Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE:
Quezon City, Metro Manila |
i

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

Hatseiaa Ne. 2566 =

Introduced by Hon. WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate the deployment of at least one (1) registered midwife in every
barangay in the country.

In a country where poverty remains to be one of the toughest challenges to overcome,
poor and unemployed mothers’ struggle to find ways of putting a meal on their table is
constant. Their health and that of their children take the back seat. These poor mothers are
highly at risk of dying due to pregnancy and childbirth because of lack of access to quality
health services.

The lack of adequate parental care and access to health services forced pregnant
women to give birth in their homes with no skilled birth professional in attendance. These
mothers surely do not receive postpartum/postnatal care. In such occurrences, infant and
maternal mortality is not uncommon.

Infant and maternal mortality rate are still alarmingly high in the country. Data shows
that we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region. According to a data on
maternal mortality ratio for the Philippines. by World Bank — (see:
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.MMRT?locations=PH), the Philippine Maternal
Mortality Rate is at 115 per 100,000 live births as of 2015. These new born babies lose their
mothers before they even have the ability to open their eyes. A huge improvement from the
162 maternal deaths in 2010 but still a far cry from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
target of reducing it to 52 maternal deaths.

Over the years, the country has seen progress for services and programs for mother and
children such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), public-private partnerships, inter-
city health agreements and referral system, national health insurance coverage, enactment of
reproductive health law, and healthcare innovations in local government units. Despite the


same, it remains a challenge for the local government units, especially in far flung barangays, to
have access to maternal healthcare professionals such as midwives.

This bill seeks to mandate the deployment of at least one (1) registered midwife in every
barangay in the country to complement with existing professional medical personnel in the
locality. This will ensure that medical personnel will be readily available to provide prenatal and
post natal care, breastfeeding support, providing information on the importance of
immunization and proper vaccination, care and nutrition for both mothers and infants.

Consequently, this bill seeks to be guided by the recommended ratio of one (1) midwife
for every 5,000 population. The number of midwives will also be increased in barangays where
the residents exceed 5,000.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

——~

—2
WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II
1 District, Zamboanga Sibugay


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

2566

House Bill No.

Introduced By HON. WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II

AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE MIDWIFE FOR EACH BARANGAY,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Midwife to the
Barangay Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. —\t is hereby declared the policy of the
State to equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from
conception. Likewise, it shall prioritize the right to health of the people and instil
health consciousness among them. Pursuant to this, the State shall adopt an
integrated approach to health development which shall endeavour to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all peoples.

The State recognizes the vital role played by midwives in reducing maternal
and newborn child mortality. Toward this end, this Act shall mandate the
appointment of midwives for each barangay to improve our maternal healthcare
as well as give our people wider access to health services.


SECTION 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:

a) To reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the country;

b) To improve maternal and neonatal health; and

c) To provide quality and efficient healthcare services, especially in the field of
maternal and infant healthcare.

SECTION 4. Ratio of Midwives to the Barangay.- It shall be mandatory for all
barangays with population exceeding five thousand (5,000) to be equipped with
one (1) midwife; Provided, that if the population of a barangay exceeds five
thousand (5,000), the number of midwives shall be increased, as may be
determined by the Department of Health (DOH).

SECTION 5. Role of Midwives to the Barangay. — It is the role of the
midwife to assess the condition of mothers during their pregnancy, labor, and
after birth; monitor and examine pregnant mothers; to assist the pregnant
mothers during labor and delivery; make diagnosis and assessment of the
mother’s condition and shall refer to obstetricians and other specialist in the
occurrence of any abnormality; ensure quality and essential health and nutritional
care services to both mother and their new born; provide breastfeeding support;
providing information on the importance of immunization and vaccination as
provided for in the DOH Expanded Program for Immunization.

SECTION 6. Qualifications of Midwives. — Within one (1) month from the
passage of this Act, DOH shall provide Basic Emergency Obstetric Care and
Newborn Care training, or such similar trainings as the DOH may deem necessary,
to all midwives to the barangays. Thereafter, the DOH is hereby mandated to
provide a Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care and Newborn Care training,
and such other trainings deemed necessary, at least once in every fiscal year after
this Act shall have taken effect.


SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder or any provisions thereof not affected
shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,