Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
1* Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3025

Introduced by Hon. WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate the deployment of at least one (1) registered
midwife in every barangay in the country.

In a country where poverty remains to be one of the toughest challenges to
overcome, poor and unemployed mothers’ struggle to find ways of putting a meal
on their table is constant. Their health and that of their children take the back
seat. These poor mothers are highly at risk of dying due to pregnancy and
childbirth because of the lack of access to quality health services.

The lack of adequate parental care and access to health services forced
pregnant women to give birth in their homes with no skilled birth professional in
attendance. These mothers surely do not receive postpartum/postnatal care. In
such instances, infant and maternal mortality is not uncommon.

Infant and maternal mortality rate are still alarmingly high in the country.
Data shows that we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the
region. According to a data on maternal mortality ratio for the Philippines by
World Bank’, the Philippine Maternal Mortality is at 115 per 100,000 live births as
of 2015. These new born babies lose their mothers before they even have the
ability to open their eyes. A huge improvement from the 162 maternal deaths in

+ http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.MMRT?locations=PH



2010 but still a far cry from the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) target of
reducing it to 52 maternal deaths.

Over the years, the country has seen progress for services and programs for
mother and children such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), public-
private partnerships, inter-city health agreements and referral system, national
health insurance coverage, enactment of reproductive health law, and healthcare
innovations in local government units. Despite the same, it remains a challenge
for the local government units, especially in far flung barangays, to have access to
maternal healthcare professionals such as midwives.

This bill seeks to mandate the employment of at least one (1) registered
midwife in every barangay in the country to complement with existing
professional medical personnel in the locality. This will ensure that medical
personnel will be readily available to provide prenatal and post natal care,
breastfeeding support, providing information on the importance of immunization
and proper vaccination, care and nutrition for both mothers and infants.

Consequently, this bill seeks to be guided by the recommended ratio of one
(1) midwife for every 5,000 population. The number of midwives will also be
increased in barangays where the residents exceed 5,000.

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

ieee

‘TER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II
District, Zamboanga Slbugay

ATTY.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BLL No, 2225

Introduced By HON. WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II

AN ACT

MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE MIDWIFE FOR EACH BARANGAY, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Midwife to the
Barangay Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the
State to equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from
conception. Likewise, it shall prioritize the right to health of the people and instil
health consciousness among them. Pursuant to this, the Senate shall adopt an
integrated approach to health development which shall endeavour to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all peoples.


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The state recognizes the vital role played by midwives in reducing maternal
and newborn child mortality. Toward this end, this Act shall mandate the
appointment of midwives for each barangay to improve our maternal healthcare
as well as give our people wider access to health services.

SECTION 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are as follows:
a) To reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the country;
b) To improve maternal and neonatal health; and

c) To provide quality and efficient healthcare services, especially in the
field of maternal and infant healthcare.

SECTION 4. Ratio of Midwives to the Barangay. — It shall be mandatory for
all barangays with population exceeding five thousand (5,000) to be equipped
with one (1) midwife; Provided, that if the population of a barangay exceeds five
thousand (5,000), the number of midwives shall be increased, as may be
determined by the Department of Health (DOH).

SECTION 5. Role of Midwives to the Barangay. — It is the role of the
midwife to assess the condition of mothers during their pregnancy, labor, and
after birth; monitor and examine pregnant mothers; to assist the pregnant
mothers during labor and delivery; make diagnosis and assessment of the
mother’s condition and shall refer to obstetricians and other specialist in the
occurrence of any abnormality; ensure quality and essential health and nutritional
care services to both mother and their new born; provide breastfeeding support;
providing information on the importance of immunization and vaccination as
provided for in the DOH Expanded Program for Immunization.

SECTION 6. Qualifications of Midwives. — Within one (1) month from the
passage of this Act, DOH shall provide Basic Emergency Obstetric Care and
Newborn Care training, or such similar trainings as the DOH may deem necessary,
to all midwives to the barangays. Thereafter, the DOH is hereby mandated to
provide a Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care and Newborn Care training,


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and such other trainings deemed necessary, at least once in every fiscal year after
this Act shall have taken effect.

SECTION 7. The DOH shall promulgate such rules and regulations to ensure
that all midwives to the barangays are provided for with all trainings it may deem
necessary, and in such frequency as it may determine.

SECTION 8. Appointment of Midwives to the Barangay. — Priority in the
appointment of midwives shall be given to remote areas where no existing health
care professionals provide healthcare service to the population. Areas that are
determined by the DOH to have high maternal mortality rate shall also be given
preference in the appointment of midwives.

SECTION 9. Compensation and Benefits. — The DOH shall promulgate rules
and guidelines to provide adequate compensation to midwives to the barangays.
The midwives to the barangays shall also be entitled to all benefits provided in
Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Public Health
Workers.”

SECTION 10. Appropriation. — From the passage of this Act, and for a
period of two (2) succeeding calendar years, all appropriations for the proper
adoption and implementation of this Act shall be charged to the annual
appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, such funds as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the appropriations of
the respective Local Government Units where the barangays are located.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in
cooperation and consultation with the Department of Interior and Local
Government, the Civil Service Commission, Department of Budget and
Management and all other concerned government agencies, shall issue and adopt
rules and guidelines necessary for the prompt and proper implementation of this
Act.


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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder or any provisions thereof is not
affected shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,