Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOB.No.___ 407

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 15, Section 4 provides:

“The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.
Accordingly, it shall-strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total

*-* «development.

The child, as a part of the family, is one of the most important assets of the nation
Consequently, the State should exert every effort to promote the child's welfare and enhance
his opportunities for a useful and happy life.

A child, separated from his family, loses the opportunity to develop in a wholesome and
harmonious atmosphere conducive to his proper upbringing, particularly with respect to his
preparation for adult life and the conscientious discharge of his civic duties.

Accordingly, this bill seeks to require hospitals: a) to establish and implement security
procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching; and b) to
devise procedures for identifying all infant patients in the hospital in a manner that ensures it will
be evident if infants are missing from the hospital

For all the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested,

Xn
JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA
Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

H:B.No._ 407

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
TO REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT SECURITY
PROCEDURES TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INFANT PATIENT ABDUCTION
AND BABY SWITCHING, INCLUDING PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING ALL.
INFANT PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES IT WILL BE
EVIDENT IF INFANTS ARE MISSING FROM THE HOSPITAL

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 “Infant Protection and Baby
'' "Switching Prevention Act.”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. \t is. the policy of the State to protect the Filipino family,
strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the term:

1) "Identification Record" means a record maintained by hospital to aid in the
identification of newborn patients of the hospital, including any of the following

i. The footprint, fingerprint or photograph of the newborn patient;
ii. — Awritten description of the infant; and
iii, An identification bracelet or anklet put on the newborn patient, or the mother
of the newborn patient by a staff member of the hospital.

2) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health,

SEC 4. Establishment of Security Procedures. In the case of hospital and critical
access hospitals which provide neonatal or infant care, to have in effect security procedures that
meet standards established by the Secretary in consultation with appropriate organizations) to
reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching, including standards for
identifying all infant patients in the hospital in a manner that ensures that it will be evident if
infants are missing from the hospital.