AGEPREY
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Republic of the Philippines fe yX
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED i
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Quezon City, Metro Manila DATE 274 fa
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._4115

Introduced by
KABATAAN Party-list Rep. RENEE LOUISE M. CO
and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. ANTONIO L. TINIO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY IN PREVENTING ADOLESCENT
PREGNANCIES AND INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR
ADOLESCENT PARENTS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is experiencing an alarming phenomenon of “younging”
among Filipino youth engaging in sexual intercourse. In 2019, the Commission on
Population and Development (POPCOM) classified teenage pregnancy as a
“national social emergency” due to a decrease in the average ages of adolescents
experiencing early childbearing and an increase in the number of families headed by
teenagers. 2023 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that, while
pregnancies among 15- to 19-year-olds showed a declining trend, dropping from
178,000 cases in 2019 to 138,000 in 2023, pregnancies in the 10 to 14 bracket surged
to over 3,300 cases, a significant jump from over 2,000 cases in 2019. POPCOM
further shared a heartbreaking story: they recorded their youngest case yet this year
~ a pregnant 8-year-old child that gave birth at 9 years of age. On the other hand,
POPCOM's studies have shown that only 12% of parents talk to their kids about sex
education, following a disturbing uptick in teenage pregnancies the past several
years.

The 2025 State of the World Population (SWOP) reports that in every 1,000
Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 years old, 27 of them would have already experienced
childbearing. In an equally unsettling statistic, data from a policy brief by the
Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLPCD) shows
that there are four times as many babies born to teenage mothers as there are to


teenage fathers. As such, it is suggested that most children of teenage mothers are
sired by older fathers thus fostering an imbalance in power relations between
parents and increasing vulnerability to other risks such as sexual and gender-based
abuse.

‘Adolescent or teenage pregnancy is the outcome of a confluence of factors. A
study conducted on the correlation of teenage pregnancy and familial factors in 2021
revealed that teenage pregnancy was more likely to occur among young women who
resided with neither parent or were members of large families. In the absence of
parental guidance, monitoring, or control within proximity of the adolescent's
residence, communication regarding sexual and reproductive concerns decreases. As
such, teenage women are more susceptible to experiencing childbearing at an early
age.

Educational attainment has also been found to play a role in the significant
reduction of risk for teenage pregnancy. However, for many young mothers,
attending school is not a viable option due to poverty, ill health, and overall
prioritization of family needs. This myriad of factors leads to the discontinuation of
education among young women and increases the chances of pregnancy.

Socioeconomic status has also been linked with the occurrence of teenage
pregnancies. In the PLPCD policy brief, it was found that young women with lower
economic status and educational attainment were more likely to experience teenage
pregnancy. Although the same cannot be said for adolescent men, the PLPCD reports
that most young fathers are those that belong to the highest socioeconomic class.

Flaws in the construction, provision, and accessibility of reproductive health
services and laws in the Philippines have also contributed to the prevalence of
adolescent pregnancy. Republic Act No. 10354, known as “The Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012,” restricts minors from accessing
modern methods of family planning unless written consent from their parents or
guardian/s is obtained. Thus, sexually active minors would most likely engage in
unprotected sexual intercourse thus increasing the risk of pregnancy.

The limited accessibility and availability of material on sex education leave
the youth to their own devices. Most teenagers turn to the internet for information
‘on reproductive health and related concerns. As such, most are unaware of the
existence and need for contraceptives or other family planning measures. The
PLPDC reports only a small percentage of adolescent men and women that know the
time frame in which a woman is most likely to get pregnant should she engage in
sexual intercourse. Similarly, data from a National Demographic and Health Survey
(NDHS) report in 2017 provide that only 1 in 4 women (24%) have correct


knowledge of the fertile period — a 13% decrease in the percentage of young Filipino
women that correctly identified their fertile period compared to those surveyed in
2008.

‘As the youth remain susceptible to the risk of teenage pregnancy, the State
must direct efforts toward its prevention, and if not, towards its mitigation. The
rights of adolescents to reproductive health information and services must be upheld
to foster a safe and empowering environment for the youth. When young people are
equipped with proper and adequate knowledge of reproductive health and afforded
access to its services, they are enabled to make informed decisions that align with
their needs and preferences. Furthermore, an integrative approach that invokes the
participation of the youth sector and other agencies and organizations concerned is
necessary for the fortification of existing prevention programs.

