Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE MIDWIFE FOR EACH BARANGAY, AND 
OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Midwives play a key role in delivering patient-focused services that are accessible, affordable, and 
appropriate to the needs of patients, as individuals, and their families. Midwives comprise one of 
the largest occupational groups in the public and private health system in the Philippines. They 
work in the private or public sector in hospitals, birthing clinics, barangay health stations, or rural 
health units. In rural areas, they are the first point of contact for patients coming into the health 
system. Truly, the midwifery profession is central to the delivery of an effective health service, 
particularly in rural areas. 
Having said that, the increased community presence of midwives in rural areas is a step towards 
strengthening primary healthcare and ensuring the adequacy of professional healthcare 
practitioners in rural areas.  
This bill thus mandates the provision of one midwife in each barangay. 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 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 healthcare services.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 14, 2022
5:57 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE MIDWIFE FOR EACH BARANGAY, AND 
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”. 
Sec. 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 regarding 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.  
Sec. 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).  
Sec. 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 the quality and 
essential health care services, including, but not limited to, pre-natal 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, and such other 
duties as shall be determined by the DOH.  
Sec. 5. Appointment of Midwives to the Barangay. – Every city, first and second-class 
municipality, by the Local Government Code of Philippines, shall appoint a midwife in their 
respective barangays: Provided, That for third to sixth-class municipalities under first and second-
class provinces, the province shall appoint a midwife in every clustered barangay: Provided 
further, That for third to sixth class municipalities under third to sixth class provinces, the DOH, 
through its center for health development, shall appoint a midwife in every clustered barangay. 
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DOH shall immediately determine which areas need midwives. Priority in appointments shall be 
given to remote areas where no existing healthcare professionals are providing the healthcare 
services of the population and areas which have high maternal mortality rates.  
 
Sec. 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.  
 
Sec. 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 training on Comprehensive 
Emergency Obstetric Care.  
 
Sec. 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.” 
  
Sec. 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. 
 
Sec. 10. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall 
be charged against the appropriations of the DOH. For the LGUs, the requirements shall be taken 
from their internal revenue allotment and other local funds. Thereafter, such funds as may be 
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the appropriations of 
the DOH and the respective LGUs.  
 
Sec. 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.  
 
Sec. 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.  
 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. – This Act takes effect immediately after its publication in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,