SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2644 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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TO AUTHORIZE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE THE 
PERSISTENT QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND INCREASED EDUCATION 
AMONG YOUTH 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 9344 aka the "Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006" states: 
"The State recognizes the vital role of children and 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 Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), which is attached to and under 
the administrative supervision of the Department of Justice and chaired by an 
undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is the government 
agency tasked to implement the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. JJWC is also 
mandated to formulate and recommend policies and strategies in consultation with 
children for the prevention of juvenile delinquency and the administration of justice, as 
well as for the treatment and rehabilitation of the children in conflict with the law. 


· 
The purpose of this bill is to promote, through the JJWC, the persistent quest for 
knowledge and increased education among youth, thus, decreasing the influx of youth in 
penitentiaries in the Philippines by exposing youth to the value of increased education. I 
I This bill was originally tiled by Rep. Steve Cohen in the U.S. House of Representatives (Ilih Congress). 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2644 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO AUTHORIZE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE THE 
3 
PERSISTENT QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND INCREASED EDUCATION 
4 
AMONG YOUTH 
5 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Positive Reduction of 
6 
Incarceration by Maximizing Education Act" or the "PRIME Act." 
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SECTION 2. Public Awareness Campaigns for Continuing Education Among 
8 
Youth.-
9 
(a) Public Awareness Campaigns. - The Secretaries of Justice, and Social Welfare 
10 
and Development, through the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), shall utilize 
11 
existing resources allocated to it to establish national, regional, and local public 
12 
awareness campaigns focused on promoting the advantages of continued education 
13 
among youth, including the decreased likelihood of incarceration for youth who continue 
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to pursue education. In carrying out this Act, the JJWC may use advertising through 
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television, radio, print media, billboards, posters, the Internet, and any other methods as 
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the council may determine to be appropriate. 
17 
(b) Report. - Not later than 1 October of each year after the date of effectivity of 
18 
this Act, the JJWC shall submit to the chairperson and members of the Committees on 


• 
Justice of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that describes the 
2 
activities carried out under this Act during the preceding year. 
3 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
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unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
5 
effect. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
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or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
8 
SECTION 5 Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
9 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Itldp30jan20 15