House moves to repeal 64-year-old midwifery law

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on second reading late last week a new measure that will give more life to the midwifery industry in the country, by way of repealing two old laws, one of which took effect 64 years ago.

House Bill 10079, the Philippine Midwifery Act, seeks to strengthen the regulatory and professional practice of midwifery in the country.

“There is a need to address the challenges in the midwifery profession to become well-equipped and highly skilled in offering quality healthcare services for the Filipino people locally,” Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr., main author of the measure, told his colleagues in the plenary.

At the same time, the local midwifery industry also needs to “be at par with international standards so as to become globally competitive in the midwifery practice,” the congressman of the sixth district of Bulacan explained further.

The bill, once signed into law, will repeal two old laws – the Philippine Midwifery Law (Republic Act 2664), enacted in June 1960, and the Philippine Midwifery Act of 1992 (Republic Act 7392), which is 32 years old.

Violators of the measure would be fined P50,000 to P100,000 or serve two years to seven years in prison.

HB 10079 provides for a “Board of Midwifery” which will be composed of four members, and shall be under the “direct supervision” of the Professional Regulation Commission, which regulates almost all professions, especially the medical health industry, in the country.

The five-member “collegial body” will be headed by a chairperson, all of whom will be “appointed” by the incumbent or sitting president, whose chairperson shall enjoy a six-year term of office “without reappointment.