House bill seeks expanded maternity coverage for women in informal sector

A bill seeking to expand the coverage of maternity benefits for women workers in the informal economy has been filed at the House of Representatives.

House Bill No. 9904, filed by ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, is seeking to fully adopt Senate Bill No. 1579 which will provide a one-time maternity cash benefit per delivery to female workers who are non-members of the Social Security System (SSS).

“This bill would further strengthen the State’s constitutional mandate to protect the right to health and promote decent working conditions of all working women in the country,” De Lima said,

“By providing optimal maternal healthcare in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, we are not only protecting mothers’ rights but also ensuring the survival and development of Filipino children,” she added.

It will be equivalent to 44 days’ worth of the prevailing daily minimum wage in the mother’s region of residence.

Under this measure, the proposed cash benefit distribution will be administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Sa pagsasabatas ng panukalang ito, hangad po natin na walang ina na mapag-iiwanan at mapagkakaitan ng karapatan at nararapat na serbisyo sa kanilang pagdadalang-tao at pag-aruga sa kanilang mga anak,” said De Lima.

(With the enactment of this bill, we hope that no mother will be left behind and denied the rights and appropriate services during their pregnancy and the care of their children.)

The amounts necessary to fund the maternity benefit shall be taken from revenues from excise taxes on sweetened beverages, alcohol, tobacco products, heated tobacco products, and vapor products, which may be augmented under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). —VAL, GMA News