Health and Social Welfare Laws affecting rights of woman and children

Health and Social Welfare Laws affecting rights of woman and children Republic Act No. 6949National Womens DayDeclares March 8 of every year as a working special holiday.

Legal Mandates:Proclamation No 224Declares the 1st week of March as Womans Week and March 8 as Womens right and International Peace DayProclamation No. 227 Observance of the Month of March as Womens Role in History Month

2015 Theme CelebrationPromotion of the Magna Carta for Women Republic Act No. 6949Objective:To recognize and highlight womens key roles and accomplishments in leadership, power and decision-makingTo increase awareness on engaging women to participate at all levels of policy and decision-makingTo share strategies and best practices women have employed to become successful women leaders.Republic Act No. 6949National Womens DayDeclares March 8 of every year as a working special holiday.

Legal Mandates:Proclamation No 224Declares the 1st week of March as Womans Week and March 8 as Womens right and International Peace DayProclamation No. 227 Observance of the Month of March as Womens Role in History Month

2015 Theme CelebrationPromotion of the Magna Carta for Women Republic Act No. 9710Magna Carta of Women

Salient Provisions:Womens rights are human rightsAll rights in the Constitution and those rights recognized under international instruments duly signed and ratified by the Philippines, in consonance with Philippine law, shall be rights of women under this Act to be enjoyed without discrimination. (Section 8)Equal employment opportunitiesWithin the next (5) years, there shall be an incremental increase in the recruitment and training of women in the police force, forensics and medico-legal, legal services, and social work services availed of by women who are victims of gender-related offenses until fifty percent (50%) of the personnel thereof shall be women. (Section 9A)- Within the next five (5) years, the number of women in third (3rd) level positions in government shall be incrementally increased to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance. (Section 10A)

Republic Act No. 9710Establish a Violence Against Womens Deskin every barangay to ensure that violence against women cases are fully addressed in a gender-responsive manner. (Section 9C)Women in the militaryThe State shall pursue appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination of women in the military, police, and other similar services, including revising or abolishing practices that restrict women from availing of both combat and noncombat training that are open to men, or from taking on functions other than administrative tasks, such as engaging in combat, security-related, or field operations. Women in the military shall be accorded the same promotional privileges and opportunities as men, including pay increases, additional remunerations, and benefits and awards based on their competency and quality of performance Further, women in the military, police and other similar services shall be entitled to leave benefits such as maternity leave, as provided for by existing laws. (Section 15)Republic Act No. 9710Special leave privilegesA woman employee having rendered continuous aggregate employment service of at least six (6) months for the last twelve (12) months shall be entitled to a special leave benefit of two (2) months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation following surgery caused by gynecological disorders. (Section 18)Gender and development (GAD) budgetThe cost of implementing GAD programs shall be the agencys or the local government units GAD budget which shall be at least five percent (5%) of the agencys or the local government units total budget appropriations. (Section 36A)DOH Administrative Order No. 144Guidelines on the handling and treatment of Children involved in Armed ConflictCoverageChild in armed conflictChildren displaced as a result of armed conflictChildren involved in armed conflictArmed ConflictConflict between government forces and organized group and/or between tribal groups which involves actual use of armed force which disrupt normal social, economic, political and cultural activities in a specific geography.DOH Administrative Order No. 144Procedural GuidelinesA rescued or surrendered child shall report within 24 hrs to the DSWD field officesAn initial report should be made containing circumstances of the child.Should there be a need for the child to undergo medical consultation and hospitalization which shall be provided by the DOH retained hospitals or LGU health facilities.Confidential treatment of casesVisiting privileges is limited to immediate family membersTransfer of protective custody to DSWD shall be supported by written reportsReceiving agency to issue a certificate of transfer of custody as acknowledgement.