This bill was first introduced in the 19th Congress as the consolidation of
various bills regarding adolescent and teenage pregnancy, which includes House Bill
No. 6964 filed by Representative Raoul Danniel A. Manuel of KABATAAN Party-list,
in response to this national social emergency affecting the youth. It is now being
refiled in the 20th Congress as the version that had previously passed on Third
Reading, with modifications to strengthen and refine its provisions.

Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. RENI UISE M. CO ABA ‘ONIO L. TINIO
KABA\ ~ ACT Teachers Party-list

IN Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._4115 _

Introduced by
KABATAAN Party-list Rep. RENEE LOUISE M. CO
and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. ANTONIO L. TINIO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY IN PREVENTING ADOLESCENT
PREGNANCIES AND INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR
ADOLESCENT PARENTS

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 Adolescent Pregnancy
Prevention Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to:

(a) Recognize, promote, and strengthen the role of adolescents and young people
in the overall human socio-economic development of the country;

(b) Create and sustain an enabling environment for adolescents to achieve their
aspirations and potentials as well as to positively contribute to
nation-building;

(©) Pursue sustainable and genuine human development that values the dignity
of the human person and affords full protection to peoples’ rights, especially
the adolescents and their families;

(d) Promote and protect the basic human rights of adolescents, particularly their
rights to sexual and reproductive health, equality and equity before the law,


freedom of expression, development, education, and participation in choosing
and making responsible decisions for themselves;

(©) Pursue an adolescent pregnancy reduction strategy that is anchored on the
empowerment of adolescents, their rights to health and development, their
needs and preferences, that is cognizant of the structural barriers, including
but not limited to sex, gender, poverty, age, ethnicity, and disability that lead
to adolescent pregnancy;

Provide full and comprehensive information to adolescents to help them
P Ip
prevent early and unintended pregnancies and their life-long consequences;

(g) Provide access to safe, quality, and respectful maternal health care services,
including antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care to adolescent girls;

(h) Ensure corresponding interventions that could respond to the socioeconomic,
health, and emotional needs of adolescents and youth, especially young girls,
with due regard to their capabilities for social, family, and community
support, employment opportunities, participation in the political process, and
access to education, health, counseling, and high-quality reproductive health
services;

(i) Guarantee universal access to medically safe, legal, and affordable
reproductive health care services, methods and devices, and information that
prioritizes the needs of the underprivileged, especially adolescents and those
who are already parents;

@

Encourage adolescent parents to continue and finish their education or
acquire functional and technical skills in order to equip them for a better life,
improve their income, increase their human potential to help prevent child
marriages, high-risk child-bearing and repeated pregnancies, and reduce
associated mortality and morbidity through comprehensive social protection
interventions;

() Create enabling mechanisms and opportunities for adolescent parents,
especially those who are minors, to achieve their aspirations and potentials
through comprehensive and integrated social protection measures; and

() Recognize and promote the rights, duties, and responsibilities of parents,
teachers, and other persons responsible for the growth of adolescents to
provide them, in a manner consistent with their evolving capacities,
appropriate direction, and guidance on sexual and reproductive matters.


SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) Adolescent refers to an individual in the 10 to 19 years’ age group, as defined
by the World Health Organization;

(b) Adolescent male involvement and participation refers to the active movement,
participation, and commitment of adolescent males and their joint
responsibility with adolescent females in all areas of adolescent sexual and
reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to males;

(©) Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) care refers to the access to a full
range of methods, techniques, and services that contribute to the reproductive
health and well-being of young people by preventing and solving
reproductive health-related problems;

(d) Adolescent sexuality refers to the central aspect of being human which
encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, pleasure,
intimacy, and reproduction by individuals aged 10 to 19. It is experienced and
expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors,
practices, roles, and relationships; and is influenced by the interaction of
biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical,
religious, and spiritual factors;

