SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada is pushing for a measure promoting menstrual health and hygiene by providing free menstrual products to indigent women and to girls enrolled in public schools nationwide.

In his Senate Bill 2936 or the proposed Free Menstrual Products Act, Estrada stressed that empowering women is not just an act of justice but it is a cornerstone of national development.

“Women play a pivotal role in shaping families, communities, and the nation. As the bearers of life and nurtures of future generations, their well-being is central to the country’s progress,” Estrada said in his explanatory note.

He further explained that with a population of nearly 120 million — comprising over 34 million adolescent girls and women of reproductive age, the State has a responsibility to protect their rights and ensure access to essential resources, particularly healthcare.

The senator said menstruation comes with unnecessary challenges due to period poverty or the lack of access to affordable menstrual hygiene products and services.

Period poverty, the lawmaker stressed, exposes women and girls to serious health risks, including reproductive and urinary tract infections, and exacerbates inequality by limiting their ability to fully participate in education, work, and social life.

Senate Bill 2936 seeks to eradicate period poverty by providing free menstrual health and hygiene products to indigent women nationwide and to girls enrolled in public schools.

“This initiative is more than just a solution to a public health issue — it is a statement that the country values its women and recognizes their critical contributions to nation-building,” he stressed.