Filipino Mothers' Health and Protection

TWEENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -7 A10:41 SENATE RECS: S. NO._ Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR AN ACT SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF FILIPINO MOTHERS AT THE TIME OF THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Reducing maternal deaths is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under Goal 3 which is to ensure healthy lives and promoting the well-being of all at all ages. But with only a decade left to meet the SDGs, the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that the number of women dying from childbirth in the country is increasing. The PSA defined 'maternal death' as "the death of a woman while pregnant, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to, or aggravated by the pregnancy, or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes". This is based on the definition set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In recent years, maternal deaths have continuously increased to alarming levels. This legislation is highlighted by the following points: 1. The local government units are mandated to upgrade and improve devolved health services and medical facilities to provide quality emergency obstetric care.

2. The LGUs shall encourage facility-based delivery among all women and shall retain health workers, e.g., medical doctors, nurses, and midwives, who deliver these health services. For the purpose, the local health clinics and health offices as well as the satellite offices of the Department of Health are hereby mandated to be of 24- hour assistance to Filipino mothers. 3. The local government units are empowered to provide and formulate programs that will promote the increase in salaries and incentives of health workers. In view of the need to address foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Camlacrucin CAMILLE VILLAR

... TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session JUL -7 A10:42 SENATE S. No. Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR AN ACT SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF FILIPINO MOTHERS AT THE TIME OF THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Consistent with the State policy that the State shall protect and

promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them and the constitutional declaration that the State shall enhance the welfare and safety of women, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to provide maximum safeguarding of Filipino mothers at the time of their childbirths.

Sec. 2. No maternity hospital, clinic, health center, lying-in, midwifery

facilities or similar center, public or private, shall deny or refuse to assist, admit or entry of a mother at the time of childbirth. They shall ensure the highest safety mechanism to prevent child switching, child trafficking or the commission of any crime that may lead to the endangering of the lives of both mother and child.

Sec. 3. The respective local government units (LGUs) in cooperation with the

Department of Health (DOH) are mandated to upgrade and improve devolved health services and medical facilities to provide quality emergency obstetric care (EMOC).

1 Every barangay in the country should have a birthing facility to help reduce the risk of maternal and infant deaths.

Sec. 4. The LGUs shall encourage facility-based delivery among all women and

5 shall retain health workers, e.g., medical doctors, nurses, and midwives, who deliver 6 these health services. The local health clinics and health offices as well as the satellite offices of the 9 DOH are hereby encouraged to be of 24-hour assistance to Filipino mothers. The LGUs are empowered to provide and formulate programs that will promote 12 the increase in salaries and incentives of health workers.

Sec. 5. To complement the provisions of this Act, the DOH in coordination with

15 the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the relevant organization of 16 midwives shall professionalize further the practice of midwifery in the country and 17 empower them to be key health care professionals in providing care to mothers and newborns and reducing maternal mortality and newborn mortality rates.

Sec. 6. The DOH shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement

the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.

Sec. 7. Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be declared

unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 25 provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and 26 be given effect in their entirety.

Sec. 8. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, memoranda, circulars,

29 and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least

two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,