(c) Comprehensive adolescent sexuality education (CASE) refers to the process of
acquiring complete, accurate, relevant, and age-appropriate information and
skills on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and
processes, and human sexuality and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex,
sexual identity, interpersonal relationship, affection, intimacy, and gender
roles of adolescents. It shall develop the skills of adolescents for them to make
informed decisions such as the capacity to distinguish between facts and
myths on sex and sexuality, critically evaluate and discuss the moral,
religious, social, and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as
contraception and abortion, and the prevention of risky behaviors that may
undermine the realization of their aspirations and potentials. It is a
rights-based and gender-responsive approach to adolescent health education
taught over several years with progressive appropriateness based on
age-appropriate information consistent with the evolving capacities of young
people and adolescents. CASE shall be implemented in schools, alternative
learning systems, communities, and other venues which the government may
identify and utilize, taking into consideration its appropriateness and the
protection of its beneficiaries’ privacy;


(© Evolving capacities of the child refers to the concept enshrined in Article 5 of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizing the developmental
changes and the corresponding progress in cognitive abilities and capacity for
self-determination undergone by children as they grow up, thus requiring
parents and others charged with the responsibility for the child to provide
varying degrees of protection, and to allow their participation in
opportunities for autonomous decision-making;

(g) Information and service delivery network (ISDN) for adolescent health and
development (AHD) refers to the network of facilities, institutions, and
providers within the province, district, municipality or city-wide health and
social system offering information, training, and core packages of health and
social care services in an integrated and coordinated manner;

(h) Informed choice refers to a situation wherein a person is provided with options
to choose from several commodities, diagnostic treatments, tests, or
procedures, based on full information and details about their benefits, risks,
and expected outcomes;

() Mature minor doctrine refers to the legal principle that recognizes the capacity
of some minors to consent independently to medical procedures and services
if they have been assessed by qualified health professionals to understand the
nature of such procedures and services and their consequences to make
decisions on their own;

i)

Normal schools or colleges for teachers refer to learning institutions training or
educating teachers in primary, secondary, college, postgraduate, technical, or
vocational education;

(k) Reproductive health refers to a state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters
relating to the reproductive system and its functions and processes;

() Risky behavior refers to an ill-advised practice and action both sexual and
nonsexual that are potentially detrimental to a person’s health or general
well-being; and

(m) Social protection refers to policies and programs that seek to reduce poverty
and vulnerability to risks and enhance the social status and rights of the
marginalized by promoting livelihood and employment, protecting against


hazards and sudden loss of income, and improving people's capacity to
manage risks.

SEC. 4. Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Inter-Agency Council. — The Adolescent
Pregnancy Prevention Inter-Agency Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is
hereby established. The Council shall serve as the policy-making body responsible
for the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that shall provide
family-oriented, adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health programs,
centered on the prevention, counseling, and post-delivery care of adolescent
pregnancy, through the development of coherent, rational, unified, effective and
efficient structures, systems, and mechanisms for social protection program to the
adolescents with health and development concerns primarily on sexual and
reproductive health.

SEC. 5. Development and Implementation of National Program of Action and Investment
Plan for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy. ~ The Council shall, in collaboration
with other relevant national agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and
civil society organizations (CSOs), develop an evidence-based National
Medium-Term Plan for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy.

This program of action shall serve as the national framework for inter-agency and
intersectoral collaboration and resource allocation at all levels, to address the various
health, cultural, socio-economic, and institutional determinants of adolescent

pregnancy.

Based on the Program of Action, a National Program on the Prevention of
Adolescent Pregnancy (NPPAP) shall be developed and funded at all levels and shall
become a priority program of the Philippine Population Management Program of
the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), spearheaded and
coordinated by the Council created under Section 4 of this Act.

The NPPAP shall be based on the inter-agency program of action involving all
relevant government agencies and shall be considered a program that is eligible for
multi-year funding and inter-agency obligational authority to ensure the allocation
of adequate funding for all concerned government agencies.

SEC. 6. Information and Service Delivery Network for Adolescent Health and Development.
— All provinces and chartered cities shall organize and operationalize an ISDN for
AHD consisting of different government agencies and NGOs, institutions, and
facilities disseminating information and services to adolescents within their locality.


