THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
'04 JIJ- 27 
j- 5 :I) 
i 
First Regular Session 
1 
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I&oduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13, recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
nation-building. It is imperative for the State to assist them in the formation of all 
of human development because today's youth are the most important resource 
country for the futwe. 
However, this declared policy is hampered by the increase of unwanted pregnancy 
among teenagers. Teenage pregnancy, mostly unwanted and untimely, has now become a 
significant and far-reaching social problem, which affects not only the quality of life for 
the teenagers, but also their families and the community as a whole. 
For both sexes, teenage pregnancy has a very negative effect on education, 
occupational and economic satisfaction, and success for teenagers. Furthermore, teenage 
pregnancy produces higher risks to the life of both the young mother and her child. 
Studies show that infants born to teenagers are likely to be more underweight and 
prematue. Likewise, compared with 20-24-year old mothers, those with ages 15-19 are 
more prone to anemia, abnormal bleeding, difficult labor, and other complications 
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This bill seeks to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy by requiring the evaluation 
of private and public programs of the government. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPWES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENA 
S.B. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REDUCING THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY THROUGH 
EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - 
This Act shall be known as the “Teenage Pregnancy 
Reduction Act.” 
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SECTION 2. Declurution of Policy. - 
The State recognizes the vital rol of the 
youth in nation-building. This recognition mandates the State to assist the yout a 
’ in all 
aspects of their human development 
SECTION 3. DeJinition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(1) “Programmatic approaches,” with respect to prevention programs, 
includes advocating abstinence from sexual activity, providing family planning 
services, fostering academic achievement, mentoring by adults, providing 
employment assistance or job training, providing professional counseling or peer 
counseling, providing for recreational or social events, and any combination 
thereof. 
(2) “Prevention program” means a program for the prevention of 
pregnancy in adolescents. 
(3) “e-creta$’ 
means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
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SECTION 4. Evaluation of Effective Programs for Prevention of Adolescent 
Pregnancy. - 
The Secretary shall arrange for the evaluation of a wide variety of existing 
programs designed, in whole or in part, to prevent pregnancy in adolescents, including 
programs that do not receive funds form the government for the operation of the 
programs. 
The purpose of the evaluation shall be the determination of the following: 
(1) The effectiveness of such programs in reducing adolescent pregnancy; 
(2) The factors contributing to the effectiveness of the programs; and 
(3) The feasibility of replicating the programs in other locations. 
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SECTION 5. Participation of Government and Private Organizations. - In 
evaluation under the preceding section, the Secretary shall as 
carrying out the 
appropriate: 
(1) Provide for the participation of the Department of Education, Culture and 
Sports, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of 
(2) Provide for the participation of organizations with demonstrated 
Technology, and the Population Commission; and 
conducting evaluations of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. 
SECTION 6. Design of Evaluation. - 
Subject to Section 7, the Secretary shall 
select a design for the evaluation under Section 4 from among proposals that: 
(1) Provide for the evaluation of programs in various geographic regions; 
(2) With respect to the populations served by the programs, provide for 
determining factors that are specific to various socioeconomic, age groups and 
factors that are specific to gender. 
(3) Meet such other criteria as the Secretary may establish. 


SECTION 7. Meusures of Effectiveness. - The Secretary shall defi 1 
e the 
measures of effectiveness used in evaluating the programs designed the rate of adolescent 
pregnancy, and shall include a variety of measures of effectiveness in the definition. 
SECTION 8. Submission of Report. - 
Not later than one (1) year after the 
effectivity of this Act, the evaluation under Section 4 shall be completed and a report 
shall be submitted to the Congress that describes the findings made in the evaluation and 
provides recommendations for hture programs designed to reduce the rate of adolescent 
pregnancy. 
SECTION 9. Dissemination oflnformation. - 
After the submission of the report 
under Section 8, the Secretary shall disseminate the findings and recommendations 
presented I. 
in the repart. The categories of individuals to whom the information is 
disseminated shall include administrators of prevention programs, public and private 
entities providing financial support to such programs, professional medical associations, 
entities providing public health services, entities providing social work services, and 
school administrators. 
SECTION 10 Rule of Construction. - The provisions of this Act appl with 
matic 
respect to prevention programs without regard to which of the various progr 
approaches for the prevention of pregnancy in adolescents is the focus of the program. 1 
SECTION 11. Appropriation. - 
To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated horn the National 
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the establishment of programs designed to 
reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy shall be included in the annual appropriation of 
the Department of Health. 


SECTION 12. Sepavability Clause. - 
If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not 0th wise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 14. Efectivity Clause. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1158 
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