Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6579

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. LAWRENCE LEMUEL H. FORTUN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 13 of 1987 Constitution provides that:

“The State recognizes the vital role of the 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 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees the right to education, health,
and autonomy. Adolescent pregnancy undermines these rights. For some girls, early pregnancy
results in death — an ultimate violation of her right. Upholding these rights help eliminate
conditions that contribute to adolescent pregnancy and can help break the cycle of
intergenerational poverty, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to her household and her
community, However, the impact of adolescent pregnancy is not only on her health. Pregnancy
can have immediate and lasting consequences on, for example, education and income-earning
potential. Thus, adolescent pregnancy is intertwined with issues of human rights. The future of an
adolescent pregnant girl changes radically, and rarely, for the better. She will be forced to drop out
of school, thus denying her the right to an education. This will further limit her job prospects
exposing her to vulnerabilities and further intergenerational poverty. Her rights are undermined in
many aspects.

The data on adolescent pregnancy in the Philippines is alarming. The 2018 data from the Civil
Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) recorded a total of 183,967 live births among adolescents
aged 10-19 years old in 2018. This is equivalent to 504 live births per day in the aforementioned
age group. Adolescent Birth Rate remains high at 47 per 1,000 births in the country. In 2017, the
National Demographic and Health Survey showed that 9% of girls aged 15-19 years old have
begun childbearing. Pregnancy and childbirth-related mortality and morbidity remain a key
challenge to be addressed in the Philippines — especially as other research revealed that in the Asia
Pacific, maternal mortality for a 15-year old girl remains high at 1 in 190 in 2017.

Maternal mortality and morbidity directly impair a woman’s right to life, to be equal in dignity, to
education, to her role in nation-building, and to enioythe highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. For adolescent pregnant
mothers, these also impair their vital role in nation-building both as women and as young Filipinos.

One of the health targets under the Sustairfible Development Goals calls for the reduction in the
global maternal mortality ratio to less than™70 per 100,000 live births. The Philippines already has
particularly high maternal mortality ratios based on point prevalence estimates at 114 deaths per
1,000 live birth. Of important note is that adolescent pregnancies and births pose a high risk of
pregnancy complications, higher neonatal mortality, and higher risks of postpartum depression.


Thus, there is an urgency to implement corresponding interventions as the risk of maternal
mortality is highest for adolescent girls.

Evidence remains clear that building the knowledge and skills of adolescents, as well as providing
easy access to comprehensive services that address issues of sexual and reproductive health, allow
teenagers to delay sex until they are ready and are able to prevent unplanned pregnancies. When
adolescents are empowered with basic information about their own bodies and reproductive health,
they are able to make responsible choices—showing a decrease in risky behaviors, a delay in
sexual activity until they are ready, or the use of protection if they are sexually active.

The State, under the principles of intergenerational justice and parens patriae, has the obligation
to address the high rate of adolescent pregnancies and the failure of the government to take
immediate action in addressing such phenomenon can significantly affect the quality of the
country’s human capital and ultimately the capacity of the nation to attain and sustain
socioeconomic growth.

As there are many structural barriers and complex drivers that force an adolescent to become
pregnant, improvements in maternal health and the well-being of pregnant women including the
overall physical, mental, and emotional health during and before pregnancy, are very important.
‘The focus should be on transformative interventions anchored on the empowerment of adolescents
and the pursuit of their rights to health and development, thus building and supporting a girl's
agency; providing access to comprehensive reproductive health services and information; and
removing the stigma on adolescent sex and pregnancy by providing psychosocial and community
support, among others.



Sewr sayusun—

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 6573

Introduced by Rep. LAWRENCE LEMUEL H. FORTUN

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY

INCLUDING ITS PREVENTION AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

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 “Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. —\t shall be the policy of the State to:

(a)

(b)

©

(d)

©

(g)

Recognize, promote, and strengthen the role of adolescents and young people in the
overall human and socio-economic development of the country;

Recognize and promote the responsibility of the State to create and sustain an enabling
environment for adolescents to enable them to achieve their development aspirations
and potentials as well as mobilize them to positively contribute to the development of
the nation;

Pursue sustainable and genuine human development that values the dignity of the total
human person and afford full protection to people's rights, especially of adolescent
women and men and their families;

Promote and protect the human rights of all individuals including adolescents
particularly in their exercise of their rights to sexual and reproductive health, equality
and equity before the law, the right to development, the right to education, freedom of
expression, the right to participate in decision-making, and the right to choose and make
responsible decisions for themselves;