Executive Order No. 51Adopting a National Code of marketing of Breastmilk Substitute, Breastmil Supplements and Related products, Penalizing violations thereof, and for other purposes or Milk CodeObjectiveEnsure that objective and consistent information is provided on infant feeding by disseminating information and control of infant nutritionProvide information and educational materials dealing with the feeding of infants and intended to reach pregnant women and mothers of infants.Benefit and Superiority of breast feedingMaternal Nutrition, preparation and maintenanceNegative effects of introducing partial bottle-feedingDifficulty to reverse the decision not to breastfeedProper use of infant formula, where needed.Executive Order No. 51Salient FeaturesProtection of the General Public and Mothers Regulation of advertising, promotion and other marketing materials.Manufacturers are not allowed to giver samples and supplies directly or indirectly to the general public.No Point of Sale advertisingProhibit any gifts, articles or utensils to promote the use of breast milk substitute.Promotion and encouragement of our Healthcare system on breast feedingPromoted by the Ministry of healthNon Promotion on any Facilities of the health care system Emphasis the risk and hazard of improper use of breast milk substitute in health education classesPromotion and encouragement by Health WorkersNo financial or material inducement to be offered by manufacturers to the health care worker or members of his familySamples of infant formula or equipment or utensil for their preparation shall not be provided for healthcare workers nor be given by healthcare workers to pregnant women or mother of infantsExecutive Order No. 51SanctionsImprisonment of two months to 1 yearFine of not less than 1,000 pesos and not more than 30,000Suspension or revocation of license.Republic Act No. 6955Anti-Mail Order Bride Law of 1990

Declares the following acts unlawful (Section 2):To establish or carry on a business which has for its purpose the matching of Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal introductionTo advertise, publish, print or distribute or cause the advertisement, publication, printing or distribution of propaganda materials to promote mail order brides.To solicit, enlist or in any manner attract or induce any Filipino woman to become a member in any club or association whose objective is to match women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction for a feeTo use the postal service to promote the prohibited acts

Republic Act No. 6955Penalty:Imprisonment of not less than 6 years and 1 day but not more than 8 yearsFine of not less than 8,000 pesos but not more than 20,000 pesosRepublic Act No. 6972Barangay-Level Total Development and Protection of Children Act

Salient Features:Establishment of Day Care Centers on the baranggay level for children up to 6 years of ageEstablishment of a sanctuary for abused, neglected and exploited childrenMonitoring and registration of births and completion of immunizationGrowth and nutritional monitoring with supplemental nutritional feedingSupport System and networks for pregnant mothers and members of the baranggay.

Republic Act No. 6972Funds:Shall be appropriated from the national budget and shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Acts as part of the budget of the DSWD.Financial Assistance shall be provided for by the Province, city or municipality concerned.Barangay day care workers in accredited day care center shall receive a monthly allowance of not less than 500 pesos.Republic Act No. 7305Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

Coverage:Health Workers Persons who are enggaged on health and health related works, an all persons employed in hospitals, sanitaria, barangay healths station, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, clinics and other health related establishments owned and operated by the government.

Additional Benefits:Hazard allowanceSubsistence AllowanceLongevity PayLaundry AllowanceRemote Assignment AllowanceHousingMedical ExaminationCompensation for InjuriesLeave BenefitsHighest Basic Salary upon Retirement

Republic Act No. 7305Beneficial for Married Public Health WorkersMarried couples who are both whom are public health workers, are to be employed or assigned in the same municipality but nor on the same office. (Section 7)Public worker shall not be discriminated against with on regard to gender, civil status, creed, religious or political belief and ethnic groupings in the exercise of his profession.

Republic Act No. 7305Penalty:Fine of not less than 20,000 pesos but not more than 40,000 pesosImprisonment of not more than 1 yearRepublic Act No. 10028Expanded Breast Feeding Promotion Act of 2009Amended RA 7600 (An Act providing incentives to all health institutions with rooming-in and breastfeeding practices and for other purpose)

Application:Applicable to all private enterprises as well as government agencies, including their subdivisions and instrumentalities and GOCC.

Salient Features:Establishment of Lactation Stations and certification of mother-baby-friendly establishmentAdditional break interval shall be provided for Nursing employees. Interval shall not be more than 40 minutes for every 8 hour working period.Continuous education and retraining of Health Workers and Health Institution on current and updated lactation management.Information dissemination and education of Pregnant women and women of reproductive ageIntegration of Breast Feeding education in the CurriculaDeclaring the Month of August as Breast Feeding Awareness Month

Republic Act No. 10028IncentivesDeductible expenses for income tax purposes up to twice the actual amount incurred.

Penalty:

Private Non-Health facility, establishment and institution1st Offense (50,000 200,000)2nd Offense (200,000 500,000)3rd Offense (500,000 1,000,000) and cancellation of business permit or license to operate.

Head Officials and Employees of government1st Offense Reprimand2nd Offense Suspension for 1 to 30 days3rd Offense - Dismissal