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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Doblehin!' Fortes' bill offers solution to long queues at women's restrooms

'Doblehin!' Fortes' bill offers solution to long queues at women's restrooms

Published Apr 1, 2026 09:46 pm

At A Glance

  • A congressman from Bicol has filed a measure that would double the number of public female toilets compared to public male toilets.
Sorsogon 2nd district Rep. Wowo Fortes (PPAB)
Sorsogon 2nd district Rep. Wowo Fortes (PPAB)


A congressman from Bicol has filed a measure that would double the number of public female toilets compared to public male toilets.
Sorsogon 2nd district Rep. Wowo Fortes filed House Bill (HB) No.7412, or the proposed Toilet Parity Policy Act in the current 20th Congress.
"Access to clean, adequate, and well-maintained public restrooms is a fundamental component of public health, safety, and overall community well-being. Yet, in many crowded public places across the country, Iong queues outside women's restrooms have become a common and persistent problem," Fortes said in the explanatory note of his bill.
"This disparity is not merely an inconvenience; it reflects a systemic issue in infrastructure planning that disproportionately affects women of all ages. Biological, social, and practical factors contribute to longer restroom usage times for women," noted the lawyer-legislator.
"Traditional building codes often fails to account for these realities The result is a design imbalance that leads to persistent queuing for female restrooms, while male restrooms remain relatively unburdened," Fortes further said.
Section 3 of HB No.7412 mandates that the ratio between the total number of toilets or water closets for females shall be two toilets or water closets for temales tor every one toilet, water closet, or urinal built for males at crowded public places.
The measure also indicates that in addition to the required ratio of female and male toilets or water closets, all crowded public places shall provide at least one gender-neutral toilet within their premises.
"This bill seeks to address this inequity by adopting a rational and humane standard: a 2:1 ratio of female to male toilets or water closets in crowded public places. This approach is modeled after parity policies practiced abroad, where such reforms have significantly improved restroom accessibility and reduced crowding and wait times," read the bill.
"By ensuring that facilities are planned based on actual usage patterns, public establishments can provide fair, dignified, and efficient restroom access for all," the measure stated.

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