Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING MATERNAL AND INFANT HOME VISITING PROGRAMS AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The well-being of expectant mothers should always be a primordial concern of 
the State. Poverty should never hinder the development of the child inside the mother’s 
womb.  
Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution states: “The State shall adopt 
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
people at affordable cost. There shall be a priority for the needs of the underprivileged 
sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free 
medical care to paupers.  
In line with this, this bill seeks to introduce measures that will make prenatal 
care accessible to expectant mothers who do not have the resources to ensure that 
their offspring are born healthy.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is highly sought. 
October 6, 2022
2:22 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING MATERNAL AND INFANT HOME VISITING PROGRAM AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Maternity Care Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. 
Towards this end, the State must ensure that measures are enacted providing 
accessible prenatal and postnatal maternity care services in the home of pregnant 
women in order to protect their health as well as the future health and wellbeing of 
their newborn children. 
SECTION 3. Eligibility of Individuals. - A pregnant woman not more than 
twenty-one (21) years old, or families with an infant of up to the age of one (1), 
belonging to the low-income bracket shall be eligible to receive maternal and infant 
care services provided under this Act. Individuals must be identified by their respective 
barangays as belonging to the low-income bracket in order to be covered under this 
Act. 
SECTION 4. Establishment of Maternal and Infant Health Home Visiting 
Program. - The Secretary shall require health centers to designate an appropriate 
health professional or qualified non-professional acting under the supervision of a 
health care professional who shall deliver maternal and child health services in the 
home of eligible individuals. 
SECTION 5. Maternal and Child Health Services. – The maternal and child 
health services which may be provided in the home to eligible individuals shall include 
the following: 
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a) instruction and counseling regarding future health care for the woman and 
her child;   
b) nutrition counseling; 
c) counseling and education concerning all aspects, of prenatal care, 
childbirth, and motherhood;  
d) general family counseling, including child and family development; and  
e) medical care or referral for medical care for the woman and her child.  
 
SECTION 6. Prohibition. – It shall be unlawful for the health centers and their 
designated health professional or qualified non-professional acting under the 
supervision of a health care professional to refuse or fail to render maternal and child 
health services to eligible individuals.  
 
SECTION 7. Penalty. – Any employee of the health center, the designated 
health professional or qualified non-professional acting under the supervision of a 
health care professional, who violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by 
a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (PhP/20,000.00), but not more than 
Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP/50,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one month, 
but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of 
the proper court. 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.  
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly.  
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.  
 
Approved,