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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
547 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 12, provides: 
"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. The natural and primary right and duty of 
parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the 
development of moral character shall receive the support of the 
government." 
Women, confronted with unplanned or crisis pregnancy, are often left with 
the impression that abortion is the only choice that they have in dealing with their 
difficult circumstances. 
This is due to their lack of accurate information, supportive counseling and 
other assistance regarding adoption and parenting alternatives to abortion. 
While there are organizations that provide these needed services, they 
often lack sufficient resources to reach women in need of their services and to 
proVide for their needs. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish a national program that will -
(1) promote childbirth as a viable and positive alternative to abortion and 
empower those facing unplanned or crisis pregnancies to choose childbirth rather 
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than abortion; and 
(2) extend support to entities and projects that provide information, 
counseling, and support services that assist women to choose childbirth and to 
make informed decisions regarding the choice of adoption or parenting with 
respect ta their children; 
I 
OY EJERCITO ESTRAD~ 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill NO. __ 5_4_7 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE PREGNANT 
WOMEN WITH ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Women and 
Children's Resources Act". 
SEC. 2. Purpose. - The purposes of the Act are -
(1) to promote childbirth as a viable and positive alternative to aborti0r. and to 
empower those facing unplanned or crisis pregnancies to, choose 
childbirth rather than abortion; 
(2) to extend support to entities and projects that provide information, 
counseling, and support services that assist women to choose childbirth 
and to make informed decisions regarding the choice of adoption or 
parenting with respect to their children; and 
(3) to maximize the effectiveness of this Act by providing funds only to those 
entities and projects that have a stated policy of actively promoting 
childbirth instead of abortion and that have experience in providing 
alternative-to-abortion services. 
SEC. 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall have 
these meanings: 
(1) Alternative-to-abortion services -
the proVision of information and 
counseling that promotes childbirth instead of abortion and assists 
pregnant women in making an informed decision regarding the 
alternatives of adoption or parenting with respect to their child. 
(2) Support services - additional services and assistance designed to assist 
eligible individuals to carry their child to term and to support eligible 
individuals in their parenting or adoption decision. These support services 
include the provision of (a) self-administered pregnancy testing; (b) baby 
food, maternity and baby clothing, and baby furniture; (c) information and 


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education, including classes, regarding prenatal care, childbirth, adoption, 
parenting, chastity (or abstinence); and (d) referrals for services consistent 
with the purposes of this Act. 
(3) Service provider - a non-governmental entity that operates a service 
provider project and which enters into a subcontract with the prime 
contractor that provides for the reimbursement for alternative-to-abortion 
services prqvided to eligible individuals. 
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(4) Service provider project - A project or program operated by a service provider 
that provides alternative-to-abortion services. All service provider projects must 
provide core services and may also provide support services. 
SEC. 4. Establishment and Operation of Programs to Provide 
Alternative-to-Abortion Services; Administration of Programs through 
Contracts with Entities. -
(A) In General - Grant funds provided under this Act may be expended 
only for purposes of the establishment and operation of a national program 
[carried out pursuant to contracts under subsection (c)] designed to provide 
alternative-to-abortion services [as defined in Section 3 (1)1 to eligible individuals 
as described in subsection (8). 
(8) Eligible Individuals -
(1) In General - Subject to paragraph (2), an individual is an eligible 
individual for purposes of subsection (A) if -
(a) the individual is pregnant (or has reasonable grounds to believe 
she may be pregnant); 
(b) the individual (male or female) is the parent or legal guardian of 
an infant under 12 months of age; or 
(c) 'the individual is the spouse or other partner of an individual 
described in subparagraph (a) or (b). 
(2) Priority For Low-Income Individuals - The program -
(a) will give priority to serving eligible individuals who are from low 
income families; and 
(b) will not impose a charge on any eligible individual from a low 
income family except to the extent that payment will be made by a 
third party (including a government agency) that is authorized or 
under legal obligation to pay such charge. 
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(C) Establishment and Operation of Program --
(1) Prime Contractor - The Department of Health, through its Secretary, 
shall enter into a contract with a nonprofit private entity that, unqer the contract, 
shall' be designated as the "prime contractor" and shall have the principal 
responsibility for administering the program, including subcontracting with service 
basis. 


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(2) Subcontracts with Service Providers - The prime contractor shall enter 
into subcontracts with service providers for reimbursement of alternative-to-
abortion services provided to eligible individuals on a fee-for-service basis. 
(3) Expenditures of Grant - The prime contractor shall be authorized to 
expend funds to administer the program, reimburse service providers, and to 
provide additional supportive services to assist such providers in providing 
alternative-t o-abortion services to eligible individuals consistent with the 
purposes of this Act, including but not limited to providing for advertising of 
alternative-to-abortion services, purchases of educational materials, and grants 
for new sites and new project development. 
(4) Requirement for Prime Contractors - An entity may not become a 
prime contractor unless, consistent with the overall purpose of this Act, it has a 
stated policy of actively promoting childbirth instead of abortion. 
(5) Additional Requirements for Prime Contractors - An entity may not 
become a prime contractor unless -
(a) for the five-year period preceding the date on which the entity 
applies to receive the contract, it has been engaged primarily in the 
provision of care services or it has operated a project that provides 
such services; 
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(b) it is a subsidiary of an entity that meets the criteria underl clause 
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(6) Requirements for Sub-Contractors - An entity may not become a 
service provider unless -
(a) it operates a service provider project that has a stated poliCy of 
actively promoting childbirth instead of abortion; 
(b) its project has been providing alternative-to-abortion services to 
clients for at least one year, and 
(c) its project is physically and financially separate from any entity 
that advocates, performs, counsels for or refers for abortion. 
(7) Restriction. - No prime contractor or service provider project may 
perform abortion, counsel for or refer for abortion, or advocate abortion. 
(8) Restrictions Regarding Expenditures of Grant Funds - No grant funds 
under this Act shall be expended for any of the following -
(a) performing abortion, counseling for or referring for abortion, or 
advocating abortion; 
(b) providing, referring for, or advocating the use of contraceptive 
services, drugs, or devices; 
(c) Making payment for a service that is provided to an eligible 
individual if payment for such service has already been made, or 
can reasonably be expected to be made -
(1) providing in-patient hospital services; 
(2) making cash payments to intended recipients of services; 


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(3) purchasing or improving land, purchasing, constructing, 
or permanently improving (other than minor remodelirg) any 
, building or other facility; or 
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SEC. 5. Biennial Reports to Congress. - The Secretary of Health shall 
submit to the Congress periodic reports on the national programs carried out 
pursuant to this Act. The first report shall be submitted not later than one year 
after the effectivity of this Act and subsequent reports shall be submitted 
biennially thereafter: 
SEC. 6. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Funding. - Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,