Pursue an adolescent pregnancy reduction strategy that is anchored on the
empowerment of adolescents and their rights to health and development; that is
cognizant of the structural barriers, including, but not limited to, gender, poverty, age,
ethnicity, and disability, that lead to adolescent pregnancy; and that is based on
adolescents’ needs and preferences;

Provide full and comprehensive information to adolescents to help them prevent early
and unintended pregnancies and their lifelong consequences;

Provide safe, quality, and respectful maternal health care, including antenatal, delivery,
and postnatal care, to adolescent women and enable their access to these services;


(h)

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(kK)

Ensure corresponding interventions that could respond to the socioeconomic, health
and emotional needs of adolescents and youth, especially young women, with due
regard for their own creative capabilities, for social, family and community support,
employment opportunities, participation in the political process, and access to
education, health, counseling, and high-quality reproductive health services;

Guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, and affordable reproductive
health care services, methods, devices and information that prioritizes the needs of the
underprivileged, especially adolescent girls;

Encourage and enable adolescent mothers and fathers to continue and finish their
education in order to equip them for a better life, to increase their human potential, to
help prevent early marriages, high-risk child-bearing and repealed pregnancy, and to
reduce associated mortality and morbidity through comprehensive social protection
interventions; and,

Recognize and promote the rights, duties, and responsibilities of parents, teachers,
health professionals, and other persons legally responsible for the growth of
adolescents to provide in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the
adolescent, appropriate direction and guidance in sexual and reproductive matters.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as

©

(d)

()

‘Adolescents — refers to the population between the ages of 10 and 19;

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Care — refers to the access to a
full range of methods, techniques, and services that contribute to reproductive health
and well-being of young people by preventing and solving reproductive health-related
problems. Following the WHO's definition of sexual health, ASRH is a state of
complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity, in all matters relating to the sexual and reproductive system and to its
functions and processes, in individuals aged 10 to 19.

Adolescent Reproductive Health Curriculum (ARHC) ~ is a package of teaching and
imparting information on cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of gender,
sexuality and adolescent reproductive health. It aims to equip children and young
people with age-appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that will empower
them to realize their health, well-being and dignity; develop respectful social and sexual
relationships; consider how their choices affect their own well-being and that of others;
and, understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives. It is a
rights-based, gender-focused approach to adolescent health education taught over
several years with progressive appropriateness based on age-appropriate information
consistent with the evolving capacities of young people and adolescents.

Adolescent Sexuality — adapted from the World Health Organization’s definition of
sexuality, adolescent sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life, which
‘encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure,
intimacy, and reproduction of individuals aged 10 to 19. Itis experienced and expressed
in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and
relationships; and is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social,
economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.

Evolving capacities of the adolescent ~ refers to the concept enshrined in Article 5 of
the Convention of the Rights of the Child recognizing the developmental changes and
corresponding progress in cognitive abilities and capacities for self-determination
undergone by children as they grow up, thus requiring parents and others charged with


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the responsibility for the child to provide varying degrees of protection, and to allow
their participation in opportunities for autonomous decision making in different
contexts and across all areas of decision making.

Harm reduction principle — refers to interventions aimed at reducing negative effects
of behaviors. The goal is to address risk behaviors that occur alongside the harms of
pregnancy to adolescent bodies.

Information and Service Delivery Network for Adolescent Health Development
(ISDN) - refers to the network of facilities, institutions, and providers within the
province, district, municipality ‘city-wide health and social system offering
information, training, and core packages of health and social care services in an
integrated and coordinated manner.

Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) ~ refers to the local body to be created
based on RA 10742 (SK Reform Law) which is composed of representatives of youth
and youth-serving organizations in the provincial, city, and municipal level with the
primary function of assisting in the planning and execution of projects and programs
of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan in all
levels.

Male involvement and participation — refers to the involvement, participation,
commitment of and joint responsibility of men with women in all areas of sexual and
reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to men.

Mature Minor Doctrine ~ refers to the legal principle that recognizes the capacity of
some minors to consent independently to medical procedures, if they have been
assessed by qualified health care professionals to understand the nature of procedures
and their consequence to make a decision on their own.

Normal Schools or Teachers College ~ refer to the learning institutions training or
educating teachers.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) — is a cooperative arrangement between one or more
public and private sectors, typically of a long-term nature, for various development
programs or projects.

Reproductive Health — refers to a state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters relating to the
reproductive system and to its functions and processes.

Risky Behaviors — refer to ill-advised practices and actions that are potentially
detrimental to a person's health or general wellbeing.

Social Protection — consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and
vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people's exposure to
risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks, such as
unemployment, exclusion, sickness, disability and old age.

Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Council — hereafter referred to as the Council, is an
inter-agency and inter-sectoral council that shall be formed through this Act and serve
as its implementing body

SEC. 4, Development of National Program of Action and Investment Plan for the Prevention
of Teenage Pregnancy (NPPTP). ~ The Council, in collaboration with other relevant national
agencies and civil society organizations, shall develop an evidence-based National Program of
Action and Investment Plan. This plan shall serve as the national framework for inter-agency and


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inter-sectoral collaboration at all levels to address the various health, cultural, socio-economic and
institutional determinants of teenage pregnancy.

The evidence-based program of action shall serve as the national framework for inter-agency and
inter-sectoral collaboration at all levels to address the various, health, cultural, socio-economic and
institutional determinants of teenage pregnancy.

SEC. 5. Information and Service Delivery Network for Adolescent Health Development or ISDN

for AHD. ~ All provinces and chartered cities shall organize and operationalize an ISDN for AHD
consisting of different government and non-government organizations, institutions, and facilities
disseminating information and services to adolescents within their locality. In cases of provinces
and cities with existing ISDNs, they shall now harmonize new and existing efforts and programs
for AHD. The ISDN may be organized by municipal LGUs according to their capacity. An
effective collaborative and referral system among the members of the ISDN for AHD shall be
established and implemented within a catchment area.

The ISDN for AHD will provide health services that are sensitive to the particular needs and human
rights of all adolescents to enable them to deal in a positive and responsible way with their
reproductive health and sexuality. The ISDN shall perform the following tasks:

(a) Map and analyze the various factors contributing to pregnancies among adolescents at
the regional and local levels;

(6) Identify, harmonize, coordinate, and implement inter-agency interventions to address
the various issues related to teenage pregnancies in the region and at the local level;

(©) Capacitate ISDN for AHD agency-members in collaboration with relevant regional
government agencies to ensure quality information and services to adolescents;

(4) Provide, in collaboration with concerned LCDs, needed information and services for
adolescent development;

(©) Generate or share resources in the implementation of the joint strategic plan of the
ISDN for AHD; and

(Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of coordinative and referral systems and other
interagency interventions jointly implemented by the ISDN. The local ISDN shall be
coordinated by the Provincial Population Office and co-coordinated by the Provincial
Health Office in collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation or Task
Force on Youth Development (TFYD) and/ or Local Youth Development Council
(LYDC) in the concerned localities with technical assistance from the Council and
other relevant national government agencies.

The local ISDN shall be coordinated by the Provincial Population Office and coordinated by the
Provincial Health Office in collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation or Task
Force on Youth Development (TFYD) and/ or Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) in the
concemed localities with technical assistance from the Council and other relevant national
government agencies. The local ISDN must be established within three (3) years upon the
effectivity of this Act with respect to this Act’s implementing rules and regulations and appropriate
local government capacity.

SEC. 6. Culturally-Sensitive, Age and Development-Appropriate Adolescent Reproductive
Health Curriculum (ARH©). ~ Agencies from the education sector with support from the Council,
and in collaboration with relevant national government agencies and civil society organizations,
shall develop and promote educational standards, modules, and materials that promotes adolescent
reproductive health in schools, communities and other youth institutions. The Council must ensure
that the materials and modules produced are culturally-sensitive, age and development-
appropriate.

The Adolescent Reproductive Health Curriculum shall be a compulsory part of education,
integrated at all levels of learning with the end goal of normalizing the discussions of sex and
gender, adolescent sexuality, reproductive health, and to remove stigma on the discussion of these


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topics. The materials and modules developed must be evidence-based, medically-accurate, rights-
based, culturally-sensitive and non-discriminatory towards adolescents of different sexual
orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

The current curricula should be regularly reviewed, updated and broadened with a view to ensuring
adequate coverage of concerns such as gender sensitivity, reproductive health choices and
responsibilities, and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

This curriculum shall be designed to strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including those related to reproductive health, sexuality, population and development.
The materials shall be complementary to the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Law, and
should be based on the need for responsible human sexuality and must reflect the realities of
current sexual behavior.

SEC. 7. Training of Teachers, Guidance Counselors, School Supervisors and School Nurses on
Adolescent Reproductive Health Curriculum, — The DepEd, TESDA, and CHED, with support
from the DOH, POPCOM, and NYC for technical assistance, shall ensure that all teachers,
guidance counselors, instructors, and school nurses are properly trained on adolescent health and
development to effectively educate or guide adolescents in dealing with their sexuality-related
concerns. Agencies concerned must allot annual allocation for the program training to be included
in their annual appropriations to be approved by Congress.

CHED shall ensure that ARHC standards are guided by principles of gender equality and women’s
human rights and must be integrated in the curriculum and across specializations in the
professional preparation and training for would-be teachers in normal schools or teacher education
institutions in the country.

