Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Florabel Co Yatco 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The first 1,000 days of life—from conception to a child’s second birthday—are 
widely recognized as the most critical period in human development. During this 
window, the physical, emotional, and cognitive foundations for a child’s lifelong 
health are established. Equally important, yet often overlooked, is the mental health 
and psychosocial well-being of mothers during this vital phase. Maternal mental 
health directly affects parenting capacity, infant development, and family functioning. 
Mothers are often seen as tireless, resilient, and able to endure all kinds of 
pain—physical, emotional, even mental. But behind that strength are real struggles 
that too often go unseen and unspoken. It is heartbreaking and alarming to see the 
rising number of mothers who have taken their own lives—overwhelmed, unheard, 
and untreated. But these are not just numbers. These are cries for help from women 
who needed care and compassion, but who found none. 
Postpartum depression (PPD) and other maternal mental health conditions are 
serious and growing public health concerns. Yet they remain underdiagnosed, 
underreported, and underserved in our healthcare system. While the Mental Health 
Act laid an important foundation, it does not go far enough in addressing the mental 
health needs of mothers. 
Studies show that depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are 
among the most common complications during pregnancy and the postpartum 
period. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10–15% 
of women in developing countries experience perinatal mental health disorders. In the 
Philippines, these challenges are often undetected, untreated, or dismissed due to 
stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient mental health services at the primary care 
level. 
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4:59 pm
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This bill seeks to institutionalize maternal mental health services across all 
government health facilities and to integrate mental health screening, intervention, 
and psychosocial support into the National Enhanced 1,000 Days Program. It 
reinforces the implementation of Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental Health Act by 
addressing the critical gap in maternal mental health as part of universal health care 
and early childhood development. 
Specifically, the proposed measure aims to: 
1.
Require routine mental health screening and psychosocial
assessment of pregnant and postpartum women in government health facilities; 
2.
Train health professionals, midwives, and barangay health
workers to recognize and respond to maternal mental health conditions; 
3.
Provide culturally appropriate, community-based psychosocial
interventions and referral mechanisms; 
4.
Reduce stigma through public awareness campaigns and
education; 
5.
Ensure access to mental health care for vulnerable mothers,
especially in disadvantaged and rural areas; and 
6.
Allocate funding to support sustainable maternal mental health
programs and services nationwide. 
By prioritizing maternal mental health, this legislation supports healthier 
families, reduces the risk of intergenerational poverty, and promotes the full 
development of children in their most formative years. It also affirms the State’s 
commitment to gender-responsive, holistic, and rights-based health care. 
If we truly value the role of mothers in nation-building, then we must also 
protect their mental well-being. It is time to recognize maternal mental health not as a 
silent burden but as a national concern that deserves action, attention, and care. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. FLORABEL CO YATCO 
Representative 
Nanay Partylist 


Twentieth Congress of the 
Republic of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H.B. No. ______ 
Introduced by Hon. Florabel Co Yatco 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
IN ALL GOVERNMENT HEALTH FACILITIES, INTEGRATING 
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN THE FIRST 1,000 DAYS PROGRAM, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, 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 “Maternal Mental Health 
and Psychosocial Support Act of 2025”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is the policy of the State to uphold and protect 
the mental health and overall well-being of Filipino women, particularly during the 
prenatal, perinatal, postnatal, and postpartum period. The State also affirms the right 
of all mothers to equitable access to timely, appropriate, and culturally competent 
mental health services, free from stigma, discrimination, or other barriers to care. 
Pursuant to Section 2 of Republic Act No. 11036, the State commits to strengthening 
mental health services at all levels, with targeted attention to the psychosocial needs 
of mothers and their children. Maternal mental health shall be recognized as an 
essential component of comprehensive healthcare and public health policy. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. 
This Act aims to: 
a) Institutionalize maternal mental health services in all government health
facilities;
b) Integrate psychosocial screening, support, and interventions in the First 1,000
Days Program;
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c) Promote early detection, timely referral, and appropriate care for maternal 
mental health conditions; 
 
d) Build the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver mental health and 
psychosocial support (MHPSS) services; 
 
e) Raise public awareness to reduce stigma surrounding maternal mental health; 
and 
 
f) Ensure adequate funding for maternal mental health programs nationwide. 
 
SECTION 4.  Definition of Terms.- As used in this Act: 
 
a) Maternal Mental Health refers to the emotional, psychological, and social well-
being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period; 
 
b) Postpartum Depression (PPD) refers to a type of depression that affects some 
women after childbirth, marked by feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and 
exhaustion which may interfere with a mother’s ability to care for herself and 
her child; 
 
c) First 1,000 Days Program refers to the comprehensive initiative focused on the 
health, nutrition, and development interventions covering the period from 
conception to a child’s second birthday. It is the government’s health and 
nutrition strategy covering the period from conception to a child’s second 
birthday; 
 
d) Psychosocial Support refers to non-medical interventions aimed at promoting 
mental well-being, including counseling, peer support, community education, 
and referral services; 
 
e) Government Health Facilities refer to all barangay health stations, rural health 
units, city/municipal/provincial health offices, and public hospitals. 
 
f) Barangay Health Worker (BHW) refers to a person who has undergone training 
programs under any accredited government or non-government organization 
and voluntarily provides primary healthcare services within their community; 
and 
 
g) Basic Mental Health First Aid for Mothers refers to structured, community-based 
training that equips frontline maternal health workers with the ability to 


recognize and respond to signs of maternal mental health challenges and 
provide initial support or referral, until professional help is available. 
 
