THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Education is a lifetime activity that empowers man with knowledge, skills and 
values necessary for survival and enhancement of life. From the womb to the grave, an 
individual studies and learns about himself, other persons, the world, the things around 
him, the universe. 
A person’s first teacher is his parent, usually his mother. Herein lies a major 
aspect of the parenting role: providing for the education of offspring so that they may be 
well equipped to face the multifarious demands of life and society. Needless to say, 
each parent must be prepared to handle the awesome responsibility if future members 
of Philippine society are to become fit and productive, 
Recognizing that infancy and childhood are the periods in the life of the individual 
when the information of the basic personality and character is most easily influenced, 
the mother‘s role in early education of infants, even that which starts at the womb, 
cannot be underestimated. This very important task must be initiated by the mother, 
who must herself be prepared and ready with the appropriate skills and knowledge of 
the first teacher and nurse. In her hands, the child waits to be molded into the healthy, 
wise and good adult he become. For Indeed, “the child is father of the man.” 
In support to this principle, this proposed measure provides for the establishment 
of a literacy program for all expectant mothers in all hospitals, clinics, health centers and 
other similar establishments. It seek to help build the capability of expectant parents in 
carrying out their responsibilities to their children and to a future generation of 
intelligent, morally upright, psychologically stable Filipinos. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
ClTO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THJRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
* 
914 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING THAT ALL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, HEALTH CENTERS AND 
OTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS RENDERING MATERNITY 
SERVICE SHALL ESTABLISH LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR ALL 
EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by fhe Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Declarafion of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to promote 
the provision of formal and informal venues for maternal literacy in the community level 
in order to assist parents in preparation of their vital role in the molding of a future 
generation of intelligent, morally upright, healthy and psychological stable Filipinos. 
SECTION 2. Coverage. All public and private hospitals, clinic, health centers and 
other similar establishments rendering maternity service shall provide literacy programs 
to all expectant mother within one (I) 
year from the effectivity of this Act. For this. 
purpose, the literacy programs shall include a reading and music room or corner in such 
establishments, equipped with reading materials such as nursery rhymes, bedtime 
stories and other children's book and where recorded music can be played. 
SECTION 3. LeadAgency. The Department of Health, In coordination with the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education, 
Culture and Sports (DECS), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act, that shall include the penalty of cancellation of 
license to operate plus payment of fines not less than Ten Thousand Pesos 
(P10,OOO.OO) 
but not to exceed One hundred thousand pesos (P1O0,OUU.OO). 


c 
SECTION 4. Appropriation. The amount needed for the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Health under the 
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the 
continued Implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act, 
SECTION 5. Effectivity, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) major newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved, .