FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
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 will 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. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILWPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S.B.No. 13'9 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER 
SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS 
RENDERING 
MATERNITY 
SERVICES 
TO 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
ESTABLISH LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR ALL EXPECTANT" PARENTS AND 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congvess 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. 
SECTION 2. Coverage. - All 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 pioviding 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 
cliild. 
SECTION 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 
(Pl00,000.00). 
SECTION 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. 


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