FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. N·o. 1011 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Section 3(3) of the Constitution declares as follows: 
"The State shall defend the right of children to assistance, including 
proper care and nutrition and special protection from all forms of 
neglect and abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions 
prejudicial to their development. " 
PO 603, otherwise known as the Child and Welfare Code, as amended, 
reinforces this constitutional provision in Article 3(4} which states: "Every child has the 
right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention, 
and all the basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous life." 
Violative of the spirit of the above provisions, it is not uncommon for private 
hospitals and clinics to deny street children admission to their premises for the reason 
that these children lack sufficient financial resources to pay the deposit required upon 
admission, even if these children require immediate medical or dental attention 
By virtue of the doctrine of parens patriae, indigent children who have been 
neglected by their parents are the wards of the State. Congress should therefore take 
every measure to ensure that they live healthy lives despite their impoverished 
condition. 
This bill mandates both private and public hospitals to extend free medical and 
dental services to indigent children, including but not necessarily limited to street 
children, providing penalties for violations thereof. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested 
a 
MAK.~o" 
M .LAPID 
Senator 
~ 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. N~.1011 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. lapid 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, MEDICAL 
CENTERS, CLINICS, INFIRMARIES, PUERICUL TURE CENTERS TO 
EXTEND FREE MEDICAL 
AND DENTAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT 
CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and' House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. All government and private hospitals, medical centers, clinics, 
infirmaries or puericulture centers duly licensed to operate as such, are hereby required 
to render medical and dental services to indigent children, regardless of whether of not 
they are in danger of dying and/or may have 
suffered physical injuries requiring 
immediate medical attention. 
For the purposes of this Act, an "indigent child" is an un-emancipated child 7 
below eighteen (18) years of age who has health problems requiring medical and 8 
dental services for his care and treatment, taking into account the following 9 factors: 
(a) 
the age of the child; 
(b) 
the financial condition qf the family; 
(c) 
the degree of deprivation of parental care and support; and 
(d) 
the inability of his parents to exercise parental authority. 
SEC. 2. 
The expenses and losses of earnings incurred by a private hospital, 
medical center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture center; or by an individual physician or 
dentist for medicine, facilities, and services extended to the care and 17 treatment of an 
indigent child as required herein in an amount not exceeding Php 300,000.00 per year, 
shall be deductible expenses and losses for income tax purposes which may be carried 
over for a period of five years, any provision of law, decree, executive order or 
regulation to the contrary notwithstanding. 
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SEC. 3. 
Any hospital director, administrator, officer-in-charge, physician or 
dentist in a hospital, medical center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture center who shall 
refuse or fail without good cause to render the appropriate medical or dental service 
pursuant to Section One of this Act, after said case has been brought to his/her 
attention, or any nurse, mid-wife, medical or dental attendant who shall 
refuse to 
extend the appropriate assistance, subject to existing rules, or neglects to notify or call 
the attention of a physician or dentist in attendance, shall be punished with 
imprisonment of at least one (1) year, but not more than five (5) years, or a fine of Ten 
Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000,00), but nor more than Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php 
15,000.00), or both fine and imprisonment at the sound discretion of the Court. 
In the case of government hospital, medical centers, clinics, infirmaries, or 
puericulture centers, the imposition of the appropriate penalties upon the person or 
persons guilty of the violation of this'Act shall be without prejudice to the administrative 
, 
action that may be proper. 
In the case of private hospitals, medical centers, clinics, infirmaries, or 
puericulture centers, the license to operate shall be suspended or revoked. 
SEC. 4. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The Department of 
Health in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall 
have the authority to promulgate the' necessary rules and regulations for the purpose of 
carrying into effect the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 5. 
Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act shall 
be declared unconstitutional or iFlv8lid, the other sections or provisions not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 6. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are deemed 
modified, revoked or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 7. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in two (2) leading newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved, 
2