” .  
THIRTEENTH CONGRES 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
z 
,, , ,I. 
introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building. It has the duty 
of providing them with necessary programs and infrastructures that will implement this 
objective. 
For the past several years, there have been a considerable number of teenage 
pregnancy not only in foreign countries but also here in the Philippines. Probably due to 
the neo-colonial nature of our society wherein Filipinos, especially the youth imitates the 
way of life of their western counterparts, the liberal principles and outlook in life justified 
certain acts which used to be unusual in the norms of the Filipino custom. Hence, 
teenage pregnancy proliferated. Rich and poor, movie and television figures and 
ordinary citizens alike - they all cannot escape from the possibility of teenage 
pregnancy. 
The government as well as private organizations have, in fact, several programs 
that address the problems of the young mothers. These programs, however, has to be 
reviewed and evaluated, hence this bill came into being. The evaluation of such 
programs will enable the authorities to strengthen and if needed, revise them for more 
applicable implementation. The bill intends to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy to 
provide them and their future children the means to enjoy healthy and stable living. 
For these reasons, the passage of this bills is earnestly sought. 
JERCITO ESTaADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
1
.
 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
REDUCING THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY THROUGH 
EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS 
Be it enacted by the Senafe and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: , 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Teenage Pregnancy 
Reduction Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the 
youth in nation-building. This recognition mandates to State to assist the youth in all 
aspects of their human development. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms: 
“Programmatic approaches,” with respect to prevention programs, includes 
advocating abstinence from sexual activity; providing family planning 
services; fostering academic achievement; mentoring by adults; providing 
employment assistance or job training; providing professional counseling or 
peer counseling; providing for recreational or social events; and any 
combination thereof. 
“Prevention program” means a program for the prevention of pregnancy in 
adolescents. 
“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
SECTION 4. Evaluation of Effective Programs for Prevention of Adolescenf 
Pregnancy, The Secretary shall arrange for the evaluation of a wide variety of existing 
programs designed in whole or in part to prevent pregnancy in adolescents, including 


programs that do not receive funds from the government for the operation of the 
programs. The purpose of the evaluation shall be the determination of the following: 
(I 
) The effectiveness of such programs in reducing adolescent pregnancy; 
(2) The factors contributing to the effectiveness of the programs; and 
(3) The feasibility of replicating the programs in other locations. 
SECTION 5. Participation of Governmenf and Private Organizafions. - In 
carrying out the evaluation under the preceding Section, the Secretary shall as 
appropriate: 
(1) Provide for the participation of the Department of Education, Culture, and 
Sports, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of 
Science and Technology and the Population Commission; and 
(2) Provide for the participation of organizations with demonstrated expertise in 
conducting evaluations of adolescent pregnancy prevention program. 
SECTION 6. Design of Evaluation - Subject to Section 7, the Secretary shall 
select a design for the evaluation under Section 4 for among proposals that: 
(1 ) Provide for the evaluation of programs in various geographic regions; 
(2) With respect to the populations served by the programs, provide for 
determining factors that are specific to various socioeconomic, age groups 
and factors that are specific to gender; and 
(3) Meet such other criteria as the Secretary may establish. 
SECTION 7. Measures o f  Effectiveness. - The Secretary shall define the 
measures of effectiveness used in evaluating the programs designed to reduce the rate 
of adolescent pregnancy, and shall include a variety of measures of effectiveness in the 
d ef i n it ion. 
SECTION 8. Submission o f  Report. - Not later than one (I) 
year after the 
effectivity of this Act, the evaluation under Section 4 shall be completed and a report 
shall be submitted to the Congress that describes the findings made in the evaluation 
and provides recommendations for future programs designed to reduce the rate of 
adolescent pregnancy. 
SECTION 9. Dissemination o f  Informafion. - After the submission of the 
report under Section 8, the Secretary shall disseminate the findings and 
recommendations presented in the report. The categories of individuals to whom the 
information is disseminated shall include administrators of prevention programs, public 


and private entities providing financial support to such programs, organizations working 
on such programs, professional medical associations, entities providing public health 
services, entities providing social work services, and schoql administrators. 
SECTION I O .  Rule of Consfrucfion. - The provisions of this Act apply with 
respect to a prevention program without regard to which of the various programmatic 
approaches for the prevention of pregnancy in adolescents is the focus of the program. 
SECTION 11. Appropriation- To carry out the provision of this Act, such 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the establishment of programs 
designed to reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy shall be included in the annual 
appropriation of the Department of Health. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accord i ng I y . 
SECTION 14. Effecfivify Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.