19TH CONGRESS

1st Session
Senate
Senate Bill No. 0001

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ANGELA ASTADAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE USE OF PUBLIC TOILETS FOR ALL FILIPINOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

During the first national lockdown, our Government found itself caught short. Financially,
organizationally, but also with pubs, restaurants, and public toilets shut nationwide,
many people found themselves stuck in public places with nowhere to go to the toilet.
One of the social and health services that our Government continues to neglect is the
accessibility of clean and sanitary public toilets, especially in the Metropolitan area.
Adequate public restrooms are fundamental to human dignity, and are especially critical
for people who are restroom challenged. It is a significant step in turning public toilets
across the Philippines into rooms that truly provide comfort. These toilets need to be
located conveniently and accessibly, well maintained and using proper waste
management systems.
In Section15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “I the State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them”,
but the availability of clean and sanitary restrooms should not only be along the national
highways but also on public areas in towns, municipalities, cities and throughout the
country. By the virtue of Republic Act (RA) 11311, it requires public access to clean
toilets in all transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on-roll-off
terminals. The law requires such toilets to have separate rooms for males, females as
well as senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The facilities must have adequate
lighting, ventilation, and sanitary facilities

Hence, this, passage bill is earnest sought.

Angela Christine C. Astadan

Senator
 AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE USE OF PUBLIC TOILETS FOR ALL FILIPINOS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the, "FREE USE OF PUBLIC
TOILETS ACT”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote
the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. There is
a need for providing for adequate comfort rooms to offer to the comfort and personal
conveniences and needs of the public. Towards this end, the State shall hereby provide
the clean and sanitary public mobile toilets facilities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act:

Public Portable Toilet is a room or booth shared by all people for urination and
defecation consisting of at least a bowl fitted with or without a seat (seating or squatting)
and connected to a waste pipe and a flushing apparatus.
Sewerage Management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal, managing
and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by
human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health,
the environment or aesthetics.

SECTION 4. Coverage. -This Act shall cover all public portable and mobile toilets to be
enjoyed by all Filipinos of the State. Availability of clean and sanitary restrooms will be
installed along the national highways, public areas in towns, municipalities, cities and
throughout the country.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The construction and

maintenance of the public restroom shall be the responsibility of the local government
units (LGUs) provided that along the national highways the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) shall be responsible for the construction of toilet facilities and
sewerage management. The health promotion approach and strategies shall be the
duty of Department of Health (DOH).

SECTION 6. Appropriations.The amount necessary for the construction of the public

restrooms under this Act shall be included in the respective budgets of the local
government units LGUs, DILG, and DPWH as may be provided in the implementing
rules and regulations.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. -If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: