As the country celebrated Mother’s Day, a solon renewed his call for Congress to pass a measure seeking to protect surrogate mothers and regulate surrogacy arrangements in the Philippines.
Rep. Nathan Oducado, representative of the 1Tahanan Party-list, said surrogate mothers deserve recognition for the sacrifices they make, stressing that many women involved in such arrangements continue to face exploitation and legal uncertainty due to the absence of clear protections under Philippine law.
“On Mother’s Day, we honor every woman who nurtures life, gives love, and carries the burdens of motherhood in all its forms, including surrogate mothers who often endure physical, emotional, and social challenges in silence,” he said.
The lawmaker is co-author of House Bill No. 8467 alongside Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District Rep. Bella Vanessa Suansing. The proposed measure seeks to establish what would be the country’s first comprehensive legal framework governing surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology.
Under the bill, surrogate mothers would be entitled to health and life insurance coverage, while medical procedures related to surrogacy would be subject to regulation and oversight. The measure also prohibits coercive recruitment practices and classifies forced or deceptive recruitment into surrogacy arrangements as a form of human trafficking.
“Many surrogate mothers come from vulnerable sectors and face exploitation, unsafe medical conditions, and abandonment because there is still no clear legal protection for them in our country,” the solon said.
The proposed legislation also aims to guarantee legal recognition and protection for children born through surrogacy arrangements, including rights related to identity, citizenship, custody, and legal status.
Oducado said the welfare of children would remain the central consideration in all surrogacy agreements covered by the measure.
“This bill is not only about helping couples fulfill their dream of becoming parents, but also about ensuring that no woman is abused, discarded, or deprived of dignity in the process,” he said.
The bill likewise seeks to create a Surrogacy Regulation Board tasked with supervising and monitoring surrogacy arrangements nationwide, establishing ethical standards, and ensuring accountability among clinics, agencies, and medical practitioners involved in assisted reproduction.
The 1Tahanan lawmaker stressed that motherhood should be recognized in all forms, including among adoptive mothers, solo parents, foster mothers, grandmothers, and surrogate mothers.
“Behind every surrogacy story is a woman making enormous sacrifices for another family, and they deserve compassion, respect, and protection under the law,” he added.
He also urged fellow lawmakers to support the proposed measure, saying it would help bring surrogacy arrangements under proper legal regulation while protecting women and children from abuse and exploitation.