MANILA -- A lawmaker pushes for tax exemption on menstrual products, calling the taxes “discriminatory” against women. 

AKO ILOCANO AKO Party List Rep. Richelle Singson issued the call in her privilege speech on Monday, during the All-Women Session at the House of Representatives, which is part of Women’s Month celebrations.

“I propose legislation that exempts menstrual products from unnecessary taxation. Pads and tampons are essential necessities for women's health and well-being, yet they are inexplicably subject to value-added tax (VAT). In a country where poverty is pervasive, women should not have a difficult time in choosing between purchasing menstrual products and meeting other basic needs such as food,” Singson said.

“Taxing menstrual products is akin to imposing a financial burden on women for a natural biological process—a discriminatory practice that exploits our innate and constant health needs.  By exempting menstrual products from taxation, we can guarantee accessibility for all women, regardless of their socioeconomic status because affordable menstrual hygiene products are a matter of dignity, health, and equality,” she stressed.

Singson also called for improved availability of free or affordable menstrual hygiene products and for policies that take into consideration the “productivity associated with different phases of the menstrual cycle”.

“This can include flexible work hours, remote work options, and as proposed before, paid menstrual leave especially to those that may experience heightened physical and emotional burdens of menstruation in the workplace,” she said.

MORE CASH SUBSIDY, TAX RELIEF FOR SOLO PARENTS

Another lawmaker called for higher cash subsidies to solo parents earning minimum wage and below from the current P1,000 per month. Lapu-Lapu City Representative Ma. Cynthia Chan said a study showed that 95% of solo parents in the Philippines are women.

She also urged her colleagues to consider legislating the granting of tax relief to solo parents.

“Perhaps we could also revisit and work towards increasing the P1,000 cash subsidy given to solo parents earning minimum wage and below… Such an amount, equivalent to P33.33 per day, is insufficient to cover the basic needs of solo mothers and their children,” Chan said in her privilege speech.

“Granting them tax relief would undoubtedly help them financially. Perhaps this can also be considered as a way of alleviating some of the burdens they carry,” she added.

ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN

More than 20 million women in the country are considered “economically insecure”, unemployed, underemployed or unpaid, according to Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas, citing data from the Phiilppine Statistics Authority.

This, she said, prompted an increasing number of women to engage in “sugar dating”.

“Tinatayang 250,000 ang tinatawag na ‘sugar babies’ noong nakaraang taon, 1/3 o humigit kumulang 83,000 ay mga estudyante, habang 44% o humigit-kumulang 110,000 ay walang trabaho,” Brosas said in her privilege speech.

“Napakalaki sana ng ambag ng kababaihan sa lipunan, pero dahil sa hirap ng buhay, napipilitan silang pumasok sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon, tila kinukulong sa apat na sulok ng kwarto, para lang mabuhay sa kabila ng krisis na pasan-pasan nito,” she added.

ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro also pointed out the huge disparity between the earnings of male and female workers. She and other female lawmakers called for policies that promote equal pay for equal work.