SANITARY pads will be sold at a 10-percent discount every month of May in Baguio City if a proposed ordinance is enacted.
Councilor Leandro Yangot, who will present his proposed measure before the City Council next week, said this will be in support of the celebration of the World Menstruation Health Day in May.
“Conversations about menstruation are often still considered taboo. The Philippines has joined 34 other countries around the world in support of the international observance of Menstrual Hygiene Day. Accordingly, with half of the 106 million Filipinos living with monthly menstruation, one can assume, that this is no longer a cause for shaming. However, several Filipinas still live with deficient menstrual hygiene information, limited access to toilets, taxes on affordable sanitary products, and scarcity of basic clean water,” Yangot said.
If approved, the "Affordable Sanitary Napkin Ordinance in the City of Baguio” will provide incentives to business establishments that will honor the discount provided that they maintain detailed and separate records of the discounted purchases.
Female residents of Baguio City will be allowed to purchase a maximum of 60 pieces of discounted sanitary napkins per month.
To qualify for the discount, women must secure a “red month booklet” from the City Social Welfare and Development Office. The booklet is valid for four years.
The booklet, which aims to forestall excessive purchases, will show the number of items, date, and store from where the sanitary pads were purchased.
It will also bear the picture, name and signature of the buyer. (Maria Elena Catajan)