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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 2658
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24 may-6 P3:26
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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
Empowering women is crucial to the health and social development of families 
in the country as they play a vital role in nation building being the giver of life or the 
ones who bear children in their womb. With a population of close to 120 million people 
in our country, including more than 34 million adolescent girls and women of 
reproductive age, it is only proper that the State ensures their rights are protected 
through the provision of adequate support in their needs, specifically in access to 
health care.
One pivotal stage of womanhood is menstruation as it is crucial in the creation 
of life and human development. However, civil society organization Humanist Alliance 
Philippines (HAPI) found in their survey last 2023 that 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."
Therefore, it is only proper to address Period Poverty or the limited access to 
or affordability of menstrual health and hygiene services and products that poses 
serious health risks, particularly reproductive and urinary tract infections among other 
complications. The prevalence of these illnesses can be prevented through the 
promotion of menstrual hygiene.
Hence, 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 needed by Pilipinas. Moreover, 
the bill also mandates the promotion and use of Philippine-made menstrual hygiene 
and health products to foster the domestic industry on sanitary goods.
As these items are considered as a necessity for women, this measure will 
improve the country's human development and its local industries as well as 
implement the State's policy on achieving gender equality, social dignity, and 
sustainable development.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNYANGARA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2658
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24 MAY “6 ?3 -2
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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 House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled
1 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Menstrual Products
2 
Act."
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
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promote the right to health of all Filipinos, regardless of their sex and gender, and
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instill health consciousness among them, to provide equal access to education and
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work. It is also the policy of the State to promote gender equality by ensuring girls
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and women have access to proper menstrual health and hygiene.
8 
SEC. 3. Distribution of Free Menstrua! Products in Public Schools. - The
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Department of Flealth (DON), in coordination with the Department of Education
10 
(DepEd), shall provide free menstrual products to female students enrolled in all public
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primary and secondary schools nationwide.
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SEC. 4. Distribution of Free Menstrua! Products in Public Health
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Centers. - The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
14 
Development (DSWD) and Local Government Units (LGUs), shall distribute menstrual
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products to indigent women, as identified and verified by the DSWD or by the local
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social welfare and development officer of the LGU, through its Barangay Flealth
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Centers nationwide.
1


1 
SEC. 5. Promotion of Locally-Made Menstrua! Hygiene Products. - In
2 
coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Tatak Pinoy
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Council, the DOH shall ensure that locally-made menstrual hygiene products are
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included in the distribution of free menstrual hygiene products depending on
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availability and in accordance with the provisions of relevant procurement laws.
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Guidelines shall be formulated by the DTI and the Tatak Pinoy Council to
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promote and to develop the domestic menstrual hygiene product industry in line with
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Republic Act No. 11981.
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SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in consultation
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and coordination with the DepEd, the DSWD, the DTI 
shall promulgate the
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Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
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this Act.
13 
SEC. 7. Appropriation.-JhQ amount necessary for the implementation of this
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Act shall be included in the budget of the DOH under the General Appropriations Act
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(GAA).
16 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected
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thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or
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amended accordingly.
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SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,