THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
JAB 19 f.?:?j3 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIV, Section 1, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to 
make such education accessible to all. 
Despite the importance of education, not everyone is fortunate enough to enroll in 
a school of higher learning, nor complete a degree program. 
Health and population statistics show that many students become mothers while 
still in their teens or early adulthood. In 2002, a study conducted by the Young Adult 
Fertility Study of the University of the Philippines disclosed that: 
1 of 3 or 33% of young women aged 20 to 24 have already given birth to their 
first child before reaching their 21'' birthday; 
Only 19% of the youth who are sexually active use contraception. 
Likewise, the Population Commission in 2004 found that: 
10% o f  all births in the Philippines occur to teenage mothers aged 15 to 29; 
4 out of 10 abortion complications treated in hospitals occur among young girls. 
Childbearing women must overcome physical, financial, and emotional trials, 
which ordinary students do not experience. Although raising a child must not be the 
young mother's burden alone, some young fathers refuse to assume the responsibility for 
their unborn child, leaving the unwed mother to grapple with the difficulties of single 
parenthood. Thus, some of them are forced to drop out of school temporarily or even 
permanently. Should this pregnant student quit school, she will be faced with even more 
difficult challenges: rearing a child by herself and finding a decent job. Fear of these 
consequences is the primary reason for resorting to abortion. 
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Those students who do continue with their pregnancy and schooling must 
overcome the challenges of first time motherhood. The state has a stake in protecting the 
welfare, health, and safety of this young mother and lier cliild. Tlie Constitution itself, 
declares that it is a policy of the state to equally protect the life of the mother and the life 
of the unborn from conception. Hence, the state must provide adequate support to 
mothers, during and immediately after their pregnancy, for these are the times when they 
are most vulnerable. 
This bill seelts 'to establish a pilot program to provide grants to encourage eligible 
institutions of higher education to establish and operate pregnant and parenting student 
services offices for pregnant students, parenting students, and prospective parenting 
students who are anticipating a birth. Tlie program envisions a young mother's academic 
community to be supportive of lier condition rather than penalize lier for her pregnancy. 
The state must institutionalize a means by which the right of such young women to 
education can be fulfilled. 
Indeed, an educated citizenry creates a formidable resource for nation-building; 
the physical, intellectual and emotional well-being of this resource must be protected so 
as to ensure our country's genuine development. 
u 
2 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
6 JAN 19 1’3 5 3  
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRANTS ENCOURAGING 
INSTIUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE 
PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENT SERVICES OFFICES 
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 “Pregnant and Parenting 
Student Services Act of 2006”. 
SECTION 2. DeJinition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act: 
(A) Eligible higher education institution -refers to a public higher 
education institution that has established and operates, or agrees to establish and 
operate upon the receipt of a grant under this Act, a pregnant and parenting 
student services office described in Section 5. 
(B) Parent - refers to a parent or legaI guardian of a minor. 
(C) Secretary - refers to the Secretary of the Department of Education. 
SECTION. 3. Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Pilot Program. - The 
Secretary shall establis11 a pilot program to award grants to eligible institutions of higher 
education to enable eligible institutions of higher education to establish (or maintain) and 
operate pregnant and parenting student services offices in accordance with section 5. 
SECTION. 4. Application; Number Of Grants.- 
(A) Application - An eligible institution of higher education that desires to 
receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and coiitaiiiing such information as the Secretary may 
require. 
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(B) Requests for Additional Information - The Secretary may require an 
eligible institution submitting an application under subsection (A) to provide 
additional information if the Secretary that determines such information is 
necessary to process the application. 
(C) Number of Grants - The Secretary shall award grants under this Act to 
not more than 200 eligible institutions of higher education, situated in the various 
regions, commensurate to the distribution of institutions per region. 
SECTION 5. Use of Funds. - 
(A) In General- An eligible institution of higher education which receives 
a grant under this Act shall use grant funds to establish or maintain and operate a 
pregnant and parenting student services office, located in the campus of the 
eligible institution, which carries out the following programs and activities: 
(1) Hosts an initial pregnancy and parenting resource forum-- 
(a) to assess available pregnancy and parenting resources 
located on the campus or within the local community; and 
(b) to set goals for- 
(i) improved services for pregnant, parenting, and 
prospective parenting students; and 
(ii) improved access to such services. 
(2) Annually assesses the performance of the' eligible institution 
and the office in meeting the following needs of students enrolled 
in the eligible institution who are pregnant or are parents: 
(a) Student health care that includes maternity coverage and 
nialtes available coverage for additional family members; 
(b) Family housing; 
(c) Child care; 
(d) Flexible or alternative academic scheduling, such as 
telecommuting programs; 
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(e) Education concerning responsible parenting for mothers 
and fathers, and education supporting healthy marriages; 
(E) Resources for pregnant women and children, such as 
maternity and baby clothing, baby food (including 
formula), and baby furniture; 
(g) Post-partum counseling and support groups. 
(3) Identifies public aid private service providers, located on the 
campus of the eligible institution or within the local community, 
that are qualified to meet the needs described in paragraph (2), and 
establishes programs with qualified providers to meet such needs. 
(4) Assists pregnant and parenting students in locating and 
obtaining services that meet the needs described in paragraph (2). 
(5) If appropriate, provides referrals for prenatal care and delivery, 
infant or foster care, or adoption, to a student who requests such 
information. An office shall malte such referrals only to service 
providers that primarily serve the following types of individuals: 
(a) Parents. 
(b) Prospective parents awaiting adoption. 
(c) Women who are pregnant and plan on parenting or 
placing the child for adoption. 
(d) Parenting or prospective parenting couples who are 
married or who plan on marrying in order to provide a 
suppoitive environment for each other and their child. 
(B) Expanded Services- In carrying out the programs and activities 
described in subsection (A), an eligible institution of higher education receiving a 
grant under this Act may choose to provide access to such programs and activities 
to a pregiiant or parenting employee of the eligible institution. 
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SECTION. 6. Reporting. 
(A) Annual Report by Institutions- 
(1) In General - For each fiscal year that an eligible institution of higher 
education receives a grant under this Act, the eligible institution shall 
prepare and submit to the Secretary, by the date determined by the 
Secretary, a report that-- 
(a) itemizes the pregnant and parenting student services office's 
expenditures for the fiscal year; 
(b) contains a review and evaluation of the performance of the 
office in fulfilling the requirements of this Act, using the specific 
performance criteria or standards established under paragraph (2); 
and 
(c) describes the achievement of the office in meeting the needs 
listed in section 5(A)(2) of the students served by the eligible 
institution, and the frequency of use of the office by such students. 
(2) Performance Criteria - Not later than 180 days before the date the 
annual report described in paragraph (1) is submitted, the Secretary-- 
(a) shall identify the specific performance criteria or standards that 
shall be used to prepare the report; and 
(b) may establish the form or format of the report. 
(3) Additional Information - After reviewing an annual report of an 
eligible institution of higher education, the Secretary may require that the 
eligible institution provide additional information if the Secretary 
determines that such additional information is necessary to evaluate the 
pilot program. 
(B) Report by Secretary - The Secretary shall annually prepare and submit a 
report on the findings of the pilot program under this Act, including the number of 
eligible institutions of higher education that were awarded grants and the number of 
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students served by each pregnant and parenting services office receiving funds under this 
Act, to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
SECTION. 7. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized from the National Treasury. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of Pregnant and Parenting 
Student Services Pilot Program shall be included in the annual appropriations of the 
Departiiieiit of Education. 
SECTION 8. Sepurability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law 'of the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. 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 
accordingly. 
SECTION 10. ESfectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,