Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \\
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,_&426

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize a national program for the prevention of
adolescent pregnancies.

Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides:

“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.”

Adolescent pregnancy is a global problem. It is not just a health issue
but underscores socio-economic implications. Adolescent mothers are likely to
experience poverty and health development issues. Adolescence is a period
between childhood to adulthood. The World Health Organization defines an
adolescent as any person between the ages of 10 and 19.

Based on the Save the Children’s Global Childhood Report in 2019,
adolescent pregnancy affects 5.99% of Filipino girls, which is the second
highest rate in Southeast Asia, and still increasing.

The Commission on Population and Development reported that between
2011 and 2019, pregnancies in the 10-14 age group increased by 50%. An
average of 530 adolescent girls become pregnant daily.


In the 2014 Philippine Statistics Authority data, it was cited that babies
were delivered by adolescent mothers every hour. The 2017 National
Demographic and Health Survey also revealed that 1 in 10 girls, between the
ages15 and 19 has begun childbearing. It also showed that early childbearing
is most prevalent in Davao Region with 17.9%, followed by Northern
Mindanao with 14.7%.

While there are several laws that provide for reproductive health and
health care such as Republic Act No. 10354, otherwise known as the
“Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012” and Republic
Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act,” there is
no law that provides for the prevention of adolescent pregnancies. Several
proposals on the subject have been filed in the Seventeenth Congress and
similar proposals are again filed in the present Congress. This means that the
problem of adolescent pregnancy is a pressing issue.

This bill seeks to institutionalize a national program for the prevention of
adolescent pregnancies. It includes organization of regional and local
information and service delivery network for adolescent health and
development, comprehensive sexual education, establishment of adolescent
centers, social protection, as well as program for parents and guardians of
adolescent parents. Also, to be able to address the issue of adolescent
pregnancy, a national program is proposed to be implemented for the Filipino
youth to have better support and education. The national program is proposed
to be spearheaded by the Commission on Population and Development in
coordination with the national and local government agencies and civic
organizations.

In order to secure the future of the Filipino youth, approval of this bill is
earnestly recommended.

S) S. GARIN
AAMBIS-OW&PARTY-LIST


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,__°426

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE
PREVENTION OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES AND PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Adolescent
Pregnancy Prevention Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is the policy of the State to promote
and protect the right of the adolescent to reproductive health and adopt a
comprehensive approach to youth development which endeavors to make
education, health and other social services available to them. The State also
recognizes the lack of proper information and access to relevant reproductive

health services that give rise to adolescent pregnancies. Towards this end, the


20
21

22

State shall institutionalize a national program that will prevent early and
unintended pregnancies.

SEC. 3. Objectives. -This Act shall have the following objectives:

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

(b) Create and sustain an enabling environment for adolescents to achieve
their development aspirations and potentials as well as mobilize them to
positively contribute to the development of the country;

(c) Pursue sustainable and genuine human development that values the
dignity of the human person and affords full protection to people’s rights,
especially ofadolescent women and men and their families;

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

(e) Provide full and comprehensive information to adolescents to help
them prevent early and unintended pregnancies and their life-long
consequences;

(f) Ensure corresponding interventions that effectively respond to the
socioeconomic, health and emotional needs of adolescents and youth, especially

young women, with due regard totheir own creative capabilities, social, family

4


10

ll

20

21

22

and community support, employment opportunities, participation in the political
process, and access to education, health, counselling and high-quality
reproductive health services;

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

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

SEC. 4. National Program on the Prevention of Adolescent
Pregnancy.— The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), in
coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health
(DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National
Youth Commission (NYC) and civil society organizations, shall develop an
evidence-based medium-term National Program of Action on the Prevention of
Adolescent Pregnancy.The program serves as the national framework for inter-
agency and inter-sectoral collaboration to address the various health, cultural,

socio-economic and institutional determinants of adolescent pregnancy.


12

13

14

19
20
21

22

The National Program of Action on the Prevention of Adolescent
Pregnancy is a priority program of the POPCOM.It shall bebased on the inter-
agency program of action involving POPCOM, DepEd, DOH, DSWD and the
NYC, andshall be eligible for multiyear funding and inter-agency obligational
authority to ensurethe allocation for the key strategies in government agencies.

SEC. 5. Informationand Service Delivery Network.— Allprovinces and
chartered cities shall organize and operationalize an Information and Service
Delivery Networkfor adolescent health and development,consisting of different
government and non-government organizations, institutions, and facilities
catering information and services to adolescentswithin their locality. The
Information and Service Delivery Network may be organized by district in each
province or by municipality or city. An effective collaborative and referral
system among the members of the Information and Service Delivery Network
shall be established and implemented within a catchment area.

