REPRESENTATIVE

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pare. 1
Quezon City re: 27 JUL ang
ve: 239, i
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS ee

First Regular Session

i 1806

. a HOUSE BILL NO. = 9° REGISTRATION UNIT
4

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As part of the country's Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), the Philippines aims to
improve maternal health by 2015.

According to the 5 Philippine Progress Report on the MDGs, however, it can be inferred
that the Philippines may have not met its MDG target on maternal health as the maternal
mortality ratio increased from 209 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 221 deaths in
2011, failing to meet the 2015 target of 52.

‘Thus, the State must continue to strive for the improvement of maternal health in the
country and initiate programs to ensure that maternal health is protected,

‘This bill seeks to establish a Pregnancy Support Services Office under the Department of
Health. The proposed office will be tasked to encourage and assist pregnant women to carry
their children to live birth by providing services during and after pregnancy. Thus, this measure
alleviates pregnant women and their families from the difficulties that may otherwise lead to
abortion or death of a child during childbirth.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

FREDO D. VARGAS III


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1806

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D, Vargas II]

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PREGNANCY SUPPORT SERVICES OFFICE UNDER THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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 "Care for Life Act”
Section 2. Definition of Terms.- For the purposes of this Act, the term:

A. “Pregnancy support services” refers to services offered by the government,
faith-based, and other providers, during and after pregnancy, that will
encourage and assist women to carry their children to live birth by
alleviating financial, social, emotional, and other difficulties that may
otherwise lead to abortion, including the following:

1. Material assistance, including maternity and baby clothing, diapers,
baby food (including formula), and baby furniture.

2. Referrals for adoption, job training, housing, assistance with domestic
violence, and food stamps and other governmental assistance.

3. Crisis hotlines, including for violence or suicide prevention.

4. Pro-bono obstetric and prenatal care services for women intending to
carry their children to live birth, including services during pregnancy
and following childbirth, and neonatal care services, including
referrals for such services.

5. Pro-bono legal services to assist women who wish to carry their
children to live birth and parents with newborn children.


6. Child care services.

7. Services to assist parents to care for, and prepare to care for, a child
with Down Syndrome or another prenatally diagnosed condition, and
to facilitate the adoption of such children as appropriate.

8. Life skills mentoring, including to enhance the following
competencies:

I Strengthening marriage.
I, Communication and conflict management for building healthy
marriages and families.
Ill. Decision-making and relationship-building skills prior to
marriage.
IV, High-risk behavior awareness.

9. Life-skills counseling.

B. “Secretary” refers to Department of Health Secretary.

Section 3. Pregnancy Support Services Office. - The Department of Health shall
establish an Office of Pregnancy Support Services which shall encourage and assist
pregnant women to carry their children to live birth by providing services, during and after
pregnancy, that will alleviate the financial, social, emotional, and other difficulties that may
otherwise lead to an abortion.

Section 4. Pregnancy Care Information Service. - The Secretary shall develop and
maintain a comprehensive, publicly accessible, and user friendly database, to be known as
the Pregnancy Care Information Service, to serve as a consolidated source of information
on pregnancy support services. Further, it shall include pertinent information on the
providers of the pregnancy support services listed in the database.

Section 5. Annual Conference. - The Secretary shall conduct an annual nationwide
best practices conference, gathering experts from State and local governments, prenatal
and parenting care centers, and other relevant facilities to:

A. Share Information on best practices in pregnancy support services; and
B, Identify and address key burdens or adverse circumstances facing pregnant
women.

Section 6, Public Outreach. - The Secretary shall develop and implement a public
outreach campaign to provide information on pregnancy support services to vulnerable
women, including those in low-income, urban and rural areas.


Section 7. Parental Care Grants to Institution of Higher Education.- The Secretary
may award competitive grants to institutions of higher education for the exclusive purpose
of providing pregnancy support services, which may include:

A. Employing a registered nurse, physician assistant or physician with
specialized training in prenatal care.

B. Establishing and maintaining student outreach programs to provide prenatal
care, parenting assistance, and student housing assistance to the institution’s
pregnant and parenting students.

Section 8, Annual Report. - The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress
on the activities, the funds expended on such activities, and the results achieved through
such activities.

Section 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,