FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF TWE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
s. B. 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
Explanatory Note 
In "ha at  an^, a painting by national treasure Fernando Cueto Amorsolo, 
Pumbunsung Artistu in Visual Arts for 1972, the mother is depicted "as one who will 
even go to the point of sacrificing her own life for the sake of her child." 
The stunning 
vista captured the poignant bond between mother and child. That from birth, the mother 
will painstakingly take care of her beloved infant providing him food, shelter and 
clothing. From the long hours of labor in the delivery room to the time of hisher 
education, the mother is there to offer the greatest of affection to her offspring' 
This legislation is submitted as a paean to every Filipino mother. 
The country's maternal mortality rate (MMR) is among the highest in Southeast 
Asia at 162/100,000 childbirths as compared to Thailand and Malaysia with MMR of 
40/100,000 livebirths. In a report of the Department of Health, many of our women die 
during delivery for lack of access to quality emergency obstetric care (EMOC) 
particularly in rural and underserved areas. 6 out of 10 Filipinas deliver at home where 
they are exposed to many dangers? 
This legislation is highlighted by the folkowing points: 
1. 
The local govement units are mandated to upgrade and improve 
devolved health services and medical facilities to provide quality EMOC. 
2. 
The LGUs shall encourage facility-based delivery among all women and 
shall retain health workers, e.g., medical doctors, nurses, and midwives, who deliver 
these health services. For the purpose, the local health clinics and health offices as well 
as the satellite offices of the Deparlment of Health are hereby mandated to be of 24-hour 
assistance to Filipino mothers. 
3. 
The local government units are empowmed to provide and formulate 
programs that will promote the increase in salaries and incentives of health workers. 
Early cognizance of this bill is earnestly sought. 
From the website of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, paraphrased 
Department of Healllt, Secretary Francisco Duque 111, August 5,2007 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. B. 
Introduced by Senator Villa 
AN ACT 
SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF FILIPINO MOTHERS AT THE TIME OF 
THEIR CHILDBIRTH, PROWPIG PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate in Congress of the 
Philippines assembled: 
SECTION 1. Consistent with the State policy that the State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them and 
the constitutional declaration that the State shall enhance the welfare and safety of 
women, 
it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to provide maximum 
safeguarding of Filipino mothers at the time oftheir childbir+hs. 
SECTION 2. No maternity hospital, clinic, health center, lying-in, midwifery 
facilities or similar center, public or private, shall deny or refuse to assist, admit or entry 
of a mother at the time of childbirth. They shall ensure the highest safety mechanism to 
prevent child switching, child trafficking or the commission of any crime that may lead to 
the endangering of the lives of both mother and child. 
SECTION 3. The respective local government units (LGUs) in cooperation with 
the Department of Health (DOH) are mandated to upgrade and improve devolved health 
services and medioal facilities to provide quality emergency obstetric care (EMOC). 
SECTION4. 
The local government units (LGUs) shall encourage faeility- 
based delivery among all women and shall retain health workers, e.g., medical doctors, 
nurses, and midwives, who deliver these health services. 
The local health clinics and health offices as well as the satellite offices of the 
Department of Health are hereby encouraged to be of 24-hour assistance to Filipino 
mothers. 
The local government units are empowered to provide and formulate programs 
that will promote the increase in salaries and incentives of health workers. 
SECTION5. To complement the provisions of this Act, the Department of 
Health in coordination with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the 
relevant organization of midwives shall professionalize Wher the practice of midwifery 
in the country and empower them to be key health care professionals in providing care to 
mothers and newborns and redwing maternal mortality and newborn mar&&@ pates. 


SECTION6. The Department of Health shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, 
whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,