Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1301 
Introduced by Representative STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
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 (2014), 24 babies are 
delivered in every hour by teenage mothers. Furthermore, the National 
Demographic and Health Survey revealed that in 2013, one in ten young 
Filipino women o f  ages 15-19 has begun childbearing: 8 percent are already 
mothers and another 2 percent are pregnant with their first child. Moreover, 
Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality study in 2014 mentioned that fourteen 
percent (14%) of Filipino girls of ages 15-19 are either pregnant for the first 
time or teenage parents already. 
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that the 
Philippines 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. 
Some studies show 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 (5) 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. 
In the 2015 study of the Population Commission, there are 207,830 
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teenagers who have given birth in that year alone. Moreover, there is an 
increase in number of teenage pregnancy cases for adolescents of ages 10-14, 
from 1,629 in 2013 to 1,986 in 2015. 
The proposed bill seeks to create a comprehensive policy enabling youth 
participation in adolescent pregnancy prevention. 
The same Bill was filed last 19th Congress. In view of the foregoing, the 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
Representative, First District of Samar 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1301 
Introduced by Representative STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
“AN ACT 
CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ENABLING YOUTH 
PARTICIPATION IN ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY PREVENTION” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Local Council 
Adolescent Act of 2022”. 
Section 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 the youth in nation-building promoting their holistic growth 
and well-being. 
Section 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 of
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; and
e. Youth participation - actively involving young people in decision-


making processes on personal development and involvement in society. 
 
Section 4. Coverage. This Act shall apply to all provinces and highly 
urbanized cities. 
 
Section 5. Creation of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The Local 
Council on Adolescent Pregnancy, hereafter known as the Council, is hereby 
established under each Local Government Unit of the province or highly-
urbanized city concerned 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 mandated under this Act. 
 
 
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. 
 
Section 6. Composition of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The 
Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy shall be headed by the Local Chief 
Executive of the province or highly urbanized city, 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. 
 
Section 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; 
 
(c) 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; 
 
(d) 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; 


 
(e) Create regular and special committees that are consistent with the 
technical and administrative standards of the Department of Health 
 
(f) Cascade the proposals and reports from the grassroots communities, 
municipalities, cities, and provincial adolescent councils. 
 
(g) Conduct monitoring and pre- and post-evaluation of adolescent 
pregnancy projects and programs. 
 
Section 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. 
 
Section 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. 
 
Section 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 this Act. 
 
Section 11. Appropriation. The LGUs concerned in the province and highly-
urbanized cities 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. 
 
Section 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. 
 
Section 13. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 


Section 14. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,