FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
,;:N;, i;:, 
4::~,t:~tCE O{: I! 
. LCHt 1 ~\H'l' 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 JlJl19 P4:52 
SENil:P 
S. No. 
094 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 12 provides, 
Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and 
strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the 
life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. 
Stillbirths is a common tragic occurrence which can strike any pregnant woman from the 
lowest to the highest income bracket, from the educated to the less educated strata of society. In 
the Philippines, one in forty (1140) pregnancies results in stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. 
This is relatively high compared to countries like the United States which records one stillbirth in 
one hundred fifteen deliveries (1/115). 
There is a dearth of information available which can explain the occurrence of stillbirths 
which can happen even in seemingly normal and healthy pregnancies. This compounds the 
anguish caused by stillbirths to expecti\lg parents and their family members who had no warning 
that such a tragedy would occur. 
This bill directs the proper government agency to collect information on stillbirths on a 
national level and provides for information dissemination and research program for the 
formulation of risk reduction measures. I 
Lw--
4k.~.v-- .O·r~ 
WMIRIAM DEF~'1S0R S~TIf10 
1 This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
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L':f\;,\l£ 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OiFil'ICI: OF 'Ht ,\,'CHf'TM'l!f 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
.JUL 19 P4:52 
SEN~1J:: 
' 
S. No. 
1\)94 
/2/ . 
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RECEIVED av·, ' -_ 
..... 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
\.j 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL COLLECTION OF DATA ON STILLBIRTHS IN A 
STANDARDIZED MANNER, PROVIDING FOR INFORMATION AND RESEARCH 
PROGRAM ON STILLBIRTHS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Stillbirth Awareness and 
Research Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -
(a) Statistics available from the National Statistics Office on stillbirths and early neonatal 
deaths show that approximately one (I) in every forty (40) pregnancies result in 
stillbirths. While there can be various possible causes of stillbirths such as cord accidents, 
infections, genetic anomalies, among others, the incidence of stillbirth remains 
unpredictable and occurs for no determinable medical reason. Presently, risk reduction 
measures are not in place so as to protect expecting parents from the emotional anguish 
caused by stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. 
(b) Therefore, a repository of data collected in a standard manner can provide useful 
information for the study and analysis of stillbirths and for the formulation of effective 
risk reduction measures. 
(c) This act shall be in accord with the State policy to recognize the sanctity of family life 
and to protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall 
equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
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defined: 
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(1) "DOH" - shall refer to the Department of Health. 
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(2) "PIA" - Philippine Information Agency 
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(3) "Stillbirth" - Stillbirths are fetal deaths in pregnancies lasting seven or more months 
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SECTION 4. National Stillbirth Registry - The State shall establish a National Stillbirth 
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Registry, the custodian of which shall be the proper government agency competent and able to 
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maintain such national registry. 
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The National Stillbirth Registry shall serve the following purposes: 
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I. To provide a national repository for reporting and maintaining in a standardized 
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manner data on stillbirths; 
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2. To make such data available for research on the causes and prevention of 
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stillbirths; 
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3. The registry shall include information on the stillborn fetus and information on 
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the mother's health and pregnancy condition . 
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4. Determination of standard stillbirth definition and protocol. 
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a. The Department of Health (DOH) shall provide for the standard definition 
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of stillbirth and a standard protocol for stillbirth data collection. 
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b. The Department of Health shall ensure that the standard definition of 
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stillbirth and the standard protocol described above are developed in a 
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manner that ensures consultations with representatives from health care 
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organizations, local govermnent, and other interested parties. 
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SECTION 5. National Public Awareness Campaign 
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The Department of Health (DOH) in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency 
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(PIA) shall carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of 
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stillbirths. 
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Activities under the national campaign shall include: 
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1. The dissemination of information on measures for mothers to maintain a healthy 
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pregnancy and assess fetal health; 
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2. The dissemination of information on good prenatal care practices such as not 
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drinking alcohol or smoking; and 
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3. The promotion of fetal movement awareness and taking proactive steps to 
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monitor a baby's movement beginning at approximately 28 weeks into the 
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pregnancy. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
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Act, are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. RepeaJing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instmction, administrative order, mle or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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