Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
 Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The state recognizes the vital role of the youth in the nation-building and shall promote 
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall include in 
the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic 
affairs.
In relation with the aforementioned provision, it is very alarming to know that in the 
Philippines the teenage pregnancy incidence is still increasing. According to the data from 
Philippine Statistics Authority, a total of 183,967 live births among adolescents aged 10-19 
years in 2018, equivalent to 504 live births per day in the said age group, and 180, 916 in 2019 
for the same age group, equivalent to 495 live births per day.
The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) reported that Philippine has the highest 
teenage pregnancy rate in six economic countries in ASEAN with 53 births per 1,000 women- 
the only country where the rate is increasing. In addition, based on the UNFPA study in 2018, 
adolescents lose an aggregate lifetime earnings of about P33 Billion due to early childbearing.
Some study shows that the root causes of severe escalation of teenage pregnancy cases 
in the Philippines are (1) curiosity of the youth or experimentation, (2) peer pressure, (3) family 
related problems, (4) insufficient knowledge of youth on teenage pregnancy and lastly, liberal 
views on sex. Teenage pregnancy has brought serious consequences for teenagers involved. It 
affects every aspect of a teenager who bears a child whether physical and mental well-being 
while she is pregnant and even after the baby is born. The proposed bill seeks to create a 
comprehensive policy enabling youth participation in adolescent pregnancy prevention.
The passage of this bill is urgently sought.
CHARISSE ANNE C. HERNANDEZ
Lone District, Calamba City
July 23, 2025
3:49 pm
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
 Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C.  Hernandez
AN ACT 
CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ENABLING YOUTH PARTICIPATION 
IN ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY PREVENTION
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines:
SEC 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Teenage Pregnancy Control Act of 
2022”
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the state to protect and promote the 
right to health and instill health consciousness among the youth by sponsoring programs that 
will address current health predicaments. Article II, Sec. 12 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution 
expressly provides that the State shall recognize the sanctity of family life and shall protect and 
strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.
In fulfilling these mandates, the state shall acknowledge the dynamic participation of 
youth in the nation-building promoting their holistic growth and well-being. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows:
a.
Adolescent Pregnancy - an individual belonging to the age group 10-19 who is child-
bearing
b. Unwanted Pregnancy - pregnancy that is unplanned at the time of conception
c.
Psychosocial Intervention - activities and strategies that aim to improve the health and
well-being of individuals and communities in terms of emotional and social factors
d. Policy - a set of ideas or a plan of action followed by a government
e.
Youth participation - actively involving young people in decision making processes on
personal development and involvement in society
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SEC 4. Coverage. All local government units.
SEC 5. Creation of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The Local Council on 
Adolescent Pregnancy, hereafter known as the Council, is hereby established under the Local 
Government Unit to provide a coherent, rational, unified and confidential response to the youth 
with  sexual  and  reproductive  health  concerns  and  efforts  through  the  formulation  and 
implementation of the policy and programs. 
The Council shall constitute a family-oriented, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive 
health program, specifically on the prevention, counselling and post-delivery of adolescent 
pregnancy  through  the  development  of  effective  and  efficient  structures,  systems  and 
mechanisms for legislation and upholding rights.
SEC 6.  Composition of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The Local 
Council on Adolescent Pregnancy shall be headed by the Local Chief Executive, the Local 
health officer as vice-chairman, the chairman of the committee on health of the Sanggunian, a 
representative from the private sector or non-government organizations involved in adolescent 
pregnancy  advocacy,  representative  from  the  youth  organizations  or  youth-serving 
organizations as determined by the local health board, and a representative of the Department of 
Health (DOH) in the locality, as members. 
 
SEC 7. Powers and Functions. The Council shall exercise the following powers and 
functions:
(a)
Serve as a hub for collaboration and partnerships, where other stakeholders 
such as the youth, among others, may play an active role in strengthening emerging projects or 
complement existing programs that will redound to the advancement of adolescent pregnancy 
health programs in the LGUs.
(b) Serve as the highest policy-making body to decide on matters affecting adolescent 
pregnancy concerns in the locality;
(b)
Propose  to  the  sanggunian  concerned,  in  accordance  with  standards  and 
criteria set by the Department of Health, annual budgetary allocations for the operation and 
maintenance of the council, as the case may be;
(c)
Serve as an advisory committee to the sanggunian concerned on adolescent 
pregnancy  such as, but not limited to, the necessity for, and application of, local appropriations 
for public health purposes;
(d)
Create regular and special committees that are consistent with the technical 
and administrative standards of the Department of Health
(e)
Cascade  the  proposals  and  reports  from  the  grassroots  communities, 
municipalities, cities, and provincial adolescent councils. 
(f)
Conduct monitoring and pre and post evaluation of adolescent pregnancy 
projects and programs.


SEC 8. Inter-Agency Conference. The Department of Health shall coordinate with the 
Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, 
Department of Education, Commission on Population and National Youth Commission on the 
conduct of an inter-agency conference for the establishment of the Council and appointing the 
interim  executive  officials  of  the  Council,  including  the  planning  ideal  means  of 
implementation of the policy and programs.
SEC 9.  Programs. There shall be established programs for Adolescent Pregnancy 
Prevention, specifically; (1) Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Awareness Week shall be 
conducted annually every second week of February; (2) Research and Development shall be 
established for current projects and  implementations to make the projects more efficient; (3) 
Psychosocial Intervention and Support Services that are present in healthcare centers and 
homecare service facilitation of free psychotherapy and other psychological need in the pre, 
during and post pregnancy; (4) Data Information Privacy or assurance of preserving the 
confidentiality of information  and (5) Awareness Campaign that shall address the high risk 
behaviors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy.
SEC 10.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the inter-agency body convened in Section 8 hereof shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of his Act.
SEC 11. Appropriation. All LGUs shall include in their annual budget the necessary 
funds for strategies and activities as provided for, within their mandates that are contributory to 
the implementation of this Act.
 
SEC 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules 
and regulations, and issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Approved.