THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
s.B.‘N~. 807 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
All children are entitled to the rights guaranteed by the laws of our country, 
without distinction and discrimination, Article XV, Section 3 (2) of the Constitution states 
that: 
“The State shall defend the right of the children to assistance, 
including proper care and nutritidn and special protection from all forms of 
neglect and abuse, cruelty, exploitation, other conditions prejudicial to 
their development. 
This is magnified by the provisions of PD 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare 
Code, as amended, on the Rights of the Child, providing that: 
“Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, 
sufficient shelter, proper medical attention, and all the basic physical 
requirements of a healthy and vigorous life.’’ (Art. 3 (4)). 
It is a major cause of concern that despite all these safeguards, the rampant 
practice of certain hospitals’ refusal to attend to the medical and dental needs of street 
children despite the immediacy and the urgency of such need due to the street children’s 
inability to provide “deposits” is still practiced. 
We should put an end to such practice by providing for a law that would require 
both public and private hospitals and clinics to render free medical and dental services to 
indigent children, and penalizing those who will violate such requirement. This bill 
requires all medical institutions to extend health services to indigent children, which 
includes but is not necessarily limited to street children. Only through a concrete 


legislative measure can we fully realize the principles and policies sought to be effected 
by the various laws protecting the rights of the child. 
In line with the State’s evolving agenda on defending the rights of the child, the 
immediate passage of this bill is profoundly sought. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC; OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
"Oil 
J&;; -jtj 30 
:&I2 
First Regular Session 
1 
S.B. No. 883 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, MEDICAL CENTERS, 
CLINICS, INFIRMARIES, PUERICULTURE CENTERS TO GIVE FREE MEDICAL 
AND DENTAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. All government and private hospitals, medical centers, clinics, 
infirmaries or puericulture centers duly licensed to operate as such, are hereby required 
to render medical and dental services to indigent children, regardless of whether or not 
they are in danger of dying and/or may have suffered physical injuries requiring 
immediate medical attention. 
For purposes of this Act, an "indigent child is an unemancipated child below 
eighteen (18) years of age who has health problems requiring medical and dental 
services for his care and treatment, taking into account the following factors: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
the age of the child; 
the financial condition of the family; 
the degree of deprivation of parental care and support; and 
(d) 
the inability of his parents to exercise parental authority. 
SECTION 2. The expenses and losses of earnings incurred by a private 
hospitals, medical center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture center; or by an individual 
physician or dentist for medicine, facilities and services extended to the care and 
treatment of an indigent child as required herein in an amount not exceeding 
P300,OOO.OO per year, shall be deductible expenses and losses for income tax 
purposes which may be carried over for a period of five years, any provision of law, 
decree, executive order or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding. 


SECTION 3. Any hospital director, administrator, officer-in-charge, physician, or 
dentist in a hospital, medical center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture center who shall 
refuse or fail without good cause to render the appropriate medical or dental service 
pursuant to Section One of this Act, after this case has been brought to his/her 
attention, or any nurse, mid-wife, medical or dental attendant who shall refuse to extend 
the appropriate assistance, subject to existing rules, or neglects to notify or call the 
attention of a physician or dentist in attendance, shall be punished with imprisonment of 
at least one (I) 
year, but not more that Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000.00), or both 
fine and imprisonment at the sound discretion of the Court. 
In the case of government hospitals, medical centers, clinics, infirmaries, or 
puericulture centers, the imposition of the appropriate penalties upon the person or 
persons guilty of the violation of this Act shall be without prejudice to the administrative 
action that may be proper. 
In the case of private hospitals, medical centers, clinics, infirmaries, or 
puericulture centers, the license to operate shall be suspended or revoked. 
SECTION 4..The Department of Health in coordination with the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development shall have the authority to promulgate the necessary 
rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. 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 6. This Act shall take effeat fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,