FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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,1111. 24 1'.3:,? 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, 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 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.* 
* This bill was re-filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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7 ,J(ji- 24 F1.j:4!o 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS IN 
ORDER TO REDUCE THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY 
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Congress assembled 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
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in 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Teenage Pregnancy 
Reduction Act of 2007.’’ 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofpolicy. - 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 their 
human development. 
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 Programsfor Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy. 
- The Secretary shall arrange for the evaluation of a wide variety of existing programs designed, 
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in whole or in part, to prevent pregnancy in adolescents, including drograms that do not receive 
funds form the government for the operation of the programs. 
The purpose of the evaluation shall be the determination of thi: following: 
(A) The effectiveness of such programs in reducing adolescebt pregnancy; 
(B) The factors contributing to the effectiveness of the progrdnis; and 
(C) The feasibility of replicating the programs in other locatibns. 
SECTION 5. Participation of Government and Private Orgdnizations. - In carrying out 
the evaluation under the preceding section, the Secretary shall as appdopriate: 
(A) Provide for the participation of the Department of Educhtion, Department of Social 
Welfare and Development, Department of Science and Technc/logy, 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 ofEvaluation. - 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 geogra~hic regions; 
(B) With respect to the populations served by the progrds, 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 {he Secretary may establish. 
SECTION 7. Measures of Effectiveness. - The Secretary sdall 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 repbrt shall be submitted to the 
Congress that describes the findings made in the evaluation and probides recommendations for 
future programs designed to reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy. 
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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 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 Ciause. - 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. Efectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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