Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD AND 
OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 12 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution has declared as State Policy the recognition 
of the sanctity of family life and mandating the state to protect and strengthen the family as 
a basic autonomous social institution. In the same manner, the Constitution equally protects 
the life of the mother but more importantly the life of the unborn from conception. 
Every child is dubbed by our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, as the hope of our nation. However, 
how can hope even blossom when the right of a budding life is not protected from its onset? 
Indeed, children, as well as women, are already considered one of the most vulnerable sectors 
in society. In such a case, how much more vulnerable are the unborn? 
This moral and legal obligation should become a priority notwithstanding the postulate of our 
Constitution in guaranteeing the right to life such that no one shall be deprived of life without 
due process of law. (Section 1, Article III of the 1987 Constitution). Hence, this bill defines 
who is the unborn and when life begins, further, it evokes the unborn child possesses human 
rights and that the life of the unborn child is of utmost priority. In addition, it guarantees the 
protection and safety of the unborn more, particularly against abortifacients. This protection 
extends from conception as it is when life has been deemed to have begun. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 16, 2022
1:08 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD AND 
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 Protection of the Unborn Child 
Act of 2022.  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and 
shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. As stated in 
Article II, Section 12, of the Philippine Constitution: 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. The 
natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency 
and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government. 
It recognizes the Filipino family including the unborn child as the foundation of the nation and 
pledges to strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development. It recognizes 
the right to life as the most fundamental right of all without and from which all other rights 
become meaningless. 
The Constitutional and natural right to life and protection of the unborn child is an absolute 
value and norm that cannot be repealed by ordinary legislation, now or in the future. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. – The following are the objectives of this bill: 
a) This act aims to promote the safety, protection, and welfare of the unborn child from
the moment of conception and during all stages of development while inside the
mother's womb;
b) It acknowledges the unborn child as a human being with human personality and
extends the mantle of legal protection to the child from the moment of conception;
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c) It ensures that the delivery of health services to the mother during pregnancy shall be 
done without prejudice to the unborn child; 
 
d) It promotes and advances the maturity of the unborn child as a welcome addition and 
asset to the family; and 
 
e) It aims to enhance the health of the mother by avoiding means that may adversely 
affect the viability of the unborn child in all stages of its maturity. 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows: 
a) Unborn - refers to a child at any stage of existence and development beginning from 
the union of the sperm and the egg until the birth stage; 
 
b) Conception / Fertilization - refers to the precise moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, 
which is when a new life is formed distinct in his/her existence and genetic make-up 
from both the father and the mother. 
 
c) Implantation - refers to that stage of the development of human life that takes place 
around five days after fertilization when the fertilized egg is implanted in the ovum. 
 
d) Fetal development - refers to the scientifically established development process of the 
beginning of human life from the union of the sperm and egg until the birth of the 
child that at no point during this time we could say that this was not a human life, with 
the changes occurring between fertilization, implantation, a six-week embryo, a six-
month fetus until birth.  
 
e) Abortion - any act or practice whether done intentionally or unintentionally, such as 
through pilot (or abdominal massage) administration of certain medicines or herbal 
concoctions, suction, hysterectomy saline injection, various formulations of the 
Morning After Pill or Levonorgestrel or other similar means or device, and substances 
whether used singly or in combination with other substances, that cause or recklessly 
endanger or result in injury, damage, expulsion, interference in the natural 
development of the fetus, or death of the unborn child.  
 
f) Abortive acts - abortion practiced by the woman herself or by her parents; abortion 
practiced by a physician or midwife dispensing abortive; any pharmacist who, without 
the proper prescription from a physician, dispenses abortive; as it is illegal in the 
Philippines and is penalized as a crime under the Revised Penal Code (Acts. 256-259). 
 
g) Abortifacient - any device, medicine, substance, or practice which may damage, injure, 
interfere or recklessly endanger or cause the expulsion or death of the unborn child. 
 
h) Human Personality – refers to the status that is gained and attached to the unborn 
child from the moment of conception. 


 
i) Parental right – refers to the right of parents to give consent when minors are involved 
in any decision or disposition relating to the unborn at any stage of development.  
SECTION 5. Human Rights of the Unborn Child. – The unborn child shall possess and 
enjoy all human rights that are conferred to other persons by law; it shall be entitled first and 
foremost to the right to life, safety and protection while still in the mother's womb. 
SECTION 6. Protection Against Abortive Acts. – The unborn child shall be protected 
from abortive acts including the use, administration, dispensing, injection, or delivery by 
whatever means of substances, medicines in any form, or practices such as massages, which 
are hereby declared as abortifacients which cause may recklessly endanger or expose the 
unborn child to damage, injury or death, whether committed by the mother, a physician or 
other person, intentionally or not, without consent of the mother or committed with or without 
violence. 
SECTION 7. The extent of Protection. – The unborn child shall be protected from the 
moment of conception from all outside intervention, including, but not limited to, an 
intentional intervention that could be medically considered abortive whether through 
chemicals, surgical or abdominal massage, during the natural process of growth of the 
fertilized ovum. 
SECTION 8. Parental Rights and State Power Over the Unborn Child. – The rights of 
parents of a minor with an unborn child shall be superior to that of the state in all instances 
involving the safety, protection, and welfare of the unborn child and the mother, and shall not 
be affected by social stigma, laws, regulations, government policy considerations, health, 
racial or religious concerns.  
SECTION 9. Prohibited Acts and Penalties. – The acts constituting abortion, intentional 
abortion, and similar acts as the same are defined and penalized in Arts. 255 to 259 of the 
Revised Penal Code and shall constitute and be deemed as prohibited acts under this Act but 
the same shall be penalized with penalties that are one degree higher than those provided for 
in the said laws.  
SECTION 10. Penalties. – The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over 
violations of this Act the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to imprisonment 
ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos 
(P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the 
discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon 
the president, treasurer, secretary, or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien 
shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the 
Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the 
accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service.  
Violators of this Act shall be civilly liable to the offended party in a such amount at the 
discretion of the proper court. 


SECTION 11. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting.  
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules, and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,