The Information and Service Delivery Networkshall provide health
services that are sensitive to the particular needs and rights of all adolescents,
paying attention to the following characteristics:

(a) Availability— Primary health care must include services sensitive to
the needs of adolescents, with special attention given to sexual and reproductive
health, and mental health;

(b) Accessibility— Health facilities, goods, and services must be known

and easily accessible economically, physically, and socially to all adolescents,
6


21

22

without discrimination. Confidentiality must be guaranteed and maintained at
all times;

(c) Acceptability Health facilities, goods, and services must respect
cultural values, must be gender sensitive, must be respectful of medical ethics,
and must be acceptable to both adolescents and the communities in which they
live; and

(d) Quality— Health services must be scientifically and medically
appropriate, provided by personnel trained to care for adolescents, with adequate
facilities, andoperating under scientifically accepted methods.

SEC. 6. Functions.—The Information and Service Delivery Networkshall
perform the following functions:

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

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

(c) Capacitate Information and Service Delivery Networkagency-
members, in coordination with relevant regional government agencies, to ensure
quality information and services to adolescents;

(d) Provideneeded information and services for adolescent development;

(e) Generate or share resources in the implementation of the joint

strategic plan of the Information and Service Delivery Network; and


14
15

16

20
21

22

(f) Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of coordinative and referral
systems and other inter-agency interventions jointly implemented by the
Information and Service Delivery Network.

The local Information and Service Delivery Network shall be coordinated
by the provincial or city population office,or in its absence, the provincial or
cityhealth office in collaboration with the sangguniangkabataan federation in the
localities with technical assistance from POPCOM, DepEd, DOH, and DSWD.

SEC. 7. Comprehensive SexualityEducation.The DepEd, in
coordination with the DOH, DSWD and NYC, shall develop and promote
educational standards, modules, and materials to promote comprehensive
sexuality educationin schools, communities, and other youth institutions. The
comprehensive sexuality education starts from Grade 5 and includes age-
appropriate topics such as human sexuality, adolescent reproductive health,
health and nutrition, gender-sensitivity, gender equality and equity, and life-
skills. The comprehensive sexuality education must enable adolescents to be
responsible in nurturing their sexuality, prevent sexual abuse, and avoid
unintended pregnancy.

SEC. 8. Teachers, Guidance Counselors, and School Supervisors. — The
DepEd, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall ensure that all teachers,
guidance counselors, instructors, and other school officials entrusted with the

duty to educate adolescents on comprehensive sexuality educationare properly

8


14

15

16

20

21

22

trained on adolescent health and development to effectively educate or guide
adolescents in dealing with their sexuality-related concerns. The training shall
be in coordination with the DOH, POPCOM, and NYC for technical assistance.

The CHED shall ensure that the comprehensive sexuality education
standards are integrated in the curriculum and across specializations in the
professional preparation and training of teachers in normal schools or teacher
education institutions in the country.

SEC. 9. Educationfor Out-of-School Adolescents and Those With
Special Concerns. — The DSWD, DOH, POPCOM, and the local government
units (LGUs) shall coordinate to intensify and institutionalize interactive
learning methodologies for comprehensive sexuality education among out-of-
school adolescents in the communities and workplaces. The needs of indigenous
and working adolescents, and adolescents withdisabilitiesin social institutions
must be considered in the design andpromotion of sexuality education among
them.

SEC. 10. Promotion of Sexuality Education.— TheDepEd, DOH, DSWD.
and POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Information and
Communications Technology,shall optimize social media and other online
platforms to reach adolescent netizens with accurate information and messages
on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. A web portal for the National
Program on the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy shall be developed and

promoted by the POPCOM to harmonize and link various government websites
9


20

21

22

and online services for adolescent sexual and reproductive health including the
networked operationalization of Information and Service Delivery Network.

SEC. 11. Adolescent Centers. —A schoolor community-based adolescent
center shall be established and operationalized in all municipalities and cities in
the country. Adolescentcenters serve as facilities where adolescents and youth
may access appropriate information and services on adolescent sexual and
reproductive health and other health and development concerns relevant to their
holistic development. Adolescent centers are the convergence facilities or hubs
for the services of the Information and Service Delivery Networkmembers.

The adolescent centers shall also serve as peer helping, counseling, and
treatment center especially for adolescents in crisis or victims of abuse and
violence.

The adolescent centers shall be mainly managed and operated by the
LGUs through sangguniangkabataanmembers, 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 civil society organizations.

The POPCOM, in coordination with the DepEd, CHED, DOH, DILG,
and civil society organizations,shall formulate the guidelines and standards in
setting-up adolescent centers in schools, municipalities or cities.

