TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
lew.fi- of;
25 AUG-6 PI 35
S. No.
SENATE
1027
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
TO REQUIRE THE GIVING OF FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICE TO 
INDIGENT CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
All children are entitled to the rights guaranteed by the laws of our country, 
without distinction and discrimination. Article XV, Section 3 (2) of the Constitution 
states that - "The State shall defend the right of the children to assistance including 
proper care and nutrition and special protection from all forms of neglect and abuse, 
cruelty, exploitation, other conditions prejudicial to their development."
This is magnified by the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 603 or the "Child 
and Youth Welfare Code", as amended, on the Rights of the Child, providing that 
under Article 3(4) that - "Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate 
clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention, and all basic physical 
requirements of a healthy and vigorous life." Chapter 5 Article 62 of the same Code 
even provides that - "If the child has special health problems, his parents shall be 
entitled to such assistance from the government as may be necessary for his care and 
treatment in addition to other benefits provided for under existing law."


It is a major cause of concern that despite all these safeguards, the rampant 
practice of certain hospital's refusal to attend to the medical and dental needs of street 
children despite the urgency of such need due to the parent's or guardian's inability 
to provide "deposits" is still practiced. We should put an end to such practice by 
providing for a law that would require both private and public hospitals and clinics to 
render free medical and dental services to indigent children, and penalizing those who 
will violate such requirement.
This bill requires all medical institutions to extend health services to indigent 
children, which includes but is not necessarily limited to street children. Only through 
a concrete legislative measure can we fully realize the principles and policies sought 
to be effected by the various laws protecting the rights of the child.
In line with the State's evolving agenda on defending the rights of the child, 
the immediate passage of this bill is profoundly sought.
lY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 10S7
v, "'; \ F ■■
Cl[ I 1 
■
25 AUG-6 PI 35
Rl'Ct!V::u fcV,
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
TO REQUIRE THE GIVING OF FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICE TO 
INDIGENT CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Indigent Children Free
2 
Medical and Dental Service Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Children are the future of Philippine
4 
society. Upon this premise, it is hereby declared the policy of the state to provide all
5 
the possible assistance it could provide to children especially those who are
6 
unfortunate to have no means of support or no one to support them.
7 
Sec. 3. Indigent Children; Definition. - Indigent children are those below
8 
eighteen (18) years old of age who has no visible means of support or whose parents
9 
or guardians have no means of providing for their immediate medical and dental
10 
needs.
11 
Sec. 4. Free Medical Service. - All hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other
12 
health institutions that provide frontline medical services throughout the Philippines
13 
are hereby mandated under this Act to provide free medical treatment to indigent
14 
children.
15 
Sec. 5. Free Dental Service. - All dental clinics, medical centers and other
16 
health institutions that provide frontline dental healthcare throughout the country are
17 
mandated under this Act to provide free dental healthcare to Indigent children.
1


1 
Sec. 6. DSWD and DOH Function. - The Department of Social Welfare and
2 
Development (DSWD) in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) shall be
3 
the lead agencies in the implementation of this Act. The DSWD shall determine if the
4 
child Is indeed an indigent while the DOH shall coordinate with the implementation of
5 
the free medical and dental services to indigent children.
6 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
7 
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
8 
enactment into law and thereafter.
9 
Sec. 8. Separabiiity Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
10 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected
11 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.
12 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decrees or issuance, executive
13 
orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
14 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended
15 
accordingly.
16 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date
17 
of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,