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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPrJBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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F,Q -9 p:,: 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution, Article 11, Section 12 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. 
Stillbirths is a common tragic occurrence which can strike any pregnant woman 
from the lowest to the highest income bracket, from the educated to the less educated 
strata of society. In the Philippines, one in forty (1/40) pregnancies results in stillbirths 
and early neonatal deaths. This is relatively high compared to countries like the United 
States which records one stillbirth in one hundred fifteen deliveries (1/115). 
There is a dearth of information available which can explain the occurrence of 
stillbirths which can happen even in seemingly normal and healthy pregnancies. This 
compounds the anguish caused by stillbirths to expecting parents and their family 
members who had no warning that such a tragedy would occur. 
This bill directs the proper government agency to collect information on stillbirths 
on a national level and provides for information dissemination and research program for 
the formulation of risk reduction measures. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
Second Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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9 
FEB -9 P% 50 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL COLLECTION OF DATA ON STILLBIRTHS IN A 
STANDARDIZED MANNER, PROVIDING FOR INFORMATION AND RESEARCH 
PROGRAM ON STILLBTRTHS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Stillbirth Awareness 
and Research Act of 2009." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - 
(a) Statistics available from the National Statistics Office on stillbirths and early 
neonatal deaths show that approximately one (1) in every forty (40) pregnancies 
result in stillbirths. While there can be various possible causes of stillbirths such 
as cord accidents, infections, genetic anomalies, among others, the incidence of 
stillbirth remains unpredictable and occurs for no determinable medical reason. 
Presently, risk reduction measures are not in place so as to protect expecting 
parents from the emotional anguish caused by stillbirths and early neonatal 
deaths. 
(b) Therefore, a repository of data collected in a standard manner can pr-ovide useful 
information for the study and analysis of stillbirths and for the formulation of 
effective risk reduction measures. 
(c) This act shall be in accord with the State policy to recognize the sanctity of family 
life and to protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social 
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institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn 
from conception. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
are defined 
(1) “DOH” - shall refer to the Department of Health. 
(2) “PIA” - Philippine Information Agency 
(3) “Stillbirth” - Stillbirths are fetal deaths in pregnancies lasting seven or more 
months 
SECTION 4. National Stillbirth Registry - The State shall establish a National 
Stillbirth Registry, the custodian of which shall be the proper government agency 
competent and able to maintain such national registry. 
The National Stillbirth Registry shall serve the following purposes: 
1. To provide a national repository for reporting and maintaining in a 
standardized manner data on stillbirths; 
2. To make such data available for research on the causes and prevention of 
stillbirths; 
3. The registry shall include information on the stillborn fetus and 
information on the mother’s health and pregnancy condition. 
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4. Determination of standard stillbirth definition and protocol. 
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a. The Department of Health (DOH) shall provide for the standard 
definition of stillbirth and a standard protocol for stillbirth data 
collection. 
b. The Department of Health shall ensure that the standard definition 
of stillbirth and the standard protocol described above are 
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developed in a manner that ensures consultations with 
representatives from health care organizations, local government, 
and other interested parties. 
SECTION 5. National Public Awareness Campaign 
The Department of Health (DOH) in cooperation with the Philippine Information 
Agency (PIA) shall carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and 
knowledge of stillbirths. 
Activities under the national campaign shall include: 
1. The dissemination of information on measures for mothers to maintain a 
healthy pregnancy and assess fetal health; 
2. The dissemination of information on good prenatal care practices such as 
not drinking alcohol or smoking; and 
3. The promotion of fetal movement awareness and taking proactive steps to 
monitor a baby’s movement beginning at approximately 28 weeks into the 
pregnancy. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act, are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Eflectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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