SEC. 12. Private Sector in the Promotion of Sexuality Education.—

Thegovernment may enter into public-private partnership agreement in
10


19

20

21

22

mobilizing private communication networks and companies in promoting
comprehensive sexuality education through text or short message service or
media messages. An incentive mechanism for telecommunication companies
shall be developed and implemented by appropriate agencies to recognize
private participation in promoting comprehensive sexuality education such as
adolescent health, behavior, positive attitude towards sex, and sexual relations,
among others.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board shall review
its existing guidelines to ensure that no movie and television program portrays,
depicts, promotes, and encourages sexual activities among adolescents as
anormative behavior in the society. An incentive scheme for adolescent-
friendlytelevision programs shall likewise be developed and implemented to
encourage movie and television networks to produce materials and programs
that promote responsible sexuality among adolescents.

Other private companies may be engaged to partner with government
agencies in designing and implementing innovative programs to prevent
adolescent pregnancy.

SEC. 13. Access of Minors to Pornographic Materials and Obscene
Shows. — Existing laws penalizing pornography and obscenity in the country
shall be strengthened by the following regulatory provisions:

(a) All business establishments providing computer and internet services

shall strictly restrict or prohibit minors from accessing pornographic websites
0


20

21

22

by setting-up filters or parental control programs to block or filter-out
pornographic internet contents in all their computer units and by posting a
signage prohibiting minors from accessing pornographic materials. Failure to
comply with this provision is a ground for the cancellation of the business
permit of the establishment;

(b) Selling and distribution of pornographic printed materials and videos
in any format to minors is prohibited and penalized under existing laws;

(c) Persons within the age of majority who encourage or influence minors
to access pornographic products and contents shall be penalized under existing
laws; and

(d) Any business establishment that allows the participation and access of
minors in obscene shows shall be prosecutedby the cancellation of the business
permit of such establishment.

The sangguniangkabataanat the barangay, municipality or city level shall
organize and mobilize group of youth volunteers in collaboration with barangay
officials and peace officers to monitor compliance of computer shops and
business establishments selling and distributing videos and printed materials in
restricting minors from accessing pornographic products.

SEC. 14. Access to Reproductive Health Services.—Sexually active
adolescents or those who have already engaged in sexual activities shall be
allowed to access modern family planning methods with proper counseling by

trained service providers in public and private facilities including the adolescent

12


10

ll

18

19

20

centers. For this purpose, all health service providers in health facilities
including school clinics shall be trained on providing adolescent-friendly and
responsive information and services. All health facilities shall be improved to
become an adolescent-friendly facility by maintainingconfidentiality,
providingexclusive schedule for adolescents,ensuring availability of services for
adolescents, and providing non-judgmental health services.

SEC. 15. Adolescent Mothers orParents.—The adolescent centers shall
provide a comprehensive social protection service to adolescent mothers or
adolescents who are currently pregnant and their partners, to prevent repeated
pregnancies and ensure their well-being while assuming the responsibilities of
being young parents. Such services include the following:

(a) Maternal health services including antenataland _facility-based
delivery;

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

(c) Home-based education for adolescent mothers;

(d) Personal PhilHealth coverage, including the mandatory enrollment
and membership of indigent and indigenous adolescent mothers:

(e) Trainingand support to livelihood programs for the household of the
adolescent parents especially for the indigents; and

(f) Continuing comprehensive sexuality education for adolescent parents.


20

21

22

SEC. 16. Parents and Guardians with Adolescent Children— A
comprehensive sexuality education program for parents and guardians shall be
developed and implementedto effectively guide, counsel, and provide consent to
their adolescent children in relation to their sexual health. The POPCOM shall
endeavor to reach out to parent organizations in schools and communities to
promote the program.

SEC. 17.Adolescent Pregnancy PreventionMonth.— To raise public
consciousness on the issues on adolescent pregnancy and generate support from
various stakeholders, the entire month of February shall be designated as
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Month. Schools and other stakeholders shall
hold activities with the objective of raising awareness and generate
criticalactions to address the issues of increasing adolescent pregnancy.

Further, the POPCOM, in coordination with DepEd, DOH, DSWD,
LGUs and civil society organizations,shall develop, launch, and sustain a
nationwide campaign for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy.

SEC. 18. Integration of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy in
Sangguniang Kabataan Programs. — Strategies and programs which aim to
prevent incidence of adolescent pregnancies shall be integrated in the
sangguniangkabataanprograms at the local and community level. The NYC shall
issue guidelines to ensure the implementation of this provision.

The sangguniangkabataanshall likewise implement programs and

activities that aim to develop the potentials and skills of adolescents to make
14


20

a

22

them more productive members of the society. The sangguniangkabataanshall
encourage youth participation in these activities as a means to divert the focus
and potentials of adolescents into more meaningful and productive endeavors.

SEC. 19. Involvement in Risky Behaviors. — All barangays shall
implement legal measures to prevent adolescents from engaging in risky
behaviors particularly drinking alcoholic beverages, illegal drug use, hanging-
out late at night that may lead them to sexual activities or engaging in sexual
assault or violence. The barangays shall also strictly prohibit the access of
minors to videoke bars, beer house or pubs, clubs, and other similar facilities
that may encourage adolescents to engage in sexual activities or sex-related
violence and crimes.

