Senator JV Ejercito's bill seeks to empower Filipino midwives

Senator JV Ejercito has filed a bill to protect the welfare of midwives in the Philippines.

During the 27th General Assembly of the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives, Inc. (PLGPMI) on Wednesday, Ejercito said that the “Midwifery Empowerment Act” will address a cycle of instability for midwives.

He noted that many midwives in the country are handling more than the ideal ratio of patients, but receive "too little" when it comes to pay.

With his new proposed bill, Ejercito said that the act will particularly benefit midwives who currently work as casual employees.

“Ito po ay panukala pa lamang. Sana magpunta kayo sa ating mga hearings na isasagawa... Susubukan ko ang lahat para maipasa ang ating hinaing (proposa na) batas... na Midwifery Empowerment Act,” said Ejercito. 

(This is only a proposal for now. I hope you will go to the hearings that we will conduct. I will do whatever I can to pass the proposed Midwifery Empowerment Act.)

Universal Health Care

Ejercito, one of the principal authors of the Universal Health Care (UHC) also shared that it has 3 to 4 years left before it’s full 10-year roll-out can be realized and its effects can be felt by the general public.

“Sana by the time, talagang maramdaman na ang bawat Pilipino na ito ay makakatulong… Masasabi ko nga po, hindi po magiging matagumpay ang Universal Health Care Law kung wala po ang mga frontliners, kung wala ang barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and ang ating midwives,” he said.

(Hopefully by that time, each Filipino will be able to feel that this actually helps… I can say that the Universal Health Care Law will not be successful without the frontliners, barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and midwives.) —VAL, GMA News