SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENAT2?31 
S. B. No. ___ 
--'-.-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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'15 
il['R 23 P 2 :01 
PROVIDING FOR THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO PREGNANT WOMEN 
AND THEIR FAMILIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, in its declaration of State Policies, provides: 
Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall 
protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It 
shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from 
conception. 
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, 
and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and 
men. 
Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. 
It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. 
Pursuant to these policies, laws have been enacted recognizing the special needs of 
women as workers and as mothers. Examples of these laws are the following: Presidential 
Decree No. 442 or the "Labor Code of the Philippines" regarding maternity leave benefits 
in Section 133; Republic Act No. 8282 or the "Social Security Law of 1997" regarding 
maternity benefits for private employees in Sec. 14-A; Republic Act No. 8282 or the 


"Solo Parents' Welfare Act"; and Republic Act No. 8187 or the "Paternity Leave Act of 
1996" where fathers are given time off from work to support their wives in their period of 
recovery and/or in the nursing of the newly-born child. However, while these laws grant 
women maternity leaves and benefits, and other financial support after they have given 
birth, their failure to aid women while they are pregnant is glaringly obvious. 
This bill seeks to address the needs of pregnant women workers. Taking into 
consideration their delicate condition, as well as the need for them to continue working 
not only to support their families but also to prevent the collapse of the industries they 
work in, this bill will grant them benefits like flexible work schedules, protection from 
discrimination, monthly medical leaves and medical assistance during their pregnancies. I 
J This bill was original filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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i j!:J L .. "> 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS Of THE REPUBLIC 
) 
Ullin \.' Ilf IiiI' ~l rrrbfl4. 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'15 
APR 23 P 2 :01 
SENAT!;; 
S. B. NO. 
i!731 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO PREGNANT WOMEN 
AND THEIR FAMILIES, 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. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Pregnant Women's 
2 
Welfare Act of2015." 
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SECTION2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the 
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family as the foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity and ensure its total 
5 
development. Towards this end, it shall develop a comprehensive program of services for 
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pregnant women and their families to be carried out by the Department of Labor and 
7 
Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the 
8 
Department of Health (DOH), and other related government and nongovernment 
9 
agencies. 
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SECTION 3. Definition afTerms. - For the purposes of this Act, the term 
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(1) "pregnant woman" means a woman expecting to deliver a child or children, 
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which condition shall continue until she has delivered such child or 
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children or has suffered a miscarriage. 
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(2) "family" means the pregnant woman, her legitimate spouse with whom she 
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is cohabiting, and any children living with and dependent upon them who 


are unmarried, unemployed and not more than eighteen (18) years of age, 
2 
or even over eighteen (18) years but are incapable of self-support because 
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of mental and/or physical defect/disability. If the pregnant woman is not 
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lawfully married or is a widow, "family" shall refer to herself, her and her 
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legitimate spouse's parents who are living with her, and any children living 
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with and dependent upon her who are unmarried, unemployed and not more 
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than eighteen (18) years of age, or even over eighteen (18) years but are 
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incapable 
of 
self-support 
because 
of 
mental 
and/or 
physical 
9 
defect/disability. 
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(3) "Medical leave" means the leave benefits granted to a pregnant woman to 
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enable her to undergo a medical check-up related to her pregnancy, or to 
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any ailment or affliction she may be suffering from as a result of her 
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pregnancy. 
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(4) "Flexible work schedule" means the work schedule granted to a pregnant 
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employee allowing her to vary her arrival and departure time without 
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affecting the core work hours as defined by the employer. 
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SECTION 4. Criteria for Support. - Any pregnant woman whose income in the 
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place of domicile falls below the poverty threshold as set by the National Economic and 
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Development Authority (NEDA) and subject to the assessment of the DSWD worker in 
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the area shall be eligible for assistance: Provided, however, That any pregnant woman 
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whose income is above the poverty threshold shall enjoy the benefits mentioned in 
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Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Flexible Work Schedule. - The employer shall provide for a flexible 
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working schedule for pregnant women: Provided, That the same shall not affect 
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individual and company productivity: Provided, further, That any employer may request 
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exemption from the above requirements from the DOLE on certain meritorious grounds. 
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SECTION 6. Work Discrimination. -Without prejudice to the relevant provisions 
3 
of the Labor Code and the implementing rules thereto, no employer shall discriminate 
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against any pregnant woman employee with respect to terms and conditions of 
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employment on account of his/her status. 
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SECTION 7. Medical Leaves. - In addition to leave privileges under existing 
7 
laws, medical leaves of one (I) day during each month of the woman's pregnancy shall 
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be granted to enable her to undergo a medical check-up related to her pregnancy, or to 
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any ailment or affliction she may be suffering from as a result of her pregnancy: 
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Provided, she has previously furnished her employer a medical certificate confirming her 
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pregnancy and the ailment or affliction she may be suffering from as a result of her 
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pregnancy; Provided, further, She has rendered service of at least one (1) year prior to her 
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pregnancy: Provided, further, that the same shall not aflect individual and company 
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productivity: Provided, further, that each time she takes such medical leave, she notifies 
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her employer at least five (5) days in advance. 
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SECTION 8. Medical Assistance. - The DOH shall develop a comprehensive 
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health care program for pregnant women. The program shall be implemented by the 
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DOH, through their retained hospitals and medical centers, and the local government 
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units (LOUs) through their provincialldistrict/city/municipal hospitals and rural health 
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units. 
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SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - An interagency committee 
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headed by the DOLE, in coordination with the DSWD and DOH, is hereby established 
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which shall formulate, within ninety (90) days upon the effectivity of this Act, the 
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implementing rules and regulations in consultation with the LOUs, nongovernment 
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organizations and people's organizations. 
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SECTION 10. Any person, corporation, trust, finn, partnership, association or 
2 
entity found violating this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall 
3 
be punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000) or 
4 
imprisonment of not less than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months. 
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If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, 
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association or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the 
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entity's responsible officers, including, but not limited to, the president, vice-president, 
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chief executive officer, general manager, managing director or partner directly 
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responsible therefor. 
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SECTION 11. Nondiminution Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
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reduce any existing benefits of any form granted under existing laws, decrees, executive 
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orders, or any contract, agreement or policy between employer and employee. 
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SECTION 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
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of this Act shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the 
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General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
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administrative orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
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hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Separability Clause. - Ifany provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
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and effect. 
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SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
IdpmApril2015 
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