Involving a third party: a critical policy recommendation for surrogacy arrangements in the Philippines

Abstract

Surrogacy, an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) method wherein a third party is involved in conceiving a child through carrying him/ her into her womb, offers a practical solution to people who wanted a child but are incapable of having one. It is also considered as a complex transaction to enter into for it is contested in many aspects such as moral/ethical, social, and legal. This research revolves in understanding the material conditions present in the country that may hinder or ease the process of surrogacy to enter in the country; and gaining the insights of chosen Key Informants and the 30 women who became the respondents in the survey regarding the issue of surrogacy, the implications of the absence of law, and the possibility of practicing the method in the country. The findings reveal that the country is not yet ready for this kind of transaction and must not be allowed for now because of the material conditions, namely the presence of chronic poverty, dire maternal health care system, and the strong religious and cultural influence on the people. However, this can change through time if the existing conditions and the perceptions of the people will favor surrogacy as a practice in the country.