FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It has been observed that there is a deficiency in the dissemination of information 
regarding health care information to women. Many women are not conscious of the healthcare 
precautions that should be taken during pregnancy. This may be the reason why the percentage 
of abnormal and handicapped babies is constantly increasing. 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15 provides that "The State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them," and 
under the Constitution, Article 11, Section 12, the State is also mandated to equally protect the 
life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. Towards this end, this bill seeks to 
eradicate whatever barriers may exist that hamper access of the people and reliable reproductive 
health care informalion, including those pertaining to family planning and adoption services.* 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO INFORMATION 
ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be cited as the "Women' Right to Know Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people. Towards this end, the State shall provide relevant and 
reliable reproductive health care information to women. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Governmental Authority. - As used in this Act, the term 
"governmental authority" means any authority of any branch, instrumentality, agency of the 
National Government or any local government unit. 
SECTION 4. Reproductive Health Cave Information. - Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law to the contrary, no government authority shall in or through any program or 
activity, administered or assisted by such authority, that provides health care services or 
information, limit the right of any person to provide, or of any person to receive, non-fraudulent 
information about the availability of reproductive health care services, including family planning, 
prenatal cue, and adoption services. 
SECTION 5 .  Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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