SECTION 5. Mandatory Screening for Postpartum Depression.- All government 
health centers and public hospitals shall be mandated to have maternal mental health 
screening, including for postpartum depression, as part of the standard postnatal 
check-up. Such screening shall follow evidence-based clinical guidelines to be issued 
by the Department of Health (DOH), and shall be administered by trained health 
professionals or barangay health workers (BHWs) under supervision. 
 
SECTION 6. Establishment of Maternal Mental Health Units.- All Department of 
Health (DOH)-retained hospitals, hospitals under its supervision and control, and at 
least one (1) provincial hospital per province shall establish a Maternal Mental Health 
Unit (MMHU) staffed with qualified mental health professionals. These units shall 
provide: 
 
a) Psychological evaluation and counseling; 
 
b) Psychiatric consultation, diagnosis, and treatment services; 
 
c) Support group facilitation for mothers; and 
 
d)  Emergency crisis intervention related to maternal mental health. 
 
The Department of Health shall determine the appropriate staffing pattern and 
develop the framework and guidelines on appropriate service capability for said 
units. 
 
SECTION 7. Training of Frontline Health Personnel.- The DOH, in coordination 
with the city and municipal health offices of local government units (LGUs), the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior 
and Local Government (DILG), and accredited training institutions, shall develop and 
implement the Basic Mental Health First Aid for Mothers Training Program. This 
program shall be mandatory for all barangay health workers, rural health midwives, 
and other relevant frontline maternal health personnel. 
 
SECTION 8. Integration into the First 1,000 Days Program.- The psychosocial and 
mental health needs of pregnant and lactating women shall be integrated into the First 
1,000 Days Program established under Republic Act No. 11148. This shall include: 
 
a) Routine psychological screening during pregnancy and the postpartum period; 
 


b) Counseling and support services for adolescent, pregnant, and lactating 
women; 
 
c) Referral protocols for moderate to severe maternal mental health conditions; 
and 
 
d) Family education programs promoting maternal mental health awareness. 
 
The Department of Health (DOH) shall ensure that maternal mental health and 
psychosocial support services are integrated into the National Enhanced First 1,000 
Days Program, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), and local government 
units (LGUs). 
 
The lead coordinating body shall be the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and shall 
update the program’s operational guidelines to reflect this integration. 
 
SECTION 9. Training and Capacity Building.- The DOH, in partnership with the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), and professional health organizations, shall: 
 
a) Develop and implement training modules on maternal mental health for health 
workers; 
b) Include maternal mental health competencies in nursing, midwifery, and medical 
curricula; and 
c) Certify barangay health workers and community volunteers to provide basic 
psychosocial support. 
 
SECTION 10.  Information and Education Campaign. - The Philippine Information 
Agency (PIA), in coordination with DOH and DSWD, shall lead a nationwide 
education and awareness campaign to: 
 
a) Promote maternal mental health and psychosocial well-being; 
b) Combat stigma and discrimination against women experiencing mental health 
conditions; and 
c) Encourage help-seeking behavior among pregnant and postpartum women. 
 
Also, the DOH, in partnership with the People’s Television Network (PTV), Philippine 
Broadcasting Service (PBS) and Philippine News Agency (PNA), shall lead a 
nationwide, sustained public education campaign to increase awareness of maternal 
mental health, reduce stigma associated with postpartum depression, and encourage 
affected women to seek help. The campaign shall utilize print, broadcast, and other 


necessary digital media and shall be cascaded in local languages and culturally 
appropriate formats. 
 
SECTION 11. Role of Local Government Units. - LGUs shall be responsible for the 
local implementation of maternal mental health services, including the designation of 
mental health focal persons in health offices and the mobilization of community 
support networks. 
 
SECTION 12. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting.- The DOH, through Dr. Jose 
Fabella Memorial Hospital—the National Maternity Hospital,  in coordination with 
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Population and Development 
(POPCOM), shall develop indicators to monitor the incidence, diagnosis, and 
treatment outcomes of maternal mental health conditions. They shall conduct an 
annual monitoring of the Act and submit an annual report of its status to the Office of 
the President and to the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.  
 
SECTION 13.  Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – A Joint Congressional 
Oversight Committee, hereafter referred to as the Oversight Committee, is hereby 
constituted. The Oversight Committee shall set the overall framework to review the 
implementation of this Act. It shall also determine the inherent weaknesses in the law 
and recommend the necessary remedial legislation or executive measures. 
 
The Oversight Committee is composed of seventeen (17) members, with the 
chairpersons of the Committee on Health, Committee on Women and Gender Equality 
and Committee on Social Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
on Health and Demography and Committee on Women, Children and Family and 
Gender Equality of the Senate as co-chairpersons; and six (6) members from each 
House, to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
President, respectively. 
The review of the implementation of this Act must include a systematic evaluation of 
its impact, accomplishments of the program, and performance of its implementing 
agencies.  The Oversight Committee shall conduct the review every three (3) years 
reckoned from the effectivity of this Act, or whenever deemed necessary by a majority 
of the members of the Oversight Committee. 
 
SECTION 14. Appropriations.- The amount needed for the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged to the current year’s appropriations of the Department of Health 
(DOH). Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act.  


SECTION 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health, in coordination with 
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Commission on 
Population and Development (POPCOM), National Nutrition Council (NNC), 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), other relevant agencies and 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) 
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 16. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the 
provisions of this Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 18. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Oﬃcial Gazeie or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,