In cases of provinces and cities with existing ISDNs for AHD, they shall harmonize
new and existing efforts and programs for AHD, particularly the services
responding to the socioeconomic dimensions of adolescent pregnancy. The ISDN
shall be organized by each province or by municipality or city according to local
government capacity. An effective collaborative and referral system among the
members of the ISDN shall be established and implemented within a catchment area.

The ISDN for AHD shall provide health services that are sensitive to the particular
needs and human rights of all adolescents to enable them to deal positively and
responsibly with their reproductive health and sexuality.

The organization and mobilization of ISDN for AHD shall support the program
through the following activities, among others:

() Map and analyze the various factors contributing to pregnancies among
adolescents at the regional and local levels;

(b) Identify, harmonize, coordinate, and implement inter-agency interventions to
address the various issues related to adolescent pregnancies at the regional
and local levels;

(©) Capacitate ISDN for AHD agency members in collaboration with relevant
regional government agencies to ensure the dissemination of quality
information and services to adolescents;

(d) Provide, in collaboration with concerned local government units (LGUs),
needed information and services for adolescent development;

(©) Generate or share resources among involved institutions and facilities in the
implementation of the joint strategic plan of the ISDN for AHD; and

() Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of coordination and referral systems
and other interagency interventions jointly implemented by the ISDN.

The local ISDN for AHD shall be organized by the Office of the Provincial, City, or
Municipal Population Officer, and coordinated with the Provincial, City or
Municipal Health Office, in coordination with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
Federation or Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) in the concerned localities,
with technical assistance from the Council and other relevant national government
agencies. The local ISDN for AHD must be established within one (1) year after the
promulgation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.

ACCESS


SEC. 7. Mandatory Establishment of Functional Local Centers for Adolescent Health and
Development. — School- or community-based centers for AHD shall be established
and operationalized in all municipalities and cities in the country. These youth-led
centers shall serve as facilities where adolescents, particularly girls and young
women, are able to access appropriate information and services on ASRH and other
concerns relevant to their holistic development. These Centers shall be the
convergence or catchment facilities or hubs for the services under the ISDN for
AHD. The Center may also serve as a peer-helping, counseling, and treatment center
for adolescents in crisis or victims of abuse and violence as well as a venue for the
implementation of programs and strategies under the Social Protection Program for
Adolescent Parents and their Children (SPPAPC).

The Center shall be mainly managed, operated, and maintained by the LGUs
through the SK, in collaboration with the local office designated to organize and
coordinate the ISDN for AHD; youth volunteers and workers; and other organized
adolescents and youth groups recognized by the LGU with the assistance of various
adult service providers and youth-serving professionals including the CSOs. The
establishment and operationalization of the centers shall be funded using 10% of the
SK fund and other relevant local budget sources.

The Council shall formulate the guidelines and standards for setting-up Centers in
schools and communities. National government agencies shall provide assistance to
LGUs and schools in setting up the centers,

SEC. 8. Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Facilities. — The Department of Health
(DOH)-approved standards for adolescent and youth-friendly health facilities and
hospitals shall be institutionalized and made a requirement for the licensing and
relevant accreditation of public and private health facilities. The DOH shall likewise
identify specific AHD-related health services that should be made available in public
health facilities and hospitals under the operational framework and mechanisms for
the Universal Health Care Act.

The Council shall likewise facilitate the development and adoption of standards for
establishing and maintaining adolescent and youth-friendly public facilities
providing information and services for adolescents.

SEC. 9. Community-Based and Culturally-Sensitive, Age and Developmentally-Appropriate
Comprehensive Adolescent Sexuality Education. — To complement and support age- and
developmentally-appropriate reproductive health education pursuant to Republic Act
No. 10354 or “The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012,”
and to ensure the inclusive promotion of CASE, culturally-sensitive and appropriate
modules shall also be developed and adopted through community-based


information, education and communication programs for all adolescents, including
indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, out-of-school youth (OSY), children in
conflict with the law, beneficiaries of residential social welfare services, and other
marginalized groups: Provided, That cultural norms and practices that may violate
human rights, or reinforce discrimination against women and girls shall be
prohibited.

The Department of Education (DepEd) shall, with assistance from the Council, and
in collaboration with other relevant government agencies, develop and promote
educational standards, modules, and materials to promote CASE in schools.

