Senator Lito Lapid on Tuesday introduced a bill that would grant pregnant women a 20 percent discount on maternity-related expenses, aiming to ease financial burdens during a critical period.

Lapid cited Article 2, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that the state should ensure essential goods, health, and social services are available at affordable costs, prioritizing the needs of vulnerable groups including women and children.

In his explanatory note for the measure, Lapid stressed the importance of maternal health for Filipino families and communities. “Pregnancy is a critical period in a woman’s life, marked by physiological, emotional, and financial challenges,” he wrote.

He highlighted that many pregnant women struggle to access proper prenatal and postnatal care due to the rising costs of healthcare services and nutritional needs. Lapid lamented that despite ongoing efforts, the Philippines continues to face challenges in ensuring accessible and affordable maternal care, which is reflected in the national maternal mortality rates.