Zamboanga City (1st District) Rep. Khymer Adan T. Olaso on Tuesday filed a measure seeking to provide a framework for the conduct and regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy procedures in the Philippines.

Olasco filed House Bill 8301 after the World Health Organization (WHO) said one in 10 couples worldwide experience difficulty in conceiving.

He said the country does not have a comprehensive legal framework for ART and surrogacy.

The Department of Health (DOH), however, has guidelines released in 2010 that require ART clinics to obtain informed consent from patients and provide counselling and support services, adding that it also mandated the registration and accreditation of ART clinics, he added.

Data from the Philippine Society of Reproductive Medicine (PSRM) showed that there were approximately 9,000 ART procedures conducted in the country in 2019 and approximately 50 surrogacy arrangements in the same year.

Olaso said infertility affects a significant portion of the Filipino population, and ART and surrogacy can provide hope for couples who are struggling to conceive.

However, the lack of regulation for surrogacy and the ban on reproductive cell donation in the Philippines pose potential ethical and legal challenges, he added.

The bill proposes regulations and guidelines for ART and surrogacy procedures using ethical practices and techniques that prioritize the well-being of all parties involved.

It also aims to legally recognize and uphold the reproductive rights of individuals and couples who are looking to start families but are unable to do so on their own.

Olaso said “regulating ART and surrogacy in the country would create more job opportunities, as well as provide a new sector in the healthcare industry.”

“This new industry can create more revenue streams for the government and generate economic activity,” he added.

He said should this bill becomes law, individuals can have the option to receive ART or surrogacy services within the country without the risks of traveling abroad.

“The enactment of an ART and Surrogacy regulation law is necessary for the ethical and safe conduct of ART and surrogacy procedures in the Philippines. It is in the country’s best interest to create this law and ensure the protection of every individual’s reproductive rights,” Olaso said. (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/HouseofRepsPH