Reinforcing the relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 10354, public and private
educational and technical skills development institutions and facilities shall, in
coordination with the Council and in collaboration with relevant NGOs and CSOs,
adopt a government-approved, age-and developmentally-appropriate CASE
modules in all educational and technical skills development curricula and training
programs, including in higher education curricula and vocational institutions, to
ensure adequate coverage of concerns such as gender sensitivity, reproductive health
choices and responsibilities, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS).

Delivery of CASE in a non-formal education setting shall be ensured by DepEd
through their Alternative Learning System. Community youth leaders shall, through
SK, the LYDC, and the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), invest in
a concerted effort in reaching these groups and encourage peer-to-peer counseling.
Volunteer groups and interested CSOs and NGOs shall be recognized for
supplemental support to the local ISDNs for AHD.

The CASE shall be a compulsory part of education, integrated at all levels of learning
with the end goal of normalizing discussion of sex and gender, adolescent sexuality,
reproductive health, and removing the stigma on the discussion of these topics. The
materials and modules developed must be evidence-based, medically accurate,
rights-based, culturally sensitive, and non-discriminatory towards adolescents of
different sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

The Council shall undertake annual reviews to determine the effectiveness of the
curriculum and to make revisions as necessary to enhance the implementation of the
program. In addition, the Council shall be tasked to integrate the CASE syllabus that
is culturally sensitive into the existing Madrasah curriculum.


This curriculum shall be designed to strengthen respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, including those related to reproductive health, sexuality,
population, and development. The materials shall be complementary to the
Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law and shall be based on the
need for responsible human sexuality and, reflect the realities of current sexual
behavior.

SEC. 10. Comprehensive Adolescent Sexuality Education for Out-of-School Adolescents and
those with Special Concerns, — The Council, the local ISDN, and the LGUs shall
collaborate to intensify and institutionalize interactive learning methodologies for
CASE among out-of-school adolescents in the communities and workplaces:
Provided, That the needs of adolescents who belong to indigenous communities,
those who are working, have disabilities, and are in social institutions are considered
in the design and promotion of sexuality education among adolescents.

SEC. 11. Training of Teachers, Guidance Counselors, School Supervisors, and School Nurses
on Comprehensive Adolescent Sexuality Education. — The Council shall ensure that all
teachers, guidance counselors, school supervisors, and school nurses entrusted with
the duty to educate adolescents on CASE are properly trained on adolescent health
and development, and gender sensitivity to guide adolescents in dealing with their
sexuality-related concerns. The training shall introduce and improve the delivery of
the current services to promote greater responsibility and awareness of the
interrelationships between adolescent health issues, including sexual and
reproductive health, and gender equality: Provided, That the training shall also
include legal and human rights instruments applicable to the sexual and
reproductive health of adolescents, especially in cases of unintended pregnancies as
a result of sexual violence.

The training shall be in collaboration with the Council for technical assistance.
Funding for the training shall be allotted in the concerned government agencies’
annual allocation to be approved by Congress. As a result of the training, schools
shall institute policies to support adolescent mothers in ensuring that they stay in
school and complete their education.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall ensure that CASE standards are
guided by principles of gender equality and women’s human rights and must be
integrated into the curriculum and across specializations in the professional
preparation and training for would-be teachers in normal schools or teacher
education institutions in the country.

SEC. 12. Comprehensive Adolescent Sexuality Education for Parents and Guardians as well
as those with Special Concerns. — The Council shall intensify and institutionalize


interactive learning methodologies for CASE among parents and guardians to
effectively guide adolescents in their growth and development. The Parent
Effectiveness Program as provided for under Republic Act No. 11908, otherwise
known as “The Parent Effectiveness Service Program Act,” shall be adopted by the
Council to enhance the parenting skills of parents, guardians, relatives, and other
significant adults who care for or have influence over adolescents.

SEC. 13. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Training for Policymakers and
Implementers. — The Council shall be responsible for disseminating guidelines and
providing training programs for policymakers and implementers in both the
executive and legislative branches of government at all levels to enable a better
understanding of ASRH as well as policies and practices to promote it.

