Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish literacy programs to all expectant mothers in all public and
private hospitals, clinics, health centers and other similar establishments rendering maternity
services to equip them with basic knowledge and skills that wil foster effective parenting

‘An expectant mother's knowledge about child birth and skills on parenting has
historically been obtained from other women, mainly from family members and through practical
experience gained from assisting with the caring of children in extended families.

However, women’s increased participation in the workforce and in higher education,
coupled with the increasing number of childbirths done at hospitals and maternity clinics, have
made more expectant mothers likely to rely on formally organized antenatal education as a
means by which they develop their knowledge and skills on parenting.

This bill aims to address the evolving needs of expectant mothers by requiring all public
and private hospitals, clinic, health centers and other similar establishments rendering maternity
services to formulate and implement literacy programs that will provide expectant mothers skills
they can use in responsible parenting and to empower them to make educated choice in so far
as raising their child,

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested,

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JUAN EDGARDO “! NGARA
Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE __)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

c HB. No.2 27

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER SIMILAR
ESTABLISHMENTS RENDERING MATERNITY SERVICES TO ESTABLISH
LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR ALL EXPECTANT PARENTS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFORE

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to promote the
provision of formal and informal venues for postnatal literacy in the community level in order to
assist parents in preparation for their vital role in the molding of a future generation of intelligent,
morally upright, healthy, psychologically stable and civic-minded Filipinos.

SEC. 2. Coverage. Alll public and private hospitals, clinic, health centers and other
similar establishment rendering maternity services shall provide literacy programs to all
expectant mothers within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

For this purpose, the literacy programs shall focus on providing expectant parents with
skills they can use to foster responsible parenting and empower them to make informed and
educated choices with regard to the health and well-being of their child.

SEC. 3. Lead Agency. The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education
(DepEd), shall issue the necessary rule and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act, that shall include the penalty of cancellation of license to operate plus payment of fine of
not less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100, 000.00).

‘SEC. 4. Appropriations. The amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged to the appropriations for the Department of Health under the current General
Appropriations Act thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential
proclamation, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
same shall not effect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,