‘The training must introduce and improve the delivery of the current service so as to promote greater
responsibility and awareness on the interrelationships between adolescent health issues, including
sexual and reproductive health and gender equity.

SEC. 8. ASRH Training for Policy-makers and Implementers. — The DOH and POPCOM shall
be responsible for disseminating guidelines and providing training programs for policy-makers
and implementers in both the executive and legislative branches of government to enable a better
understanding of ASRH as well as policies and practices to promote it.

The guidelines shall be framed from a lens of gender equality and women’s human rights and shall
be made in consultation with academic institutions and civil society organizations focused on
gender and women’s human rights.

SEC. 9. ARHC for Out-of-School Adolescents and those with Special Concerns. - DSWD, DOH,
POPCOM, and the local government units (LGUs) shall collaborate to intensify and
institutionalize interactive learning methodologies for ARHC among out-of-school adolescents in
the communities and workplaces as well as unsuitably housed youth. Provided, that the needs of
indigenous, working persons-with-disabilities, and adolescents in social institutions are considered
in the design and promotion of sexuality education among adolescents.

Delivery of ARHC in a non-formal education setting shall be ensured by DepEd through their
Alternative Learning System. Community youth leaders, through the SK, TFYD, or LYDC shall
invest in a concentrated effort in reaching these groups and encourage peer-to-peer counseling.
Volunteer groups and interested civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-government
organizations (NGOs) shall be recognized for supplemental support to the local ISDNs. DEPED,
along with other relevant government agencies, shall be tasked to integrate a ARHC syllabus that
is culturally sensitive into the existing Madrasah curriculum.

SEC. 10. Promoting the ARHC using the Social Media and other Digital or Online
Communication Platforms. — The Council shall optimize the social media and other online


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platforms to reach adolescent netizens with accurate information and messages on adolescent
sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) concerns. A web portal for the NPPTP shall be developed
and promoted by the council to harmonize and link various government websites and online
services for ASRH including the networked operationalization of ISDN for AHD.

SEC. 11. Mandatory Establishment of Functional Local Teen Centers for Adolescent Health
and Development. ~ A community-based center for adolescent health development shall be
established and operationalized in all provinces and chartered cities in the country. These centers
shall serve as facilities where adolescents and youth can access appropriate information and
services on ASRH and other concerns relevant to their holistic development. The Teen Centers
shali be the convergence facilities or hubs for the services of the ISDN for AHD members as
provided in this Act.

The Center shall serve as a counselling and treatment center for adolescents in crisis or victims of
abuse and violence.

The Center shall be mainly managed and operated by the LGUs through SK members, youth
volunteers and workers and other organized adolescent youth groups recognized by the LGU with
the assistance of various adult service providers and youth-serving professionals including the civil
society organizations (CSOs). The establishment and operationalization of the Teen Centers shall
be funded using the 10% SK fund and other relevant local budget sources.

‘The POPCOM in collaboration with DepEd, CHED, DOH, DILG, PNP, and CSOs shall formulate
the guidelines and standards in setting-up of Teen Centers in communities. National government
agencies shall provide assistance to LGUs in setting-up the teen centers.

SEC. 12. Public Information and Media in ASRH Promotion and Teenage Pregnancy
Prevention. — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), as the official public information arm of
the government, will take the lead in promoting ASRH and in advocating for teenage pregnancy
prevention in the media. It will be tasked to provide regular reports on the trend and incidence
rates of teenage pregnancies in the country and to provide the public with information on resources
and healthy practices for ASRH, among others. Private broadcast networks with news channels or
news programs will also be encouraged and given access to relevant information and material to.
do the same.

SEC. 13. Private Sector Participation in ARHC Promotion. ~ The government may enter into
public-private partnership agreement in mobilizing private communication networks and
companies in promoting ARHC through text or short message service (SMS) or media messages.
‘An incentive mechanism for telecommunication companies shall be developed and implemented
by concerned agencies to recognize private participation in promoting ARHC and adolescent youth
health-seeking behavior, positive attitude towards sex, sexual relations and sexuality, etc.

‘The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) shall review their existing
guidelines to ensure that no movie and television programs portray, depict, promote, and
encourage unsafe sexual activities among adolescents as a normative behavior in the society. An
incentive scheme for adolescent-friendly television programs shall likewise be developed and
implemented to encourage movie and television networks to produce materials and programs that
promote responsible sexuality among adolescents.

SEC. 14. Access to Reproductive Health Services. — Access and information to modern family
planning methods with proper counselling shall be provided. The aforementioned counseling is
carried out with the end in view of ensuring healthy practices through the promotion of optimal
health outcomes and protecting minors, especially those in vulnerable circumstances, from
possible predatory and sexually exploitative practices.

