QuestionsQuestions (QUEZON CITY ORDICE NO. SP-2327, S-2014)
It is a municipal/city legislative measure (a local ordinance) enacted by the Quezon City Council and approved by the City Mayor, amendatory in character because it amends Ordinance No. SP-1145, S-2002.
It amends Ordinance No. SP-1145, S-2002 by: (1) amending Section 2 (Definition) to include specified terms; (2) adding a new Section 3 and headnote “Qualified Beneficiaries”; (3) renumbering and amending the former Section 3 as Section 4 (Prescribed Act); and (4) adding new Sections 5 to 7 on prohibition on abortion, funding, and IRR.
“Low income” means below the official income poverty line defined by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
They are: (a) a pregnant woman under the low-income bracket; (b) a mother under the low-income bracket with an infant up to age one (1) year; and (c) a household under the low-income bracket with an infant up to age one (1) year.
The City Health Officer is the healthcare professional assigned to the Maternal and Infant Health Program under the City Health Department and provides supervision over services delivered in barangay health centers and during home visits.
Each barangay health center must designate an appropriate health professional or qualified non-professional to deliver maternal and child health services at home, acting under the supervision of the City Health Officer.
The services include: (a) instruction and counseling on future health care; (b) counseling/education on prenatal and postnatal care, childbirth and motherhood, nutrition and breastfeeding; (c) general family counseling including child/family development and responsible parenthood; (d) counseling on reproductive and sexual health education; and (e) medical care or referral to the City Health Department or government health institutions.
Section 5 prohibits any maternal and infant health service made available under the ordinance from advocating, promoting, or encouraging abortion.
It requires that an amount be earmarked annually from the city’s general budget for trainings and seminars of health personnel and for production of maternal and infant health-related materials.
It authorizes the City Health Department to formulate the implementing rules and regulations necessary for effective implementation of the ordinance.
It states that if any part or section is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the ordinance not affected remains valid and subsisting.
It repeals or modifies any prior ordinances, resolutions, executive orders, rules, regulations, or other administrative issuances (or their provisions) that are contrary to or inconsistent with the ordinance.
It takes effect within fifteen (15) days following its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.
The ordinance is enacted on August 18, 2014 (Vice-Mayor presiding officer certification indicates Second Reading approval on Aug. 18, 2014 and Third/Final Reading passed on Aug. 26, 2014). It is approved by the City Mayor on 14 October 2014.
It cites goals to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, notes increasing maternal deaths since 2008, and highlights the concern of high infant mortality and maternal deaths, particularly involving teenage mothers, to justify the home visiting and counseling services.