Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT GRANTING A MATERNITY BENEFIT TO WOMEN WORKERS IN THE 
INFORMAL ECONOMY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
11210, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Informal employment is an increasing problem in the Philippines. Around 38 percent of the total working 
population fall under this sector, according to the 2018 Philippine Statistics Authority Informal Sector 
Survey. While there is a lack of updated and gender disaggregated data of the sector due to its informal and 
undocumented nature, recent estimates put this sector’s contribution at around one third of the country’s 
total gross domestic product.  
In particular, women workers under this arrangement earn substandard wages in substandard working 
conditions, with little to no savings. Estimated to be at 6.6 million Filipinas according to the Global Network 
of Women Peacebuilders, this number is expected to rise. With the absence of social protection, these 
women are highly vulnerable to negative external shocks that adversely affect their income.  
Informal economy, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO), is “all economic activities 
by workers and economic units that are - in law or practice - not covered or insufficiently covered by formal 
arrangements.” Driven by survival, women working in the informal economy have barriers that prevent 
them from earning a living wage.  
Section 11 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11210 or 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law states that Social 
Security System (SSS) unregistered informal workers can avail of the Maternity Care Package under 
PhilHealth Circular 022-2014. The circular asserts that non-registered pregnant women can only avail of 
the package if they were able to register and pay the PhilHealth premium for the whole year. This makes 
the application process difficult for women who already earn substandard wages.  
Instead, this measure proposes a one time maternity cash benefit of a minimum wage rate times forty-four 
(44) days. It is about time the national government recognizes their service and contribution to the
country. As such, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested.
MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS 
Representative 
3rd District, Cotabato Province 
10981
October 7, 2024
9:48 am


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS  
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT GRANTING A MATERNITY BENEFIT TO WOMEN WORKERS IN THE 
INFORMAL ECONOMY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
11210, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Maternity Benefit for Women in the 
Informal Economy Act”  
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to protect the rights 
and welfare of women workers in the informal economy, to ensure optimal maternal health 
consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals, and to encourage and support the practice of 
breastfeeding in furtherance of its obligation to ensure the survival and development of Filipino 
children. 
Sec. 3. Maternity Benefit for Women Workers in the Informal Economy. - Section 11 of 
Republic Act No. 11210 is hereby deleted and replaced with a new Section 11, which will read as 
follows: 
SECTION 11. MATERNITY BENEFITS FOR FEMALE WORKERS WHO ARE NON-
MEMBERS OF THE SSS. - FEMALE WORKERS WHO ARE NEITHER VOLUNTARY 
NOR REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE SSS SHALL RECEIVE, THROUGH THE 
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), A ONE-TIME 
DIRECT MATERNITY CASH BENEFIT PER DELIVERY EQUIVALENT TO THE 
PREVAILING DAILY MINIMUM WAGE RATE IN HER REGION OF RESIDENCE 
MULTIPLIED BY FORTY FOUR (44) DAYS.  
Sec. 4. Funding Source. — The amounts necessary to fund this maternity benefit shall be 
taken from revenues from excise taxes on sweetened beverages, alcohol, tobacco products, heated 
tobacco products, and vapor products, and may be augmented under the General Appropriations 
Act. 
10981


 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared unconstitutional, 
the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and operational. 
 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, circulars. Issuances, rules and 
regulations and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication In the 
Official Gazette or In any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.  
 
Approved,