‘The information and services shall be made under the following circumstances:


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(a) Adolescents from 10 to 14 years of age must secure the consent of their parents or
guardian prior to the provision of any medical treatment or service;

(b) In keeping with the principles of harm reduction and the mature minor doctrine, as
defined in Section 3 (h) of this act, adolescents from 15 to 18 years of age who has had
a previous pregnancy as proven by documentation through ancillary examinations such
as ultrasound, written documentation by a doctor, parent or guardian shall be allowed
access to modern family planning methods with proper counselling by trained service
providers;

(©) _ In keeping with the principles of harm reduction and the evolving capacities of the
adolescent, adolescents from 15 to 18 years of age engaged in sexual activities shall be
allowed access to modern family planning methods with proper counselling provided
that a physician provides consent to the same.

For this purpose, all health service providers in all health facilities shall be trained on providing
adolescent-friendly and responsive information and services. It is the duty of health service
providers to provide complete and medically-correct information on possible reproductive health
services including the right to informed choice and access to legal, medically-safe and effective
family planning methods.

Provided, that all health facilities shall be enhanced to become an adolescent-friendly facility by
ensuring confidentiality, exclusive schedule for adolescents, availability of services, non-
judgmental, stigma-free and gender responsive health service providers:

The Council shall ensure that ASRH training is integrated in the pre-service curriculum training
of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), front-line health care providers, and social workers. The
said training shall include topics such as, but not limited to: consent, adolescent sexual and
reproductive health, effective contraception use, disease prevention, HIV/AIDS and the more
common STls, hygiene, healthy lifestyles, and prevention of gender and sexual violence. Linkages
and referral systems shall be established in educational institutions in order to bridge gaps in
between information and access to ASRH services for in-school adolescents. For Out-of-School
Youths (OSYs) and other groups, a community peer educator could be chosen to advocate
accessing ASRH services and distribution of commodities.

In cases of pregnant adolescents, a wider spectrum of ASRH services shall be made available to
them spanning the pre-natal, antenatal, and post-natal stages of pregnancy and its respective health
care requirements. Provision of reproductive health services to adolescents shall be based on the
principles of non-discrimination and confidentiality, the rights of adolescents, their evolving
capacities, and as a life-saving intervention. Further, it shall be ensured that adolescents are not
denied the information and services needed to prevent future unintended adolescent pregnancies
and are able to access treatment and care services without fear of stigmatization, discrimination
and violence.

SEC. 15. Social Protection for Teenage Mothers or Parents. — A comprehensive social
protection service shall be provided to adolescents who are currently pregnant and their partners
in order to prevent repeat pregnancies and to ensure their well-being while assuming the
responsibilities of being young parents. Such services shall include the following:

(a) Maternal health services including pre-natal, ante-natal, and post-natal check-ups and
facility-based delivery;

(b) Post-natal family planning counseling and services for either or both teenage parents;

(c) Personal PhilHealth coverage, making mandatory enrollment and membership of
indigent teenage mothers;

(d) Training, skills development, and support to livelihood programs for the household of
the teenage parents especially for the indigents;

(©) Continuing ARHC for teenage parents;


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(Workshops on couples counseling, parenting, and positive discipline for the impending
parents; and,

(® _ Psycho-social support and mental health services for teen mothers. Adolescent mothers
and their partners shall be entitled to maternal and paternal leave, respectively,
especially if both are employed. Suspension, forced resignation, and other
discriminatory acts in the workplace against pregnant girls shall be prohibited. The
LCDs through the Local Social Welfare and Development (LSWD) and/or the
Population Office shall implement a continuing ARHC program for teenage mothers
and fathers with technical assistance from the Council.

The services must safeguard the rights of the adolescents to privacy, confidentiality, respect, and
informed consent, respecting cultural values and beliefs.

The national government shall provide additional and necessary funding and other necessary
assistance for the effective implementation of this provision.

SEC. 16. Social Protection in Cases of Sexual Violence. — Strengthened social protection
mechanisms against violence for adolescents, especially for girls, shall be provided. Expectant and
current mothers whose pregnancies were the result of sexual violence shall be given access and
support to legal, medical, and psycho-social services. Furthermore, the Council shall reinforce the
capacities of health facilities in providing comprehensive care for adolescents in case of sexual
violence.

Health service providers, particularly the BHWs, other primary health care providers, and local
population officers shall be given confidentiality and safeguarding guidelines and tools for spotting
sexual exploitation and abuse of adolescents. A referral pathway shall be created by the Council
to ensure that identified sexual abuse and exploitation survivors are assisted and properly handled.

