Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. ____
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
of
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.
August 4, 2022
12:15 pm
3211


In the 2015 study of the Population Commission, there are 207,830
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 by Hon. Sharee Ann Tan last 18th Congress. In
view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN
Representative, 2nd District of Samar


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. ____
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
3211


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,