REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
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Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a maternal and infant health home visitation 
program in the country. This has already been approved by the House of 
Representatives on its 3rd and final reading in the 17th Congress. However, it has 
not yet ripened into a law. On account of its importance in protecting the life of 
the mother and the life of the unborn from conception, this bill is respectfully filed. 
Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “(t)he State values the 
dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights”. 
Section 12, Article II thereof also provides that “the State recognizes the sanctify 
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...” 
The constitutional mandate prescribing protection of the mother and the 
unborn from the State is unequivocal. Today, the prevalence of early pregnancy 
among minors, as young as twelve years of age, is very alarming. Young 
mothers, unmarried as they are, indubitably expose themselves to the challenges 
of rearing their children at their juvenile age. Without government intervention, 
the risk of maternal and infant mortality is high especially to families of the poor 
and the marginalized.  
July 8, 2022
12:16 pm
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Through the maternal and infant health home visitation program, the 
mother and the child will be given better protection and an opportunity to a 
healthy life. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH HOME VISITATION 
PROGRAM 
Be it enacted by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives in
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. –This Act shall be known as the “Expanded Maternal 
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and Infant Care Act”. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is a policy of the State to equally protect the 
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life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. In line with this 
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policy, the State shall, in addition  to maternity care services provided in health 
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facilities, administer prenatal and postnatal maternity and infant care  services 
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under a home visitation program in order to protect the health and well-being of 
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mothers and infants.  
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SEC. 3. Definition of Term – As used in this Act, the term “poor” shall refer to 
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income brackets that fall below the poverty threshold defined by the Philippine 
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Statistics Authority (PSA) based on the most recent Family Income and 
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Expenditure Survey (FIES). 
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SEC. 4. Establishment of Maternal and Infant Health Home Visitation Program. 
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– The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) shall require health centers 
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to designate an appropriate health professional or a qualified nonprofessional 
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acting under the supervision of a health care professional who shall render 
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maternal and infant care services in the home of eligible individuals. 
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SEC. 5. Eligibility to Avail of Home Visitation Services.- A pregnant woman not 
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more than twenty-one (21) years old, or families with an infant up to the age of 
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one (1)year, belonging to the low-income brackets below the poverty threshold 
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shall be eligible to receive the maternal and infant care services provided under 
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this Act. 
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Sec. 6. Maternal and Infant Health Services. – The maternal and infant care 
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services that shall be provided in the home of eligible individuals shall include 
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the following: 
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(a) Instruction and counseling concerning all aspects of prenatal care, 
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childbirth, and motherhood; 
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(b) Nutrition counseling; 
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(c) General family counseling, including child and family development; 
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and 
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(d) Physical examination or referral for further medical care for a mother 
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and/or infant. 
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Sec. 7.  Prohibition on Abortion. – Any maternal and infant care service which 
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shall be made available under this Act shall not be constructed to advocate, 
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promote, or encourage abortion. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or 
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amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 10. Effectively. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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