NINETEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
RECEIVEE)
DATE:.qCT03
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HouseBillNo.    5380
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This  bill  was  filed  and  approved  by  the  House  of  Representatives  during  the  17th
Congress.
Article  11,  Section   12  of  the  1987  Philippines  Constitution  mandates  the  State  to
equally protect the  life of the mother and the  life of the  unborn from  conception.  In  line with
this  provision,  the State must provide prenatal and  postnatal  matemity care services in the
home of pregnant teenagers in order to protect their health as well as the future health and
wellbeing of their newborn children.
Pregnaney among  unmarried teenagers is one of the  most difficult and far-reaching
social  problems in our country today.  This is generally prevalent among women aged  15-24
who are from the low-income bracket. Since it is at this stage where they are supposed to be
enjoying  their  lives,  their  pregnancies  are  often  considered  untimely  or  unwanted.  Hence,
maturity and preparedness required of every parent are often times, wanting.
The  Department  of  Health  provides  for  free  prenatal  and  postnatal  consultations
designed  to  reduce  the  incidence  of  matemal  and   infant  mortality.   But  due  to  several
reasons,  one  of  which  is  the  financial  diffioulty  encountered  by  the  pregnant  unmarried
teenagers, pre-natal and post natal services have been ignored.
This  bill  seeks  to  improve  and  expand  the  availability  of,  and  access  to,  needed
comprehensive  matemity care  services  that enable  preghant adolescents  to  obtain  proper
care  and  to  assist  pregnant  adolescents  and  adolescent  parents  to  become  productive
independent contributors to family and community life.
The earty passage of this bill therefore is highly recommended


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                           )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus a. Rodriguez
HouseBillNo.   5380
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH HOME VISITATION PROGRAM
Be it erl?ct.ed  by the Senate and  House of Representatives of the  Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION  1.
Care Act".
Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the ``Expanded Maternal and Infant
SEC. 2.              Declaration of Policy.   -It is a policy of the State to equally protect the life of
the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.   In line with this policy, the State shall,
in  addition  to  maternity  care  services  provided  in  health  facilities,  administer  prenatal  and
postnatal  maternity  and  infant  care  services  under  a  home  visitation  program  in  order  to
protect the health and well-being of mothers and infants.
SEC. 3.              Definition  of  Term.    -As  used  in  this  Act,  the  term  "poor"  shall  refer  to
income  brackets  that  fall  below  the  poverty  threshold  defined  by  the  Philippine  Statistics
Authority (PSA) based on the most recent Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES).
SEC. 4.              Establishment  of  Maternal  and  Infant  Health  Home  Visitation  Program,    -
The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) shall  require health centers to designate
an   appropriate   health   professional   or   a   qualified    nonprofessional   acting    under   the
supervision of a health care professional who shall render maternal and infant care services
in the home of eligible individuals.
SEC. 5.              Eligibility to Avail of Home visitation services. -A pregnant woman  not more
than  twenty-one  (21)  years  old,  or families  with  an  infant  up  to  the  age  of  one  (1)  year,
belonging to the low-income brackets below the poverty threshold shall be eligible to receive
the maternal and infant care services provided under this Act.
SEC. 6.             Maternal and  Infant Health services. -The matemal and infant care services
that shall be provided in the         home ofeligible individuals shall include the following:
(a)         Instruction  and  counseling  concerning  all  aspects  of  prenatal  care,  childbirth,  and
motherhood;
(b)          Nutritioncounseling;
(c)          General family counseling,  including child and family development; and
(d)         Physical examination or referral for further medical care for a mother and/or infant.
SEC. 7.              Prohibition  on  Abortion.   -Any  maternal  and  infant care  service which  shall
be made available under this Act shall not be construed to advocate, promote, or encourage
abortion.


SEC.8.              Separability  Clause.     -lf  any  provision  or  part  hereof  is  held   invalid   or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 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.
SEC.10.            Effectivity.   -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,