FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
Second Regular Session 
SENA.JJ;l 
S. No. 
~IOl 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
<' 
,~~} ;?l'l':l f f' 
d}fflrf or 11~1-' ~r'1d.'HU 
"12 
,;y:d 
r----
Republic Act No. 9344, also known as the "Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006," 
states: "The State recognizes the vital role of children and youth in nation building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall 
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and 
civic affairs." 
The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), which is attached to and under the 
administrative supervision of the Depatiment of Justice and chaired by an undersecretary of the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development, is the government agency tasked to implement 
the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. 
JJWC is also mandated to formulate and 
recommend policies and strategies in consultation with children for the prevention of juvenile 
delinquency and the administration of justice, as well as for the treatment and rehabilitation of 
the children in conflict with the law; 
The purpose of this bill is to promote, through the JJWC, the persistent quest for 
knowledge and increased education among the youth, thus, decreasing the influx of young 
people in penitentiaries in the Philippines by exposing them to the value of increased education. 
1 


~ 
tIl:' It' 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
,f;~tlHf ... ,f H:,' i"'HPlllrl,l, 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'17 
JAN 1 9 P 2 :40 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
2 
PROMOTING THE PERSISTENT QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND INCREASED 
3 
EDUCATION AMONG THE YOUTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
4 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Positive Reduction of 
5 
Incarceration by Maximizing Education Act" or the "PRIME Act." 
6 
SECTION 3. Public Awareness Campaigns for Continuing Education Among Youth. -
7 
(a) Public Awareness Campaigns. - The Secretaries of Justice, and Social Welfare and 
8 
Development, through the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), shall utilize existing 
9 
resources allocated to it to establish national, regional, and local public awareness campaigns 
10 
focused on promoting the advantages of continued education among the youth, including the 
II 
decreased likelihood of incarceration for youth who continue to pursue education. In carrying out 
12 
this Act, the JJWC may use advertising through television, radio, print media, billboards, posters, 
13 
the Internet, and any other methods as the council may determine to be appropriate. 
14 
(b) Report. - Not later than I October of each year after the date of effectivity of this Act, 
15 
the JJWC shall submit to the chairperson and members of the Committees on Justice of the 
16 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report that describes the activities carried out under 
17 
this Act during the preceding year. 
18 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
19 
unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
1 


I 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
2 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
3 
SECTION 5 Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
4 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldp 
2