Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pare: 19 JUL 2018
Quezon City vines LOD
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY.
First Regular Session
RPO STRATION UNIT
HOUSE BILL NO. 1739 BIS 4) Nik SEQVICE

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, HEALTH CENTERS AND
OTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS RENDERING MATERNITY
SERVICES TO ESTABLISH LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR ALL EXPECTANT"
PARENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to require all public and private hospitals, clinics, health centers
and other similar establishments rendering maternity services to establish literacy
programs to equip all expectant mothers with basic knowledge and skills that will foster
effective parenting.

The program seeks to provide expectant mothers appropriate knowledge and
skills since an expectant mother’s knowledge about child birth and parenting skills is
usually obtained from family members and through practical experience gained from
assisting with the caring of children in extended families.

Formally organized antenatal education as a means by which expectant mothers
develop their knowledge and skills on parenting is essential in providing proper
information and guidance with the end view of molding a healthy and civic-minded
generation of Filipi

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

ANGELINA “HELEN” Bean, M.D.
4" District, Quezon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1739

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, HEALTH CENTERS AND
OTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS RENDERING MATERNITY
SERVICES TO ESTABLISH LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR ALL EXPECTANT"
PARENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to promote
the provision of formal and informal venues for postnatal literacy in the community
level in order to assist parents in preparation for their vital role in the molding of a
future generation of intelligent, morally upright, healthy, psychologically stable and
civic-minded Filipinos.

SEC. 2. Coverage. - All public and private hospitals, clinic, health centers and
other similar establishment rendering maternity services shall provide literacy programs
to all expectant mothers within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

For this purpose, the literacy programs shall focus on providing expectant
parents with skills they can use to foster responsible parenting and empower them to
make informed and educated choices with regard to the health and well-being of their
child.

SEC. 3. Lead Agency. - The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of
Education (DepEd), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act, that shall include the penalty of cancellation of license to
operate plus payment of fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos
(Php100,000.00).

SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the implementation of this Act
shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Health under the current
General Appropriations Act thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
presidential proclamation, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not effect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,