Introduced by en. Jinggoy Ejereito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
All children are entitled to the rights guaranteed by the laws of our country, 
without distinction and discrimination. Article W ,  Section 3 (2) of the Constitution states 
that: 
“The State shall defend the right of the children to assistance 
including proper care and nutrition 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. 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT TQ REQUIRE THE GIVING OF FREE MEDICAL AND 
DENTAL SERVICE TO %NDIGENT CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by tke Senate and House of Rep~esentatiaes of tlze Philippines in Congress 
assenzbled. 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Indigent 
Children Free Medical and Dental Sewice Act.” 
SEC. 2. DecZaration of PoZicy. - Children are the future of Philippine 
society. Upon this premise, it is hereby declared the policy of the state to provide 
all the possible assistance it could provide to children specially those who are 
unfortunate to have no means of support or no one to support them. 
SEC. 3. Indigent ChiZdren, Definition. - Indigent children are those below 
18 years old of age who have no visible means of support or whose parents or 
guardians have no means of providing for their immediate medical and dental 
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needs. 
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SEC. 4. Free Medical Semice. - All hospitals, medical centers, clinics and 
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other institutions that provide frontline medical services throughout the 
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Philippines are hereby mandated under this Act to provide free medical 
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treatment to indigent children. 
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SEC. 5. Free Dental Seruice - All dental clinics, medical centers and other 
institutions that provide frontline dental healthcare throughout the country are 
mandated under this Act to provide free dental healthcare to indigent children, 
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SEC. 6. D S W  and DOH Function. - The Department of Social Welfare 
and Development in coordination with the Department of Health shall be the 
lead agencies in the implementation of this Act. The DSWD shall determine if 
the child is indeed an indigent while the Department of Health shall coordinate 
with the implementation of the free medical and dental services to indigent 
children. 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amourit necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the 
year. following its enactment into law and theredter. 
SEC. 8, Separability CZause. - If any portion or provision of this Act were 
to be declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 9. Repeazing CZause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of hstruction, rule or reg-ulation inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days from the date 
of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of 
general circulations. 
Approved, 
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