Yes, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is legal in the Philippines but strictly regulated under Republic Act No. 11223 (2019) and Department of Health (DOH) guidelines. The law permits IVF for married couples, prohibits embryo freezing beyond 14 days, and bans commercial surrogacy. Local IVF centers must secure DOH licenses, ensuring compliance with ethical and safety standards.
Key Regulations for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Philippines
-
Marital Requirement: IVF is only permitted for legally married couples, as defined under the Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209, 1987). Unmarried individuals or same-sex couples are excluded under current statutes.
-
Embryo Disposition Limits: The DOH mandates that fertilized embryos may not be cryopreserved beyond 14 days post-fertilization, aligning with ethical guidelines on human embryo research (DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0012).
-
Surrogacy Ban: Commercial gestational surrogacy is explicitly prohibited under Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2003) and reinforced by DOH Circulars, permitting only altruistic arrangements under court-approved exceptions.