Press Release
September 15, 2007

Villar files bill protecting women at the time of childbirth

Senate President Manny Villar filed a bill seeking to protect women at the time of childbirth and their offspring from the hazards of their situation and assure them of the necessary medical care.

Villar introduced Senate Bill 1587 entitled, "An Act safeguarding the health of Filipino mothers at the time of their childbirth, providing protective mechanisms therefor and for other purposes."

"The country's maternal mortality rate is among the highest in Southeast Asia at 162 per 100,000 childbirths compared with Thailand and Malaysia with only 40 out of 100,000 childbirths," said Villar, president of the Nacionalista Party.

"The Department of Health (DOH) reported that many of our women die during delivery for lack of access to quality emergency obstetric care particularly in rural and underserved areas. At least six out of 10 Filipino women deliver at home where they are exposed to dangers," he stressed.

The bill provides, "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," it stated.

The proposed measure mandates local government units (LGU) and the DOH to improve devolved health services and medical facilities in order to provide quality emergency obstetric care. The DOH shall be tasked to issue rules and regulations necessary to implement the measure.

"LGUs shall encourage facility-based delivery among all women and shall retain health workers particularly doctors, nurses and midwives who deliver these health services. The local health clinics and satellite offices of the DOH are tasked to be of 24-hour assistance to Filipino mothers," the bill said.

To complement the measure, the DOH, in coordination with the Professional Regulatory Commission, and the organization of midwives shall further professionalize the practice of midwifery to empower them to become key professionals in providing health care to mothers and newborns and in reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates.

News Latest News Feed