Diaper-changing stations a must in malls – Miriam

MANILA, Philippines - To avoid problems that arise from changing children’s diapers in public areas, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed a measure that will mandate major establishments to designate diaper-changing stations.

Santiago filed Senate Bill 2704, which requires all major establishments – such as malls, theaters and convention centers – and government offices to provide diaper-changing stations in restrooms.

A diaper-changing station shall mean an area where a person can change the diapers of a child, the measure read, adding that it shall be able to accommodate at least a 20-pound child and shall have a trash bin for the disposal of diapers.

“It shall also have hand-washing facilities, in good repair,” read the bill, which was filed last March 17 before Congress adjourned for the Lenten break.

Santiago cited the need to promote the general welfare of the public as well as the mandate of the government to protect and promote the right to health and instill health consciousness among them.

She noted that most establishments do not have diaper-changing tables, while those that do have diaper-changing stations are located in women’s restrooms only.

“First, an absence of changing tables results in parents having to change their children’s diapers on the sink of a public restroom,” Santiago said.

Santiago said such practices are “unhygienic” and inconvenient for the other users of the public restroom. 

“Second, to have changing tables located only in female restrooms assumes that only women have the responsibility to care for children and change their diapers,” she said. 

It fails to consider that even men are or should be involved in taking care of children, the senator added.

If passed into law, major establishments that fail to comply with the provisions within a year of enactment shall be meted with a warning. Major establishments that would fail to comply six months after the issued warning shall be fined P2,000 for every succeeding month until compliance is made.