MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of National Women’s Month, House Deputy Speaker and Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar yesterday pushed for the passage of a measure seeking the creation of more birthing facilities in every barangay.
According to Villar, there is a need to improve maternal and newborn care as well as provide safeguards to Filipino mothers after giving birth.
“It is important that the government give priority to pregnant mothers and their newborn, especially the underprivileged women, to help reduce their risk and ease the difficulty of their childbirth,” she said in a statement.
Villar authored House Bill 5684, which aims to reduce maternal deaths by providing birthing facilities in every barangay.
She noted that reducing maternal deaths forms part of the sustainable development goals. But data showed that the number of Filipino women dying from childbirth and pregnancy has been increasing.
Based on records of the Philippine Statistics Authority, maternal deaths increased to 1,616 in 2018 from 1,484 in 2017.
Data showed that Region IV-A, which covers the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, posted the highest number of maternal deaths with 245 or a 10.36 percent increase from 222 cases in 2017. Central Visayas registered 230 maternal deaths while Metro Manila had 195 deaths during the same period.
Under the bill, local government units are mandated to upgrade and improve their health services and medical facilities to provide emergency obstetric care.