A bill filed in the House of Representatives seeks to provide a one-time maternity cash benefit to women working in the informal sector who are not covered by the Social Security System’s (SSS) existing maternity benefits.

House Bill 9904, authored by Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima, proposes granting qualified beneficiaries cash assistance equivalent to 44 days of the prevailing daily minimum wage in their respective regions.

Under the measure, the benefit would be administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The bill aims to extend maternity protection to women in the informal economy who are ineligible for SSS maternity benefits because they are either not registered members or have insufficient contributions.

In the bill’s explanatory note, De Lima said the proposal seeks to strengthen the state’s constitutional mandate to protect women’s health and promote decent working conditions.

“This bill would further strengthen the State’s constitutional mandate to protect the right to health and promote decent working conditions of all working women in the country,” she said.

“By providing optimal maternal healthcare in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, we are not only protecting mothers’ rights but also ensuring the survival and development of Filipino children,” the lawmaker added.