Hontiveros seeks cash aid for pregnant informal workers
Published May 15, 2023 07:51 am
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, May 15 renewed her push for the passage of the bill that would grant financial assistance to pregnant women in the informal sector.
Senator Risa Hontiveros (Photo by Senate PRIB Photo)
In pushing for the proposed Maternity Benefit for Workers in the Informal Economy Bill, or Senate Bill No. 148, Hontiveros said passage of the measure into law is necessary in the midst of an expanding informal economy after the pandemic. “Habang tumataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, dumadami ang mga babaeng magaling dumiskarte ng dagdag kita para sa pamilya. Buo ang loob nilang mabuhay ang pamilya nila nang may dignidad, pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring batas para sa kanila. Matagal na silang binabalewala (As the price of goods increases, there are more and more women who are good at strategizing extra income for the family. They are determined to let their families live with dignity, but until now, there is still no law for them. They have been ignored for a long time),” Hontiveros said. “This legislation seeks to empower them as they empower our economy," she said. “Although we passed the historic Expanded Maternity Leave law five (5) years ago, a large number of women in the informal economy are unable to access its benefits,” she pointed out. “Ang dami nating kababayang buntis na hindi na nga sapat ang kita para sa pang araw-araw na gastusin, wala pang natitirang pera para maging voluntary contributor sa SSS. Umaasa akong maitatama natin yan (There are many pregnant women whose income is not enough for daily expenses, there is no money left to be a voluntary contributor to the Social Security System. I hope we can correct that),” she added.
Under the bill, workers who are neither voluntary nor regular members of the SSS shall receive, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a one-time direct maternity cash benefit per delivery. Approximately 250,000 Filipino women in the informal economy give birth every year, based on a 2020 study by Dr. Paul Zambrano.
Hontiveros said the measure seeks to use the windfall from sin tax as funds for the maternity benefit assistance program. She pointed out that in 2021, sin tax revenues reached P260-billion. The lawmaker also noted that the economic toll on the country’s healthcare system due to inadequate breastfeeding is around US$16.3-million per year.
Future cognitive losses amount to US$2.3-billion a year due to reduced development and earning potential, Hontiveros said.
“Education experts have also said that one major cause for students falling behind in school is malnutrition. Ensuring that women have the economic means, health, and time to care for our children is an urgent response to the many crises of our times,” she said. “There are many fruits to reap if we focus on this growing sector. This bill is a big deal for the future of every Filipino family,” the senator stressed.
Senator Risa Hontiveros (Photo by Senate PRIB Photo)
In pushing for the proposed Maternity Benefit for Workers in the Informal Economy Bill, or Senate Bill No. 148, Hontiveros said passage of the measure into law is necessary in the midst of an expanding informal economy after the pandemic. “Habang tumataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, dumadami ang mga babaeng magaling dumiskarte ng dagdag kita para sa pamilya. Buo ang loob nilang mabuhay ang pamilya nila nang may dignidad, pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring batas para sa kanila. Matagal na silang binabalewala (As the price of goods increases, there are more and more women who are good at strategizing extra income for the family. They are determined to let their families live with dignity, but until now, there is still no law for them. They have been ignored for a long time),” Hontiveros said. “This legislation seeks to empower them as they empower our economy," she said. “Although we passed the historic Expanded Maternity Leave law five (5) years ago, a large number of women in the informal economy are unable to access its benefits,” she pointed out. “Ang dami nating kababayang buntis na hindi na nga sapat ang kita para sa pang araw-araw na gastusin, wala pang natitirang pera para maging voluntary contributor sa SSS. Umaasa akong maitatama natin yan (There are many pregnant women whose income is not enough for daily expenses, there is no money left to be a voluntary contributor to the Social Security System. I hope we can correct that),” she added.
Under the bill, workers who are neither voluntary nor regular members of the SSS shall receive, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a one-time direct maternity cash benefit per delivery. Approximately 250,000 Filipino women in the informal economy give birth every year, based on a 2020 study by Dr. Paul Zambrano.
Hontiveros said the measure seeks to use the windfall from sin tax as funds for the maternity benefit assistance program. She pointed out that in 2021, sin tax revenues reached P260-billion. The lawmaker also noted that the economic toll on the country’s healthcare system due to inadequate breastfeeding is around US$16.3-million per year.
Future cognitive losses amount to US$2.3-billion a year due to reduced development and earning potential, Hontiveros said.
“Education experts have also said that one major cause for students falling behind in school is malnutrition. Ensuring that women have the economic means, health, and time to care for our children is an urgent response to the many crises of our times,” she said. “There are many fruits to reap if we focus on this growing sector. This bill is a big deal for the future of every Filipino family,” the senator stressed.