TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
593
TIME:
INDEX
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF FILIPINO MOTHERS AT THE TIME OF 
THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to implement reasonable, comprehensive, and effective health 
care liability reforms designed to improve the availability of health care services before, 
during, and after mothers give birth to her child. Given the high cost of medical 
accommodation and health insurance, there is not enough obstetrical service, 
especially in public hospitals.
Women, most especially in remote and underserved areas, have difficulty in 
finding available doctors and have to wait longer to secure appointments. This often 
results in delayed prenatal care and increased maternal risk. Moreover, access to 
specialists in maternal-fetal medicine—professionals with advanced training in 
managing high-risk pregnancies, and well-equipped hospitals, birthing clinics, and 
lying-in centers is severely lacking in many areas.
Based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there 
were 1,868 recorded maternal deaths from "any cause related to or aggravated by the 
pregnancy or its management." These deaths were highly correlated with the lack of 
access to quality healthcare for women in vulnerable populations.
Once this bill is enacted into law, the following measures will be implemented: 
1. Local Government Units (LGUs) are mandated to upgrade and improve 
devolved health services and medical facilities to provide quality EMOC.


2. LGUs shall encourage facility-based delivery among all women and shall 
retain health workers, (e.g. medical doctors, nurses, and midwives) who 
deliver these health services. For the purpose, the local health clinics and 
health offices as well as the satellite offices of the Department of Health are 
hereby mandated to be of 24-hour assistance to Filipino mothers.
3. LGUs are empowered to provide and formulate programs that will 
promote the increase in salaries and incentives of health workers.
In view hereof, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 5!
r;93
NDEX
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF FILIPINO MOTHERS AT THE TIME OF 
THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROVIDING PROTECTIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safeguarding Filipino
2 
Mothers During Childbirth Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -Consistent with the State policy to protect and
4 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them,
5 
and the constitutional declaration that the State shall enhance the welfare and safety
6 
of women, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to provide maximum
7 
safeguarding of Filipino mothers at the time of their childbirth.
8 
Sec. 3. Prohibition Against Maternal Care Refusal-Ho maternal hospital, clinic,
9 
health center, lying-in, midwifery facilities, or similar center, whether public or private,
10 
shall deny or refuse to assist, admit, or allow entry to a mother at the time of childbirth.
11 
These facilities shall ensure the highest level of safety mechanisms to prevent child
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switching, child trafficking, or the commission of any crime that may endanger the
13 
lives of both mother and child.
14 
Sec. 4. Upgrading of Facilities. - The respective local government units (LGUs),
15 
in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), are mandated to upgrade and
16 
improve devolved health services and medical facilities to provide quality Emergency
17 
Obstetric Care (EMOC).
18 
Sec. 5. Localized Healthcare. The LGUs shall encourage facility-based deliveries
19 
among all women and shall retain health workers, such as medical doctors, nurses.


1 
and midwives, who deliver these health services. Local health clinics and health offices,
2 
as well as satellite offices of the DOH, are hereby encouraged to provide 24-hour
3 
assistance to Filipino mothers. LGUs are further empowered to formulate and
4 
implement programs that will promote the increase in salaries and incentives of health
5 
workers.
6 
Sec. 6. Professionalization of Midwifery. To complement the provisions of this
7 
Act, the DOH, in coordination with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and
8 
the relevant midwifery organizations, shall further professionalize the practice of
9 
midwifery in the country and empower 
midwives to serve as key healthcare
10 
professionals in providing care to mothers and newborns, with the goal of reducing
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maternal and newborn mortality rates.
12 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DOH shall issue the necessary
13 
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
14 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be
15 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or the provisions not affected
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thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
17 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
18 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
19 
amended or modified accordingly.
20 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
21 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,