SEC. 17. Social Protection in Cases of Humanitarian, Armed Conflict and Emergency
‘Situations. — The local ISDN shall be bolstered in the events of humanitarian crises, armed conflict
or emergency situations. The local ISDN shall ensure swift and efficient delivery of ASRH
services to vulnerable adolescents and young pregnant girls. Increased vigilance shall be practiced
in cases of gender violence, sexual assault, and exploitation in these situations. All incidences of
the aforementioned situations shall be immediately addressed by the local ISDN through
appropriate channels.

Special attention shall be given to young mothers who are at the late stages of pregnancy in case
of (premature) labor. In order to ensure delivery of ASRH of adolescents and adolescent expectant
parents, LGUs shall incorporate adolescent SRH specific content and safeguards in their local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans.

SEC. 18. Care and Management for First Time Parents. — All pregnant teens, especially the poor
and hard-to-reach groups shall have access to skilled care throughout their pregnancy, delivery,
and postnatal periods. ASRH providers shall strive to provide as many teenage mothers with their
birth plans that detail their intended place of childbirth delivery, availability of transport to these
health care institutions, and respective costs. Special attention shall be given to younger pregnant
mothers during obstetric care.

Workshops, classes, and seminars for first-time parents shall be provided with ante-and postnatal
education. These classes shall include topics such as, but not limited to: infant feeding and care,
positive discipline, responsible parenthood, and safe sex practices. The classes shall be made
available free of charge and at times most convenient for the teen parents.

Educational institutions shall be encouraged to develop and establish support mechanisms that will
encourage the return of teen mothers and parents, for instance: in-school day-care and
breastfeeding stations.


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The national government shall provide additional and necessary funding and other necessary
assistance for the effective implementation of this provision.

SEC. 19. Encouraging Male Involvement. ~ The Council shall develop programs that will
promote male involvement in the prevention of early and unintended pregnancies. These programs
shall include topics such as, but not limited to: responsible fatherhood, couples counseling,
avoiding gender violence, life-skills, and co-parenting strategies. These programs shall emphasize
the roles and responsibilities of being a father and promote their active involvement. These
programs shall also serve as an avenue to encourage the uptake of ASRH services and information
of boys and young men.

SEC. 20. Integration of Local Program for the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy in SK
Programs. — Strategies and programs which aim to prevent the incidence of teenage pregnancies
shall be integrated into the SK programs at the local and community level using the ten percent
(10%) SK funds. In the absence of the SK, the Task Force on Youth Development (TFYD) shall
undertake the responsibility of integrating teenage pregnancy prevention programs in the barangay
youth council's activities. The Council shall issue guidelines to ensure the implementation of this
provision.

The SK/TFYD shall likewise implement programs and activities that aim to develop the potentials
and skills of adolescents to make them more productive members of society. The topics of the said
programs and activities are inclusive of, but are not limited to: leadership training and life skills
seminars that can be done together by the teens and their families together. The SK/TFYD shall
encourage youth participation in these activities as a means of diverting the focus and potentials
of adolescents into more meaningful and productive endeavors.

The SK/TFYD shall enlist the support of the local barangay council, the local Council for the
Protection of Children, and the barangay health center to be able to provide a more complete array
of services, activities, and programs.

SEC. 21. Residential Care Facilities for Disadvantaged Women. ~The existing residential care
facilities for disadvantaged women of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) shall be capacitated to accommodate the needs of pregnant girls. The management of the
said facilities shall coordinate with their respective locality's ISDN to provide SRH information
and services to their residents. In order to effectively serve their pregnant teen residents, these
centers shall employ the following personnel: a caseworker, an on-call obstetrician-gynecologist,
a full-time midwife or nurse, and a psychologist.

If there is an identified demand and need for a residential care facility to be built and established,
the local ISDN shall prioritize the city or municipality with the highest rate of teen pregnancy.

SEC. 22. Creation of a National System on the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy. — The Council
shall endeavor to create a system that will comprehensively assess and effectively monitor and
evaluate the status, success, and efficacy of the NPPTP, as referred to in Sec. 4 of this Act.

The existing Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study shall be renamed Adolescent Health and
Development Survey and be carried out every four (4) years to conduct surveys and collect age-
and gender-disaggregated data. Its topics shall cover a wider range of topics and indicators
extending beyond adolescent sexuality and reproductive health. Its coverage shall include topics
such as, but not limited to: education, adolescent health, and labor. Existing surveys such as the
National Demographic and Health Survey, Family Health Survey, Family Planning Survey, and
Maternal and Child Health Survey shall begin the collection of data-disaggregated at age 10-14
and include never married women in data collection in order to have a more accurate picture.
Research and data collected from the assessment and evaluation shall be stored in a public
database.


