Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, 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 aspects of 
human development because today’s youth are the most important resource of our 
country for the future.  
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 premature. 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.  
This bill seeks to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy by requiring the evaluation of 
private and public programs of the government. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 24, 2023
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS IN 
ORDER TO REDUCE THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY 
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.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of the youth 
in nation-building. This recognition mandates the State to assist the youth in all 
aspects of their human development.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A)
“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;
(B)
“Prevention program” means a program for the prevention of pregnancy in
adolescents; and
(C)
“Secretary” 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: 
(A)  
The effectiveness of such programs in reducing adolescent pregnancy; 
(B)  
The factors contributing to the effectiveness of the programs; and  
(C)  
The feasibility of replicating the programs in other locations.  
 
SECTION 5. Participation of Government and Private Organizations. – In carrying 
out the evaluation under the preceding section, the Secretary shall as appropriate: 
(A)  
Provide for the participation of the Department of Education, Department of 
Social Welfare and Development, Department of Science and Technology, and 
the Population Commission; and 
(B)  
Provide for the participation of organizations with demonstrated expertise in 
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: 
(A)  
Provide for the evaluation of programs in various geographic regions; 
(B)  
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; and  
(C)  
Meet such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.  
 
SECTION 7. Measures of Effectiveness. – The Secretary shall define 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 future programs designed to reduce the rate of 
adolescent pregnancy.  
 
SECTION 9. Dissemination of Information. – After the submission of the report 
under Section 8, the Secretary shall disseminate the findings and recommendations 
presented in the report. 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 apply with respect 
to prevention programs without regard to which of the various programmatic 
approaches for the prevention of pregnancy in adolescents is the focus of the program.  
 
SECTION 11. Appropriation. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount 
as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from 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. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.  
 
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. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,