QC: No restroom use fees for seniors, PWDs

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has signed into law an ordinance that prohibits any person or business establishment in the city from charging senior citizens, persons with disability and expectant mothers for the use of restrooms.

Under the new ordinance, a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both, at the discretion of the court shall be imposed on any person or business establishment owner who will violate the ordinance.

The measure also requires business establishments to put a sign outside the restrooms which states “senior citizens of Quezon City, persons with disability and expectant mothers are free of charge.”

Failure to put a sign bearing this information will also result in penalties contained in the ordinance.

Councilors Alexis Herrera, Alfredo Vargas III and Roderick Paulate, who sponsored the measure, said that it is high time to stop the practice of some business establishments of charging a fee for the use of their restrooms by senior citizens, persons with disability and expectant mothers because they have difficulty or exert more effort when walking.