SEC. 20. Duties and Functions. — In accordance to their existing
mandates, the following national and local government agencies shall perform
the following duties and functions relative to the implementation of this Act:

(a) The DepEd, CHED,and TESDA shall:

(1) Ensure the development and promotion of comprehensive
sexuality education standards and its corresponding learning modules for
teachers and students;

(2)Ensure the comprehensive training of all teachers on
comprehensive sexuality education;

(3) Support the development of school-based adolescent centers;

and


20

21

(4)Conduct other extra-curricular activities for adolescent
sexual and reproductive health.

(b) The Department of Health shall:

(1) Ensure the availability and provision of adolescent sexual
and reproductive health services in all public health facilities;

(2) Ensure the training of health service providers in providing
adolescent-friendly and responsive health services using the enhanced
adolescent job aid; and

(3) Support and provide technical assistance in the establishment
of existing Information and Service Delivery Network at the local level.

(c) The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall:

(1) Take the lead in providing social protection for adolescent
parents;

(2)Ensure the integration of social protection services in
adolescent centers; and

(3) Promote comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents
with special needs and in difficult circumstances.

(d) ) The National Youth Commission shall:

(1) Ensure the integration of adolescent sexual and reproductive

health and comprehensive sexuality education promotion in the

sangguniangkabataanprograms and projects; and


7
18
19
20

21

(2) Capacitate the sangguniangkabataanin the implementation
of this Act at the local level.

(e) The Commission on Population and Development shall:

(1)Develop and coordinate with the relevant agencies the
National Program on the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy as part of
the national population management program;

(2)Implement a program for the training of parents and
guardians in effectively guiding adolescents on adolescent sexual and
reproductive health issues;

(3) Set-up the national database for adolescent pregnancy that
may be used for plan and program development; and

(4) Take the lead in the nationwide and community-based
campaign for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy including the
development and maintenance of the web portal for relevant online
information and services.

(f) The Commission on Welfare of Children shall develop and implement
comprehensive sexuality education strategies for adolescents;

(g) The MTRCB shall review its guidelines to discourage television
networks and movie producers to portray sexual activities involving adolescents
as a normative behavior;

(h) The LGUs shall:


10

ll

12

20

21

22

(1) Ensure the development of local strategies for the prevention
of adolescent pregnancy in their localities;

(2)Ensure the promotion of comprehensive sexuality education
in schools and communities;

(3) Mobilize the sangguniangkabataanfor key strategies in the
prevention of adolescent pregnancy in the locality;

(4) Facilitate the organization and mobilization of Information
and Service Delivery Network;

(5) Ensure the availability and provision of appropriate health
and social services for adolescents;

(6) Set-up database on adolescent pregnancy for programming
and planning;

(7)Implement a program for the training of parents and
guardians in effectively guiding adolescents onadolescent sexual and
reproductive health issues; and

(8) Allocate funds necessary for the strategies in preventing
adolescent pregnancy.

(i) The civil society organizations shall serve as partners of the national

and local government units in the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC.21. Annual Report. — The POPCOM shall, through the Director

General of the National Economic and Development Authority, submit to both

Houses of Congress, or upon the request of the Congressional Oversight

18


20
21
22

Committee, an annual report giving a detailed account of the status of the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 22. Donation or Grants. — The POPCOM is authorized to accept
grants, contributions, donations, endorsements, bequests or gifts in cash, or in
kind from local and foreign sources in support of the development and
implementation of the National Program on the Prevention of
AdolescentPregnancy. Such donations may not be used to fund personal
services, expenditures and other operating expenses of the program.

The proceeds of such grants, contributions, donations, endorsements,
bequests or gifts in cash, or in kind shall be used to finance the following:

(a) Research, information dissemination and service delivery for
adolescent health and development;

(b) Education and training on comprehensive sexual education;

(c) Improvement of adolescent centers; and

(d) Conduct of such other activities necessary to carry out the objectives
of this Act.

SEC. 23. Funding Allocation. - The DepEd, DOH, DSWD and LGUs
shall allocate from their annual appropriations adequate funds for strategies and
activities within their mandates that are contributory to the implementation of
this Act. In subsequent budget proposals, the DepEd, DOH, DSWD and LGUs
shall appropriate funds for program implementation, including continuing

education and training as well as project monitoring and evaluation.

19


SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days upon the effectivity of this Act, an inter-agency technical working group
consisting of DepEd, DOH, DSWD and DILG, with POPCOM as Secretariat,
and representatives from civil society organizations, shall be organized to
formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or any provision not
affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders and their implementing rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby, repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,

20