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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
(11)lh·;1', uf lite i'f'nYtM~ 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2830 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'i ':; 
JUN -l) P 4 :38 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL COLLECTION OF DATA ON STILLBIRTHS 
IN A STANDARDIZED MANNER, PROVIDING FOR INFORMATION 
AND RESEARCH PROGRAM ON STILLBIRTHS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 12 provides, 
Section 12. 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. 
Stillbirths is a common tragic occurrence which can strike any pregnant woman 
from the lowest to the highest income bracket, from the educated to the less educated 
strata of society. In the Philippines, one in forty (1/40) pregnancies results in stillbirths 
and early neonatal deaths. This is relatively high compared to countries like the United 
States which records one stillbirth in one hundred fifteen deliveries (1/115). 
There is a dearth of information available which can explain the occurrence of 
stillbirths which can happen even in seemingly normal and healthy pregnancies. This 
compounds the anguish caused by stillbirths to expecting parents and their family 
members who had no warning that such a tragedy would occur. 
1 


This bill directs the proper government agency to collect information on stillbirths 
on a national level and provides for information dissemination and research program for 
the fonnulation of risk reduction measures,l 
1 This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2830 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
':5 
JUN -B P4 :JS 
! 
l, ;:' 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL COLLECTION OF DATA ON STILLBIRTHS 
IN A STANDARDIZED MANNER, PROVIDING FOR INFORMATION 
AND RESEARCH PROGRAM ON STILLBIRTHS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Stillbirth Awareness 
2 
and Research Act." 
3 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -
4 
(a) Statistics available from the National Statistics Office on stillbirths and early 
5 
neonatal deaths show that approximately one (1) in every forty (40) pregnancies result in 
6 
stillbirths. While there can be various possible causes of stillbirths such as cord accidents, 
7 
infections, genetic anomalies, among others, the incidence of stillbirth remains 
8 
unpredictable and occurs for no determinable medical reason. Presently, risk reduction 
9 
measures are not in place so as to protect expecting parents from the emotional anguish 
10 
caused by stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. 
11 
(b) Therefore, a repository of data collected in a standard manner can provide 
12 
useful information for the study and analysis of stillbirths and for the formulation of 
13 
effective risk reduction measures. 
14 
(c) This act shall be in accord with the State policy to recognize the sanctity of 
15 
family life and to protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social 
1 


1 
institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from 
2 
conception. 
3 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
4 
(1) "DOH" shall refer to the Department of Health; 
5 
(2) "PIA" shall refer to the Philippine Information Agency; and 
6 
(3) "Stillbirth" shall refer to fetal death in pregnancies lasting seven or more 
7 
months. 
8 
SECTION 4. National Stillbirth Registry - The State shall establish a National 
9 
Stillbirth Registry, the custodian of which shall be the proper government agency 
10 
competent and able to maintain such national registry. 
11 
The National Stillbirth Registry shall serve the following purposes: 
12 
1. To provide a national repository for reporting and maintaining III a 
13 
standardized manner data on stillbirths; 
14 
2. To make such data available for research on the causes and prevention of 
15 
stillbirths; 
16 
3. The registry shall include information on the stillborn fetus and information 
17 
on the mother's health and pregnancy condition. 
18 
4. Determination of standard stillbirth definition and protocol. 
19 
a. The DOH shall provide for the standard definition of stillbirth and a 
20 
standard protocol for stillbirth data collection. 
21 
b. The DOH shall ensure that the standard definition of stillbirth and 
22 
the standard protocol described above are developed in a manner 
23 
that ensures consultations with representatives from health care 
24 
organizations, local government, and other interested parties. 
2 


1 
SECTION 5. National Public Awareness Campaign. - The DOH in cooperation 
2 
with the PIA shall carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and 
3 
knowledge of stillbirths. 
4 
Activities under the national campaign shall include: 
5 
1. The dissemination of information on measures for mothers to maintain a 
6 
healthy pregnancy and assess fetal health; 
7 
2. The dissemination of information on good prenatal care practices such as 
8 
not drinking alcohol or smoking; and 
9 
3. The promotion of fetal movement awareness and taking proactive steps to 
10 
monitor a baby's movement beginning at approximately 28 weeks into the 
11 
pregnancy. 
12 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
13 
of this Act, are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
14 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
15 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
16 
provisions hereof. 
17 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
18 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
19 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
20 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
21 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldp5June20 15 
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