FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them 
Postpartum depression is a devastating mood disorder which strikes many women 
during and after pregnancy. Postpartum mood changes are common and can be broken 
into three subgroups: 'baby blues,' characterized by mood swings, feelings of being 
overwhelmed, tearfulness, irritability, poor sleep, mood changes, and a sense of 
vulnerability, and is an extremely common and the less severe form of postpartum 
depression; postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, which are more severe than baby 
blues and can occur during pregnancy and anytime within the first year of the infant's 
birth; and postpartum psychosis, which is the most extreme form of postpartum 
depression and can occur during pregnancy and up to twelve months after delivery, and 
its symptoms include losing touch with reality, distorted thinking, delusions, auditory 
hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or mania. 
Although experts offered theories that might explain this disorder, the causes of 
postpartum depression are complex and unknown at this time. Furthermore, it is 
estimated that there were 126,826 cases of postpartum depression in the Philippines in 
2004, but this number has been heavily measured through statistical extrapolation rather 
than an actual count. This complete lack of statistics and information concerning this 
disorder is alarming. If this disorder goes undiagnosed and/or untreated, postpartum 
depression can lead to further depression, substance abuse, loss of employment, divorce 


and further social alienation, self-destructive behavior, or even suicide. Other known 
sociological impacts include negative effects on the infant's physical and psychological 
development, child abuse, neglect or death of the infant or other siblings, and the 
disruption o€the family. 
But postpartum depression is a treatable disorder if promptly diagnosed by a 
trained provider and attended to with a personalized regimen of care including social 
support, therapy, medication, and, when necessary, hospitalization. Research and public 
information campaigns is valuable in the diagnosis and treatment, and could eliminate the 
social stigma surrounding depression and mental illness, the myth of motherhood, the 
new mother's inability to self-diagnose her condition, the new mother's shame or 
embarrassment over discussing her depression so near to the birth of her child, the lack of 
understanding in society and the medical community of the complexity of postpartum 
depression.' 
' This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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BY : . 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 749 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR RESEARCH 
ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the “Postpartum Depression 
Research Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Dej5nition. - For the purposes of this Act, the term 
(A) “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health; 
(B) “Postpartum conditions” shall refer to the complex combination of 
physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that occur in a mother 
after giving birth, ranging from mild to severe depression. 
SECTION 3. Research on Postpartum Depression and Psychosis. - 
(A) In General- The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National 
Center for Mental Health (in this section referred to as the “Center”), shall 
expand and intensify research and related activities of the Center with 
respect to postpartum conditions. 
(B) Coordination With Other Centers- The Director of the Center shall 
coordinate the activities of the Director under subsection (A) with similar 
activities conducted by the other national research centers and agencies of 
the Department ofHealth to the extent that such centers and agencies have 
responsibilities that are related to postpartum conditions. 
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(C) Programs for Postpartum Conditions- In carrying out subsection (A), 
the Director of the Center shall conduct or support research to expand the 
understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, postpartum 
conditions. Activities under such subsection shall include conducting and 
supporting the following: 
(1) basic research concerning the etiology and causes of the 
conditions; 
(2) epidemiological studies to address the frequency and natural 
history of the conditions; 
(3) development of improved diagnostic techniques; 
(4) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of new 
treatments, including new biological agents; and 
(5) information and education programs for health care 
professionals and the public. 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the 
General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
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SECTION 5. 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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and effect. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
SECTION 7. Efecectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
Approved, 
/ptmt 28May07 
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