Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.B.No, 46%

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

All children are entitled to the rights guaranteed by the laws of our country, without
distinction and discrimination. Article XV Section 3 (2) of the Constitution states that

“The State shall defend the right of the 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.”

This is magnified by the provisions of Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth
Welfare Code, as amended, on the Rights of the Child, providing that:

“Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient
shelter, proper medical attention, and all basic physical requirements of a healthy
and vigorous life.” (Art. 3 (4))

It is a major cause of concern that despite all these safeguards, the rampant practice of
certain hospital in refusing to attend to the medical and dental needs of street children, despite
the urgency of such need, continues unabated.

‘We should put an end to such practice by providing for a law that would require both
private and public hospitals and clinics to render free medical and dental services to indigent
children, and penalizing those who will violate such requirement. This bill requires all medical
institutions to extend health services to indigent children, which includes but is not necessarily
limited to street children. Only through a concrete legislative measure can we fully realize the
principles and policies sought to be effected by the various laws protecting the rights of the
child

In line with the State’s evolving agenda on defending the rights of the child, the
immediate passage of this bill is profoundly sought.

JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )
H.B.No, 46%

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
TO REQUIRE THE GIVING OF FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICE TO
INDIGENT CHILDREN

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 "Indigent Children Free
Medical and Dental Service Act.”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. Children are the future of Philippine society. Upon this
premise, it is hereby declared the policy of the state to provide all the possible assistance it
could provide to children especially those who are unfortunate to have no means of support or
no one to support them.

SEC 3. Indigent Children Definition. indigent children are those below 18 years old of
age who no visible means of support or whose parents or guardians have no means of
providing for their immediate medical and dental needs.

SEC 4. Free Medical Service. All hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other
institutions that provide frontline medical services throughout the Philippines are hereby
mandated under this Act to provide free medical treatment to indigent children.

SEC 5. Free Dental Service. All dental clinics, medical centers and other institutions that
provide frontline dental healthcare throughout the country are mandated under this Act to
provide free dental healthcare to indigent children.

SEC 6. DSWD and DOH Function. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
in coordination with the Department of Health shall be the lead agencies in the implementation
of this Act. The DSWD shall determine if the child is indeed an indigent while the Department of
Health shall coordinate with the implementation of the free medical and dental services to
indigent children.


SEC 7. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law

and thereafter.

SEC 8. Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Act were to be declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in

force and effect.

SEC 9. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby

repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 10. Effectivify. This Act shall take effect fifteen days from the date of its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulations.

Approved,