Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City
Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo.__2612

Tntroduced by: Hon, Mary Mitzi “Mitch” L. Cajayon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to require all public and private hospitals, clinics, health centers and other
similar establishments rendering maternity services to establish literacy programs to equip all
expectant mothers with basic knowledge and skills that will foster effective parenting.

The program seeks to provide expectant mothers appropriate knowledge and skills since
an expectant mother’s knowledge about child birth and parenting skills is usually obtained from
family members and through practical experience gained from assisting with the caring of
children in extended families.

Formally organized antenatal education as a means by which expectant mothers develop
their knowledge and skills on parenting is essential in providing proper information and guidance
with the end view of molding a healthy and civie-minded generation of Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

ppiopay

MARY MITZI “Mitch” L. CAJAYON


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2612

Introduced by: Hon. Mary Mitzi “Mitch” L. Cajayon

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER SIMILAR
ESTABLISHMENTS RENDERING MATERNITY SERVICES TO ESTABLISH LITERACY
PROGRAMS FOR ALL EXPECTANT PARENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to promote the provision
of formal and informal venues for postnatal literacy in the community level in order to assist parents in
preparation for their vital role in the molding of a future generation of intelligent, morally upright,
healthy, psychologically stable and civic-minded Filipinos.

SECTION 2. Coverage. - All public and private hospitals, clinics, health centers and other similar
establishments rendering maternity services shall provide expectant mothers at least one (1) literacy
program in any given community of their choice within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

For this purpose, the literacy programs, which shall be a requirement for accreditation of all
public and private hospitals, clinics, health centers and other similar establishments, shall focus on
providing expectant parents with skills they can use to foster responsible parenting and empower them to
make informed and educated choices with regard to the health and well-being of their child,

SECTION 3. Lead Agency. - The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd), shall
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act that shall include the
penalty of cancellation of license to operate plus payment of fine of not less than one hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00) and the filing of the appropriate administrative and civil case/s against the
highest officer responsible for the management or operations of public hospitals, clinics, health
centers and other similar establishments rendering maternity services .

SECTION 4. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged to the appropriations for the Department of Health under the current General Appropriations Act
thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential
proclamation, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
same shall not effect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,