following objectives:

a) Provide free Young Women’s Kit to female pupils and
students of public schools;

b) Implement an awareness program designed to address the
stigma, misconceptions, and gender norms surrounding menstruation, and

reproductive health; and


c) Maintain an academic environment where the onset of
menstruation or menarche does not hinder or limit the social, cultural, and
academic participation of female pupils and students.

SEC. 6. Implementing Agencies. — The Department of Education
(DepEd), in coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women
(PCW), National Youth Commission (NYC), and the Department of
Health (DOH) shall lead in the implementation of the Program.

The DepEd shall coordinate compliance of all elementary and
secondary public schools with the provisions of the Young Women’s Kit
Program, and in the implementation of educational and awareness
programs on the subject of menstruation.

The Department of Health shall be the lead agency in the
identification of the contents of the Young Women’s Kit and in the
determination of instruction materials to educate the students, parents,
guardians, and school personnel of public schools. The development of
the educational materials shall be done in coordination with the DepEd,
NYC, and the PCW.

The NYC shall ensure the participation of youth organizations in

public schools, including their respective student councils.


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SEC. 7. Roles and Responsibilities of Public Schools. — All public
elementary and secondary schools shall have the following roles and
responsibilities:

a) Implement the program in coordination with the
aforementioned agencies tasked to implement this Act;

b) Submit a report and documentation on the implementation of
the program to the Department of Education;

c) — Ensure and promote the participation of parents, guardians,
and school personnel especially for educational and awareness campaigns
on the menstrual experience;

d) — Ensure and promote proper waste disposal of materials used
in conjunction with the implementation of the program;

e) — Ensure and promote the involvement of student councils in
the implementation of the program, such as but not limited to, developing
complementary programs or assuming roles in the oversight and
assessment of the program’s implementation in the campus.

SEC 8. Scope of Implementation. — Ail female students from Grade
7 to 12, including students in earlier grade levels who may experience the
onset menstruation or menarche shall be provided by the State with a Young
Women’s Kit within the first month of the academic calendar of public

academic institutions: Provided, That the State shall ensure ample supply


of Young Women’s Kit in public schools for female pupils who may
experience menstruation or menarche prior to Grade 7; Provided further,
That the scope of implementation under this Act may be adjusted upon
the advice of the DOH in case of any change in the average age for
menarche among female pupils and students.

The State, through its agencies, shall endeavor the continued and
expanded implementation of this program, and support the monthly needs
and replenishment of the Young Women’s Kit through agency
appropriation, or in partnerships with other potential funding institutions.

SEC 9. Implementation in Private Schools. — Private schools are
hereby encouraged to implement and fund the program within their
respective campuses with the guidance of the implementing agencies.
Private schools implementing this program are likewise encouraged to
report and document the implementation and share effective practices and
programs that may benefit public and private schools.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the budgets of the
DepEd, PCW, DOH, and NYC. Thereafter, such sums necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual

General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —- The Department
of Education, in coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women
(PCW), National Youth Commission (NYC), and the Department of
Health (DOH), in consultation with other government agencies shall
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. — All provisions of existing laws,
presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction,
administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. — If any portion of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and
effectivity of the other provisions not affected thereby.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,