Introduced by Representative Canille Villar
AN ACT
SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH 0F FILIPINO MOTHERS AT TIIE TIME 0F
THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Reducing matemal 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 `matemal 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).
Consider the following:
•    The PSA data showed matemal deaths increased to 1,616 in 2018 compared to  1,484
in 2017, or a two year high when matemal deaths reached 1,721 in 2015.
•    Based on the SDGs, countries must bring down the number of matemal deaths to 70
per  100,000  live  births.  In the  Philippine  Development Plan  (PDP),  the  leadership
aims to bring down its matemal mortality ratio to 90 by 2022.
•    PSA data showed Calabarzon recorded the most number of matemal deaths with 245,
or 15.2 percent, of the total. Unfortunately, this represented a 10.36-percent increase
from the 222 posted in 2017.
•    Other regions that accounted for a large share of matemal deaths in 2018 were Region
7 (Central Visayas) and Metro Manila with 230 and 195 deaths, respectively.
•    Maternal  deaths  in  Region  7  accounted  for  14.2  pereent  in  2018.  However,  this
represented a 40.24-percent increase from 164 deaths in 2017.
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 EMOC.
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.
Early cognizance of this bill is earnestly sought.
Cfrrfuciueer`
CAMILLE A. VILLAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSH OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HouseBiilNo.  5684
Introduced by Representative Camille Villar
AN ACT
SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH 0F FILIPINO MOTIIERS AT TIIE TIME 0F
THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be  it  enacted  by  the  House  Of Representatives  and  the  Senate  in  Congress  Of the
Philippines 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 maximuni safegunding of Filipino
mothers at the time of their childbirths.
SECTION 2. No matemity 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.
SECTION 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). every barangay
in the country should have a birthing facility to help reduce the risk of matemal and infant
deaths.
SECTION  4.  The  local  goverrment  units  (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.
The  local  health  clinics  and  health  offices  as  well  as  the  satellite  offices  of the
Department of Health are hereby encouraged to be of 24-hour assistance to Filipino mothers.
The local government units are empowered to provide and forinulate programs that
will promote the increase in salaries and incentives of health workers.
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SECTION 5. To complement the provisions of this Act, the Department of Health in
coordination   with   the   Professional   Regulation   Commission   (PRC)   and   the   relevant
organization  of midwives  shall  professionalize  further  the  practice  of midwifery  in  the
country and empower them to be key health care professionals in providing care to mothers
and newboms and redwing matemal mortality and newborn mortality rates.
SECTION6. The Department of Health shall issue the necessary rules and regulations
to implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes
earlier.
Approved,
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