FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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8 ocr iil 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The dynamics of dating violence in adolescent relationships are very similar to the 
dynamics of domestic violence in adult relationships. Like adult domestic violence, teen 
dating violence crosses all social and economic classes, races, cultures, genders, and 
sexual orientations. 
Despite the similarities with adult domestic violence, there are some unique 
aspects of teen dating violence, which make it an issue separate from adult domestic 
violence. Many teens have not had much experience with intimate relationships and 
therefore may be especially susceptible to the sex roles presented in society which are 
overwhelmingly stereotypical and non-egalitarian. 
In addition, teens perceive 
relationships to be significant in a much shorter period of time, and therefore may have 
difficulty leaving a relationship even after only a month of dating a partner. Even if a 
victim decides to break up with herhis abuser, they often attend the same school, 
contributing to a greater sense of fear and entrapment. Teens are also under a great deal 
ofpressure by peers to be involved in a relationship, which may add to their ambivalence 
about breaking up with a partner. Finally, many teens may resist seeking help from 
parents or other adults. At this developmental stage, teens are struggling to declare 
independence and may try to solve problems on their own or with their peers. They may 
fear that if they reach out for help from an adult in their life that they may lose some of 
the freedom which they have worked hard to attain. 
There have been several studies that declared that when a student is a victim of 
dating violence, his or her academic life suffers and his or her safety at school is 
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jeopardized. This makes it imperative for the legislature to enact a sound policy to create 
an environment free of dating violence which shall be a part of each school. It is the 
intent of the general assembly to enact legislation that would require each school to 
establish a policy for responding to incidents of dating violence and to provide dating 
violence education to students, parents, staff, faculty and administrators, in order to 
prevent dating violence and to address incidents involving dating violence. All students 
have a right to'work and study in a safe, supportive environment that is free from 
harassment. intimidation and violence. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
8 
Clcrii; 
'1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DATNG 
VIOLENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND 
MUSIC (PEHM) CURRICULUM FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION 
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 "Teen Dating Violence 
Act of 2008". 
SECTlON 2. Description of Policy. 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. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Tevms. As used in this Act, the following definition of 
terms shall be adopted: 
(1) "Dating violence" means a pattern of behavior where one person uses threats of, or 
actually uses, physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control his or her dating 
partner. 
(2) "Dating partner" means any person, regardless of gender, involved in an intimate 
relationship with another primarily characterized by the expectation of affectionate 
involvement whether casual, serious or long-term. 
(3) "At school" means in a classroom, on or immediately adjacent to school premises, 
on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, at an official school bus stop, or at any 
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school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is on school grounds. 
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SECTION 4. Teen Dating Violence Education. Teen Dating violence education 
shall include, but not be limited to, defining dating violence, recognizing dating violence 
warning signs and characteristics of healthy relationships. Each school supervisor shall 
incorporate dating violence education that is age-appropriate into the Physical Education, 
Health and Music (PEHM) curriculum for first year to fourth year high school students. 
It shall be the duty of the Secretary of Education to: 
(1) Develop a model dating violence policy to assist school supervisors in developing 
policies for dating violence reporting and response. 
(2) Establish a specific policy to address incidents of dating violence involving 
students at school. 
(3) Such policy shall include, but not be limited to, a statement that dating violence 
will not be tolerated, dating violence reporting procedures with specific guidelines on 
how to respond to school incidents of dating violence and discipline procedures specific 
to such incidents. 
(4) Provide dating violence training to all administrators and teachers at the high 
school levels. Upon the recommendation of the administrator, other staff may be included 
or may attend the training on a volunteer basis. The dating violence training shall include, 
but not be limited to, basic principles of dating violence, warnings signs of dating 
violence and the school district's dating violence policy, to ensure that they are able to 
appropriately respond to incidents of dating violence at school. This training shall be 
provided yearly to all newly hired staff deemed appropriate to receive the training by the 
school's administration. 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary 
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amended accordingly. 
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or 
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Approved, 
SECTION 7. Efectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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