SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No.2.B 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Worldwide, infant and maternal mortality rates are still alarmingly high, 
particularly in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization and the 
United Nations Children's Fund, more than half a million women lose their lives as a 
result of complications due to pregnancy or childbirth. Around 99 percent of all maternal 
deaths occur in developing countries, with some 84 percent concentrated In sub-
Saharan Africa and South Asia. 
To address this appalling global problem, member-states of the United Nations, 
together with more than 23 international organizations, agreed to adopt the Millennium 
Development Goals (MDGs), which intend to eradicate poverty and improve the social 
and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries by the year 2015. The 
Philippines is one of the signatories. 
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the agency tasked to 
monitor compliance with the MDG, reports that the PhilipPines is on track with most of 
the eight (8) goals. However, it admits that there is great likelihood that the Philippines 
will fail to achieve at least two of these goals: (1) universal primary education and (2) 
improvement in maternal and neonatal health 
As of 2006, maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the Philippines stands at 162 per 
100,000. The target MMR under MDG is 52 per 100,000 population by 2015. 
Health workers playa vital role in lowering the MMR In the country. Unfortunately, 
there is lack of access to professional health care practitioners all over the country. 
Healthcare professionals are sorely lacking and unequally distributed in rural and urban 
areas. Most of our healthcare professionals, especially doctors and nurses, have left the 
country in search for greener pastures abroad. Given thiS problem, health experts 
recommend that the gap on the delivery of maternal and infant healthcare services be 
covered by the appointment of midwives who are trained to provide healthcare services, 
especially maternal and infant healthcare. 
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There is a need to act now. We cannot wait in the sideline while mothers are 
dying. 
Midwives comprise one of the largest occupational groups in the public and 
private health system in the Philippines Records show that there are 150,722 registered 
midwives as of June 2007. Midwives work in the private or public sector in hospitals, 
birthing clinics, barangay health stations, or rural health units They comprise 65% of the 
public health workforce. In the rural areas, they are the first point of contact for patients 
coming into the health system. In fact, midwives are currently implementing public health 
programmes in these areas. With the great potential and significant contribution of 
midwives in augmenting the presence of professional health care practitioners in rural 
areas, the increased community presence of midwives is necessary. 
This bill thus mandates to provide one midwife in each barangay. In 2005, there 
were 16,967 governme,nt midwives in the country, delivering frontline services in 15,436 
barangay health stations and 2266 rural health units Although the recommended ratio is 
one midwife for every 5,000, most midwives currently cater to the needs of 10,000-
30,000 individuals in their catchment area. Recognizing the importance of primary 
healthcare and the presence of midwives in the country, especially in the rural areas, the 
bill further seeks to increase the number of midwives in a barangay where there is a 
population of more than 5,000. This will enable the midwives to provide quality and 
efficient health care services. 
Indeed, midwives playa key role in delivering patient-focused services that are 
accessible, affordable and appropriate to the needs of patients, as individuals, and their 
families. The midwifery profession is central to the delivery of an effective health service, 
particularly in the rural areas. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S, CAYETANO 
AN ACT MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE MIDWIFE FOR EACH 
BAHANGAY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled' 
Section 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Midwife to the Barangay 
Act of 2010," 
Section 2. Statement of Policy, - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people, The State shall provide appropriate 
programs and measures to provide access to affordable and quality health and 
social services, especially in rural areas, The services of midwives, as front liners 
in the country's health care delivery system, are essential in achieving the State's 
health policy, especially with regard to pre-natal and post natal maternal, and 
newborn, care, Toward this end, this Act shall mandate the appointment of 
midwives for each barangay to increase access to health care services for the 
people, especially the underprivileged, 
Section 3. Ratio of Midwives to the Barangay, - All barangays shall 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 determined by 
the Department of Health (DOH), 
Section 4. Role of Midwives to the Barangay, - All Midwives to the Barangay are 
mandated to ensure that mothers and infants, in their respective jurisdictions, are 
given quality and essential health care services, including, but not limited to, 
prenatal and post natal care, breastfeeding support, providing information on the 
importance of immunization and ensuring that infants are given the proper 
vaccines as provided in the DOH Expanded Program on Immunization, and 
proper care and nutrition of both the mothers and the infants, 
Section 5. Appointment of Midwives to the Barangay, - The DOH, through its 
Center for Health Development, is mandated to appoint the Midwife to the 
Barangay, It shall immediately determine which areas are in need of midwives, 
Priority in appointments shall be given to remote areas where there are no 
existing healthcare professionals providing for the healthcare services of the 
population and areas which have high maternal mortality rate, 
Section 6. Qualifications of Midwives to the Barangay, - The DOH shall provide 
for the qualifications of the Midwife to the Barangay, who shall, as much as 
possible, come from the same barangay or municipality where he or she will be 
appointed, 


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Section 7. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care - The DOH shall ensure that the 
midwives are equipped with Basic Emergency Obstetric Care. It shall also 
determine, subject to guidelines that it may issue, the need to further provide 
these midwives with tlraining on Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care. 
Section 8. Compensation and Benefits. - All Midwives to the Barangay shall be 
appropriately compensated by the DOH and shall be entitled to all the benefits 
provided in Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known as the "Magna Carta of 
Public Health Workers." 
Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulation. - The DOH, in cooperation with 
the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Civil Service Commission, 
and other concerned government agencies and non-government organizations, 
shall formulate and promulgate, within ninety days (90) from its effectivity, the 
rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act. 
Section 10. Appropriations. - For a period of five (5) years from the passage of 
this Act, the amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be 
charged against the appropriations 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. 
Section 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions thereof which are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
Section 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other 
presidential issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
Section 13. Effectivity. - This Act takes effect immediately after its publication in 
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.