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LGUs are required to conduct safety audits every three (3) years to assess the efficiency and
effectiveness of the implementation of this Act within their jurisdiction. Such audits shall be
multisectoral and participatory, with consultations undertaken with population officers, social
workers, health workers, schools, and civil society organizations.

SEC. 23. Implementation Structure. — A Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Council to be integrated
as a sub-committee of the National Implementation Team of the Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law shall be established to be composed of the following:

(a) The Department of Health (DOH) Secretary as the Chairperson;

(b) The POPCOM Board of Commissioners Chair as Co-Chairperson;

(©) Senior officials (at least Undersecretary level) of the National Youth Commission
(NYC), DEPED, DSWD, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
CHED, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as ex-
officio members;

(d)__ Five members appointed by the Chairperson who are persons with knowledge,
expertise, accomplishments, and with no less than five-year experience in the fields of
public health, adolescent rights and social protection, education, psychology, and social
welfare, provided that one qualified member is appointed in each field; Provided
further, That majority of these appointed members are female; and,

(©) Two representatives of children and youth appointed by the 2 Council Chairperson
from various nationally represented youth organizations, provided that one is male and
one is female.

The POPCOM shall serve as the secretariat of the Council. The appointment of members shall be
in accordance with the rules and procedures as prescribed by the POPCOM, taking into account
the approximate proportion between men and women.

The Council shall have the powers and duties as follows:

(a) To propose legislative and administrative policies on the prevention of adolescent
pregnancy based on adolescents’ needs and preferences; in consideration of structural
barriers, including, but not limited to, poverty, gender, age, ethnicity, and disability,
that lead to adolescent pregnancy; and with the overarching goal of pursuing
adolescents’ empowerment and rights to health and development;

(b) To integrate mechanisms and policies in the social development agenda that creates
enabling environments for adolescents to make informed choices on their sexual and
reproductive health;

(c) To develop operational guidelines for government agencies and private organizations
in the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies and programs for
prevention of adolescent pregnancy, including sexual violence;

(a) To monitor implementation of the provision of the law;

(e) To conduct research and generate evidence on the drivers of teenage pregnancy to
inform programs and policies;

(To provide relevant agencies and private organizations with recommendations and
solutions to challenges and gaps in the course of implementing the program; and,

(g) _ To engage the private sector and the citizenry to ensure active partnership in looking
for solutions to address the problem of adolescent pregnancy.

At the National level, the Council agency members shall have the following duties and functions
in accordance to their mandates and in relation to the implementation of this Act:

The Commission on Population shall:

(a) Develop and coordinate with the relevant agencies the NPPTP as part of the national
population program;


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(b)
©

@
(2)

@®

(g)

Implement a program for the training of parents and guardians in effectively guiding
adolescents on ASRH issues;

Set-up the National Information System on the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy that
shall be used for planning, programming, monitoring and evaluation of indicators in all
levels;

Create an enabling environment for adolescents to make an informed choice on their
sexual and reproductive health best suited to their needs;

Spearhead efforts to harmonize information within the network. The POPCOM may
invest on a platform or information portal that would allow linking the data between
members of the network;

Serve as overall coordinator for the nationwide and community-based campaign for the
prevention of teenage pregnancy, including the development and maintenance of the
web portal for relevant online information and services; and,

Serve as the secretariat of the Council.

The DEPED and CHED shall:

(a) Ensure the development and promotion of ARHC standards and its corresponding
learning modules for teachers and students;

(b) Ensure the comprehensive training of all teachers, guidance counselors, and school
administrators on ARHC;

(c) Lead the delivery and implementation of ARHC in all public and private basic
education and tertiary educational institutions, as well as in non-formal educational
settings;

(d) Ensure the incorporation of ARHC in the module of future educators; and,

(e) Guarantee quality assurance of educational institutions in terms of ARHC delivery
compliance through the PASBE accreditation.

The DOH shall:

(a) Ensure the availability and provision of ASRH information, services, and commodities
in all public and private health facilities;

(b) Ensure the training of health service providers in providing adolescent-friendly and
responsive health service:

(c) Establish Teen Mom Clinics in all hospitals to provide adolescent mothers with access
to post-natal services and counseling, as well as reproductive health commodities to
avoid successive pregnancies;

(d) Coordinate with the POPCOM on the establishment of an M&E system to ensure the
responsiveness, coverage and delivery of this Act; and,

(e) Support and provide technical assistance in the capacity building of existing ISDNs

and establishment of new ISDNs at the local level.

