Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11311)
The State recognizes the right of every establishment to a fair return of investment and its corresponding social responsibility to provide adequate facilities for the comfort of its clientele, requiring owners, operators, and administrators of land transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and roll-on/roll-off terminals to improve facilities through free internet services and clean sanitary facilities.
A lactation station is a private, clean, sanitary, and well-ventilated room or area where nursing mothers can wash up, breastfeed or express their milk comfortably, and store this afterward.
Sanitary facilities include at least a combination of comfort rooms and hand-washing facilities with specific standards such as separate restrooms for PWDs, males, and females, adequate ventilation and lighting, running water, flush system, toilet seats with covers, lavatories with toilet paper, mirrors, soap, hand dryers, door locks, waste bins, and exclusive spaces for diaper-changing.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other stakeholders, along with owners, operators, or administrators of these establishments, are responsible for providing free internet services.
No, it is unlawful to collect fees from passengers for the use of regular sanitary facilities. However, fees may be charged for separate, deluxe facilities operated solely for commercial purposes.
A passenger must show a paid bus ticket for the day to avail of the free use of sanitary facilities.
Owners, operators, or administrators who fail to comply with sanitary facility standards shall be fined Five thousand pesos (₱5,000.00) for each day of violation.
Failure to provide and maintain lactation stations results in a fine of Five thousand pesos (₱5,000.00) per day, in addition to sanctions under the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.
The LTFRB will review the applicability and enforcement of the fines after five (5) years from the law’s effectivity and once every five (5) years thereafter.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Ports Authority, and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations.