The Secretariat of the COC shall come from the existing Secretariat personnel of the Senate and the
House of Representatives committees concerned.
The COC shall monitor and ensure the effective implementation of this Act, recommend the
necessary remedial legislation or administrative measures, and shall conduct a review of this Act
every five (5) years from its effectivity. The COC shall perform such other duties and functions as
may be necessary to attain the objectives of tins Act.
Section 23. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts are prohibited:
(a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall:
(1) Knowingly withhold information or restrict the dissemination thereof, and/or
intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on
reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range
of legal, medically-safe, non-abortifacient and effective family planning methods;
(2) Refuse to perform legal and medically-safe reproductive health procedures on
any person of legal age on the ground of lack of consent or authorization of the
following persons in the following instances:
(i) Spousal consent in case of married persons: Provided, That in case of
disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail;
and
(ii) Parental consent or that of the person exercising parental authority in the
case of abused minors, where the parent or the person exercising parental
authority is the respondent, accused or convicted perpetrator as certified by
the proper prosecutorial office of the court. In the case of minors, the written
consent of parents or legal guardian or, in their absence, persons exercising
parental authority or next-of-kin shall be required only in elective surgical
procedures and in no case shall consent be required in emergency or serious
cases as defined in Republic Act No. 8344; and
(3) Refuse to extend quality health care services and information on account of the
person’s marital status, gender, age, religious convictions, personal circumstances,
or nature of work: Provided, That the conscientious objection of a health care service
provider based on his/her ethical or religious beliefs shall be respected; however, the
conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and
services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which
is conveniently accessible: Provided, further, That the person is not in an emergency
condition or serious case as defined in Republic Act No. 8344, which penalizes the
refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical
treatment and support in emergency and serious cases;
(b) Any public officer, elected or appointed, specifically charged with the duty to implement
the provisions hereof, who, personally or through a subordinate, prohibits or restricts the
delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family
planning; or forces, coerces or induces any person to use such services; or refuses to
allocate, approve or release any budget for reproductive health care services, or to support
reproductive health programs; or shall do any act that hinders the full implementation of a
reproductive health program as mandated by this Act;