Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, _**' 8533

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS IN
ORDER TO REDUCE THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

The Constitution, Article ll, Section 13, recognizes the vital role of the youth in
nation-building. It is imperative for the State to assist them in the formation of all aspects
of human development because today's youth are the most important resource of our

Poantentoninentitr
country for the future.

However, this declared policy is hampered by the increase of unwanted pregnancy
among teenagers. Teenage pregnancy, mostly unwanted and untimely, has now become
a significant and far-reaching social problem, which affects not only the quality of life for
the teenagers, but also their families and the community as a whole.

For both sexes, teenage pregnancy has a very negative effect on education,
occupational and economic satisfaction, and success for teenagers. Furthermore,
teenage pregnancy produces higher risks to the life of both the young mother and her
child, Studies show that infants born to teenagers are likely to be more underweight and
premature. Likewise, compared with 20-24-year old mothers, those with ages 15-19 are
more prone to anemia, abnormal bleeding, difficult labor, and other complications.

This bill seeks to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy by requiring the evaluation of
private and public programs of the government.

LUIS RAYMUND ‘LRAY” F/ VILLAFUERTE, JR.

U


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. EB

UIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS IN
ORDER TO REDUCE THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

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 “Teenage Pregnancy
Reduction Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in
nation-building. This recognition mandates the State to assist the youth in all aspects of
wiman development.

their

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

(A) "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,

(B) “Prevention program” means a program for the prevention of pregnancy in
adolescents; and

(C) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health.
SECTION 4. Evaluation of Effective Programs for Prev

The Secretary shall arrange for the evaluation of a
designed, in whole or in part, to prevent pregnancy in adolescents, including programs



that do not receive funds form the government for the operation of the programs.
The purpose of the evaluation shall be the determination of the following:

(A) The effectiveness of such programs in reducing adolescent pregnancy;
(B) The factors contributing to the effectiveness of the programs; and
{C) The feasibility of replicating the programs in other locati

SECTION 5. Participation of Government and Private Organizations. — In carrying out
the evaluation under the preceding section, the Secretary shall as appropriate:

(A) Provide for the participation of the Department of Education, Department of
Welfare and Development, Department of Science and Technology, and the Population
Commission; and

(B) Provide for the participation of organizations with demonstrated expertise in
conducting evaluations of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs.

SECTION 6. Design of Evaluation. — Subject to Section 7, the Secretary shall select a
design for the evaluation under Section 4 from among proposals that:

(A) Provide for the evaluation of programs in various geographic regions;

provide for determining
factors that are specific to various socioeconomic, age groups and factors that are
specific to gender; and

(C) Meet such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.

SECTION 7. Measures of Effectiveness. - The Secretary shall define the measures of
effectiveness used in evaluating the programs designed the rate of adolescent
pregnancy, and shall include a variety of measures of effectiveness in the definition.

SECTION 8. Submission of Report. — Not later than one (1) 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 of Information. — 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, professional medical associations, entities providing
public health services, entities providing social work services, and school administrators.

SECTION 10. Rule of Construction. — The provisions of this Act apply with respect to


prevention programs 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 provisions of this Act, such amount as
may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasu
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the establishment of programs designed to red
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
accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,