The DSWD and shall:

(a) Take the lead in providing social protection for adolescent parents, especially in cases
of sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation;

(6) Ensure the provision of social protection for adolescents in humanitarian and/or
emergency situations;

(©) Equip their existing Distressed Centers for Disadvantaged Women with increased
capacity to accommodate more residents;

(@ Incorporate ASRH and teenage pregnancy modules for both parents and teens in
existing Family Development Sessions and Youth Development Sessions under the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, with modules for teens emphasizing peer-to-
peer discussions; and,

(©) Promote ARHC for adolescents with special needs and in difficult circumstances.

The NYC shall:


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(@) Ensure the integration of ASRH and ARHC promotion in the SK or TFYD and LYDC
programs and projects;

(b)  Capacitate the SK or TFYD and LYDC in the implementation of this Act at the local
level; and,

(©) Conduct workshops, classes, and seminars for first-time parents, in partnership with
DOH, DSWD, and other concerned Council members and relevant agencies.

The DILG shall:

(a) Ensure the compliance of LCDs in the implementation of this Act by including the
implementation of ASRH programs as a qualifying requirement of the Seal of Good
Local Governance; and,

(6) Assist the local ISDNs through their League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of
Municipalities and League of Barangays.

The TESDA shall:

(a) Provide social protection to adolescent parents by providing skills training and
livelihood support; and,

(6) Encourage enrollment in tech-vocational courses for adolescent parents who are not
fully equipped to return to in-school education.

The CWC shall:

(a) Integrate in its development and strategic frameworks issues and concerns from
children-specific to teen pregnancy and ensure the adoption of such frameworks by the
LGUs and other stakeholders;

(b) —_Vigorously advocate for the awareness and prevention of teen pregnancy; and,

(©) Develop, adopt, and implement, in a manner consistent with adolescents’ evolving
capacities, legislation, policies, and programs that will promote children and adolescent
health and development. At the local level, the Provincial Population Office and the
Provincial Health Office shall organize and lead the coordination of local ISDNs. The
two offices shall headline the implementation of the NPPTP at the local level. The
LGU's City or Municipal Population and Health Officers shall become the local ISDN's
point person. With assistance from the provincial coordinators, the local
SK/TFYD/LYDC, and the Council, they shall adopt the NPPTP to their localities and
be responsible for its implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The LCDs shall
enlist the participation of children, adolescents, and youth-oriented groups as well as
CSOs and NGOs as much as possible. Specific strategies shall be designed to reach
marginalized and vulnerable adolescent sub-sectors.

SEC. 24, Designating February of Every Year as the Month for Raising Public Awareness on
Preventing Teenage Pregnancy and Conduct of Nationwide Communication Campaign. ~ To
raise public consciousness on the issues on teenage pregnancy and generate support from various
stakeholders, the entire month of February shall be designated as Month for Preventing Teenage
Pregnancy which shall be observed nationwide. Schools and other stakeholders shall hold activities
with the objective of raising awareness and generate critical actions to address the issues of
increasing teenage pregnancy. Further, the Council, in collaboration with relevant agencies
including the CSOs and private sector shall develop, launch, and sustain a nationwide campaign
for the prevention of teenage pregnancy.

SEC. 25. Annual Allocations. ~ All concerned government agencies including the LGUs shall
include in their annual budget the necessary funds for strategies and activities within their
mandates that contribute to the implementation of this Act. Agencies and LGUs may also utilize
their Gender and Development (GAD) budget in implementing programs and activities to carry
out this Act.


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SEC. 26. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. ~ There is hereby created a Joint
Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of this Act and to review the
implementing rules and reguiations promulgated. The Committee shall be composed of five (5)
Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be co-chaired by the
Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender
Equality and the House Committee on Population and Family Relations.

SEC. 27. Timeline for Adoption, Monitoring and Evaluation of this Act. Networks and services
included in this Act shall be established within three (3) years upon the effectivity of this Act.
Periodic monitoring and evaluation of coverage and delivery of reproductive health services for
pregnant adolescents shall also be conducted every three (3) years.

SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ Within one hundred twenty (120) days upon
the effectivity of this Act, the Council, composed, as aforementioned, of the DOH Secretary as
Chairperson; the POPCOM Board of Commissioners Chair as Co-Chairperson; senior officials of
the NYC, DepEd, DSWD, DILG, CHED, and TESDA as ex-officio members; five appointees of
the Chair; and two representatives of children and youth sectors, shall be organized to formulate
the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act, along with at least three civil society
organizations.

SEC. 29. Separability Clause. — If any part, section, or provisions of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. — All other statutes, executive orders, and administrative issuances
or rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 31. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,