Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF MATERNITY PACKAGES TO PREGNANT 
FILIPINO WOMEN BELONGING TO THE LOW-INCOME GROUP, PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, in 2020, there a total of 
1,528,684 live births were registered in the Philippines. There is an average of 4,177 
bases born daily or around 174 babies born per hour and approximately 3 babies born 
per minute1. 
The 1987 Constitution2 provides that: 
The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will 
ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free 
the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate 
social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of 
living, and an improved quality of life for all. 
Given the high number of births recorded in the Philippines, the passage of this 
bill will benefit a lot of Filipino families. This bill will ensure that those families who are 
in dire need of financial support with regard to the expenses to childbirth will be 
supported by the government.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is necessary. 
1 Registered Live Births in the Philippines, 2020 available at https://psa.gov.ph/content/registered-live-
births-philippines-2020 (last accessed on October 6, 2022). 
2 Section 9, Article II, 1987 Constitution. 
October 7, 2022
9:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF MATERNITY PACKAGES TO PREGNANT 
FILIPINO WOMEN BELONGING TO THE LOW-INCOME GROUP, PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the Hoke of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Maternity Kit Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the role of women 
in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at an 
affordable cost, particularly to indigent pregnant women and their children.  
SECTION 3. Maternity Kit for Pregnant Filipino Women Program. – This Act 
hereby establishes the Maternity Kit Program which may be availed of by expectant 
mothers who have already been identified as poor or near-poor based on the 
Standardized Targeting System under Republic Act No. 11310, otherwise known as 
the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act." The expectant mothers must be 
identified by the barangays as belonging to the poor or near-poor demographic under 
RA No. 11310. 
In order to qualify, pregnant women must avail of pre-natal services, give birth 
in a health facility attended by a skilled health professional, and receive post-partum 
care and post-natal care for her newborn. 
The maternity kit, to be distributed once free of charge to qualified beneficiaries, 
shall contain necessary items such as a blanket, diapers, gauze, towels, nappies, 
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bedding, cloth/fabric, and childcare products. Additional content may be added to the 
maternity kit subject to the discretion of the implementing agency. The content of the 
maternity kit shall be updated by the implementing agency every two (2) years. 
 
SECTION 4. Implementing Agency. – The Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) shall serve as the central planning, implementing, and 
monitoring body of the Program. 
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current and 
subsequent General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
after the approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, 
shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation hereof. 
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any portion of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions not so affected. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules 
and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,