REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No, __ 955

House Bil

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Represent:
andFranciscoAshley L. Acedillo

es Gary C. Alejano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the most important indicators of development is the survival of children beyond
the years that they are most likely to succumb to disease and illness. Proper interventions
introduced by the government, if implemented well, may reduce a large fraction of
childhood deaths.

The Philippines has achieved modest gains in reducing infant mortality. In 2005, it was
recorded that 25 deaths occurred per 1,000 live births in the country. Currently, it was
reduced to 21.45 per 1,000 live births.' Although the country was able to reduce infant
mortality, it was able to do so at a very slow pace.

This bill seeks to rapidly decrease the incidence of infant mortality in the country by
requiring DOH, the local government, state universities and colleges, and
work together in determining certain criteria in fighting infant mortality.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

a 5

;ARY C. ALEJANO A ISCO ASHLEY L. ACEDILLO

* Data retrieved from https://vww.cia.eov/library/publicationsithe-world-
fuctbook/rankorder/2091rank.htm! on July 15, 2008; data was last updated on 19 June 2008



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representatives Gary C. Alejano

and Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo

AN ACT

TO ESTABLISH AN INFANT MORTALITY PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE
RATE OF INFANT MORTALITY IN THE COUNTRY PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Jnfant Mortality
Initiative Act of 2013.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote

the right of health of the people, including the rights of children to survival, and to

develop healthy and fully as individuals.

See
10)
Q)
G)
@)

G)

See. 4.
q)

1c. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this section, the term —

“Coalition” means a national or local health coalition or consortium;

“Department” means the Department of Health;

“FIMR” means a fetal and infant mortality review committee;

“Infant mortality” means the death of a live-bor infant within 364 days
after the infant’s birth;

“Infant mortality rate” means the number of infant deaths per 1,000 annual
live births.

Objectives of this Act. ~ The objectives of this Act include:
Determining the significant social, economic, cultural, safety, and health
system factors that exist in communities all over the country related to

infant mortality through a practice collaborative approach using perinatal;


wo

s

Cora

(2) Developing a series of interventions and policies that address these factors
to improve the service systems and community resources;

(3) Participating in the implementation of community-based interventions and
policies that address problems in infant mortality rates:

(4) Assessing the progress of interventions.

See. 5. Administration of the Infant Mortality Initiative. ~ The Infant Mortality
Initiative shall be administered through a collaboration among the Department of Health,
which shall act as the lead agency in implementing this Act, the Dept. of Interior and
Local Government, Local Government Units and their respective local health coalitions,
and public universities or colleges having expertise in public health. A local community
shall develop an interdisciplinary team to serve as part of a local-wide practice
collaborative. Both perinatal periods of risk and fetal infant mortality reviews may be
used. A case review shall be conducted by each participating coalition using professional
in-house staff or through contracts with an outside professional, Public universities or

colleges having expertise in public health shall provide technical as

istance in developing

a standard research methodology based on the fetal and infant mortality review method.
Public universities or colleges having expertise in public health shall assist each
participating coalition in determining the selection of comparison groups, identifying data
collection and housing issues, and presenting findings and recommendations. A single
methodology for the reviews conducted through the initiative shall be used by each
participating coalition. The department shall distribute funding to cach coalition that
participates in the initiative through annual grants that are subject to specific

appropriations by the Legislature.

See. 6. Functions of the Infant Mortality Initiative. - Each participating coalition
shall:

(1) Develop an interdisciplinary team to oversee the process in its local
Community.

(2) Use perinatal periods of risk methodology when appropriate to examine

infant deaths in its communi
(3) Use a modified FIMR approach to examine infant deaths in its community

by:
(a) Creating a case review FIMR team that may include obstetricians,

neonatologists. perinatalogists. pathologists, registered nurses, social


18

20

workers,

hospital and clinie administrators, social service agencies,
researchers, citizens and consumers, and other experts considered
necessary to conduct a standardized review of infant mortality.

(b) Hiring or contracting with professional staff that may include licensed
nurses and social workers to abstract and present individual case reviews
that omit identifying information regarding infant deaths compared to
live births to the case review team.

(©) Developing abstracts of sample infant mortalities and comparative live
births that omit identifying information and that identify social,

economic, cultural, safet

and health system factors that are associated

with infant mortality rates in each community. The number of abstracted
cases that must be conducted by each participating coalition shall be
determined by a standard research methodology developed _in
conjunction with a public university or college having expertise in
public health.

(4) Presenting abstracts that omit identifying information to its case review
team at least quarterly for their review and discussion.

(4) Develop findings and recommendations for interventions and policy

changes to reduce racial disparities in infant mortality.

See. 7. Grant Awards. ~ The department shall award annual grants, subject to

specific appropriations by the Legislature. The department shall award at least one grant

to a coalition representing urban communities and at least one grant to a coalition

representing rural communities. Grant awards shall be given to those coalitions

representing communities with the least infant mortality rates.

Sec. 8. Evali

ition and Reports. - ‘The department shall conduct an annual
evaluation of the implementation of the initiative describing which areas are participating
in the initiative, the number of reviews conducted by each participating coalition, grant
balances, and recommendations for modifying the initiative. All participating coalitions
shall produce a report on their collective findings and recommendations by January 1,
2010, to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
Secretary of Health


See. 9. Immunity. ~ Each participating coalition, its case review team members,

and professional staff are immune from liability pursuant to this Act.

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules. - The Department of Health shall develop the
implementing rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement the provisions of
this Act, in collaboration with other concerned agencies of the government, thirty (30)

days after the effectivity of this Act

Sec. 11. Authorization of Appropriation. - For the purposes of this Act, the sum
of Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000) for the current fiscal year shall be allotted to the
Department of Health for the proper carrying out of this Act, and such other sums as may

be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby shall continue to be

in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees. orders, rules and regulations ot

other issuance or parts thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,