Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 2924
Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez

EXPLANATORY

OTE

‘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, a total of 183,967 live births among adolescents aged 10-19
years in 2018, equivalent to 504 live births per day in the said age group, and 180, 916 in 2019
for the same age group, equivalent to 495 live births per day

‘The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) reported that Philippine 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. In addition, based on the UNFPA study in 2018,
adolescents lose an aggregate lifetime earnings of about P33 Billion due to early childbearing,

Some study shows 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 lastly, 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. The proposed bill seeks to create a
comprehensive policy enabling youth participation in adolescent pregnancy prevention

‘The passage of this bill is urgently sought.

CHARISSE ANNE‘C. HERNANDEZ
Lone District, Calamba City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2524
Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez

AN ACT
CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ENABLING YOUTH PARTICIPATION
IN ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY PREVENTION

‘Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines:

SEC 1. Short Title. The Local Council Adolescent Act of 2022

SEC 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
youth in the nation-building promoting their holistic growth and well-being

SEC 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 10-19 who is child-
bearing

b. Unwanted Pregnancy - Pregnancy that is unplanned at the time of conception

¢. Psychosocial Intervention - activities and strategies that aim to Improve the health and

ell-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

©. Youth participation - actively involving young people in decision making processes on
Personal development and involvement in society

SEC 4. Coverage. All local government units,

SEC 5. Creation of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The Local Council
‘on Adolescent Pregnancy, hereafter known as the Council, is hereby established under the


SEC 5. Creation of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The Local Council
on Adolescent Pregnancy, hereafter known as the Council, is hereby established under the
Local Government Unit 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.

‘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.

SEC 6. Composition of the Local Council on Adolescent Pregnancy. The Local
Council on Adolescent Pregnancy shall be headed by the Local Chief Executive, 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.

SEC 7. Powers and Functions. The Council shall exercise the following powers and
functions:

(a) Serve asa 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;

(b) __ 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;

(c) Serve as an advisory committee to the sanggunian concemed on adolescent
pregnancy such as, but not limited to, the necessity for, and application of, local appropriations
for public health purposes;

(d) Create regular and special committees that are consistent with the technical and
administrative standards of the Department of Health

(e) Cascade the proposals and reports from the grassroots communities,
municipalities, cities, and provincial adolescent councils.

(f) Conduct monitoring and pre and post evaluation of adolescent pregnancy
projects and programs.

SEC 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.

SEC 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.

SEC 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 his Act.

SEC 11. Appropriation. All LGUs 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.

SEC 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

Approved.