Financial support during and immediately after childbirth can make a significant difference for families already facing difficulties meeting everyday needs. In Legazpi City, a local assistance program is providing new mothers with cash support intended to help ease childbirth-related expenses and address the nutritional needs of both mothers and their newborns.
The city government’s “Gift of Life” program has drawn praise from Bishop Joel “Bong” Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, who said the initiative could provide meaningful assistance to mothers and babies, particularly those from less fortunate families.
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Baylon made the remarks while in the city for a press conference on the proposed commemorative stamp for Legazpi City’s 75th anniversary celebration, or Jubilee Year. The city government will shoulder the production cost of the stamp.
Cash Assistance for New Mothers
The program provides different amounts depending on where mothers give birth. Those who deliver in private health care facilities receive P5,000, while mothers who give birth in city-run health care facilities are provided P7,000.
The assistance covers deliveries at the Legazpi City Hospital and the city’s lying-in clinics. It also includes the two Super Health Centers located in the villages of Rawis and Homapon.
For Mayor Hisham Ismail, the initiative forms part of the city’s efforts to strengthen maternal and child health care. As a nurse by profession, he said he understands the challenges faced by mothers during pregnancy and childbirth, particularly when financial limitations can make it harder to meet basic needs.
“As a nurse by profession, I know the challenging times of pregnant mothers, and so I always believed that mothers should be taken care of through the ‘gift of life’ program of health support and benefits for mothers who need it the most,” he said.
Ismail said the assistance can help families address immediate expenses, including the nutritional requirements of mothers and newborn children.
Reaching Families During a Critical Period
The city has already begun distributing the assistance, with at least 218 beneficiaries receiving support in the first salvo of the program. The initial tranche covered 218 mothers with newly born babies and was implemented between April 15 and June 9 this year.
The initiative also aligns with the Department of Health program supporting the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. This period is considered critical for a child’s growth and development, making adequate nutrition and early care particularly important.
Legazpi City has allocated funds that could accommodate 1,500 possible beneficiaries, allowing the program to reach more mothers beyond its initial batch of recipients.
The “Gift of Life” program demonstrates how targeted local assistance can complement broader maternal and child health efforts by addressing financial barriers at a crucial point for families.
For Legazpi residents, particularly mothers who have limited resources, the support can provide additional room to meet childbirth and nutritional needs, while continued investment in maternal care can contribute to healthier starts for children and stronger family welfare in the city.
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