The guidelines crafted for the purpose of this Section shall be framed from a lens of
gender equality and women’s human rights and shall be done in consultation with
the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), academic institutions, and CSOs
focused on gender and women’s human rights.

SEC, 14, Sustained National Campaign on the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy using
Various Types of Media. ~ The Council shall develop and implement a nationwide
communication campaign through various types of media, including online
platforms, to maximize dissemination to adolescents. The POPCOM shall, in
collaboration with the Council members and other agencies, develop, maintain and
regularly update a web portal for all AHD communication information, referral, and
materials. Relevant services shall be developed and promoted by the Council to
harmonize and link various government websites and online services for ASRH
including the networked operationalization of ISDN for AHD.

Private broadcast networks with news channels or news programs shall also be
encouraged and mobilized for the national campaign as part of their corporate social
responsibility initiatives. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) as the official
public information arm of the government shall take the lead in promoting ASRH
and in advocating for adolescent pregnancy prevention in media.

SEC. 15. Access to Reproductive Health Information and Services. — Access and
information to modern family planning methods with proper counseling by trained
service providers shall be provided to adolescents. For this purpose, all health
service providers in all health facilities shall be trained in providing
adolescent-friendly and responsive information and services. It is the duty of health
service providers to provide complete and medically-correct information on
reproductive health and clinical services, including the right to informed choice, and
access to modern and other legal, medically safe, and effective family planning


methods: Provided, That the provision of reproductive health services to adolescents
shall be based on the principles of non-discrimination and confidentiality, the rights
of adolescents, their evolving capacities, and the principle of the mature minor
doctrine: Provided, further, it shall be ensured that adolescents are not denied the
information and services needed to prevent future unintended pregnancies and can
access treatment and care services without fear of stigmatization, discrimination, and
violence: Provided, finally, That access to reproductive health services shall be made
available under any of the following circumstances:

{a) In keeping with the principle of the evolving capacities of the child, if the
person is fifteen (15) to below eighteen (18) years of age, access to
reproductive health services shall be made available to adolescents without
the need of consent from a parent or guardian;

(b) In keeping with the mature minor doctrine, adolescents below fifteen (15)
years old who have already begun childbearing, who are pregnant, or who
have experienced sexual abuse, miscarriage, sexually active or engaged in
high-risk behavior shall have full access to reproductive health services
without the need of consent from a parent or guardian; and

(c) Inall other cases not covered by letter (b) of this section, consent to access to
reproductive health services shall be obtained from the adolescent's parents
or guardian if the person is below fifteen (15) years of age or is mentally
incapacitated. In cases when the adolescent's parents or guardian cannot be
located despite reasonable efforts, or if the adolescent's parents or guardian
refuse to give consent, it shall be obtained from a duly licensed and trained
health service provider.

The Council shall ensure that ASRH training is integrated into the pre-service
curriculum training of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), front-line health care
providers, and social workers. The said training shall include topics such as: consent,
adolescent sexual and reproductive health, effective contraception use, disease
prevention, HIV and AIDS and the more common STIs, hygiene, healthy lifestyles,
and prevention of gender-based and sexual violence. Linkages and referral systems
shall be established in educational institutions to bridge gaps between adolescent
reproductive health curriculum and access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH)
services for in-school adolescents. For OSYs and other groups, a trained community
peer educator could be chosen to advocate accessing SRH services and distribution
of commodities.

SEC. 16. Social Protection Program for Adolescent Parents and their Children.- A
comprehensive social protection program shall be provided to adolescents who are


already parents or currently pregnant, and their partners to prevent repeat
pregnancies and to ensure their well-being while assuming the responsibilities of
being young parents. The social protection program shall include information and
services that address the risks, vulnerabilities, and needs attendant to being a young
parent, such as:

(a) Maternal health services including pre-natal, ante-natal, and post-natal
check-ups and facility-based delivery;

(b) Post-natal family planning counseling and services for either or both
adolescent parents;

(c) Home-based, in-school, or tech-vocational education for adolescent mothers
and parents;

(d)Personal Philippine Health Insurance coverage, making mandatory
enrollment and membership of indigent adolescent mothers;

(©) Training, skills development, and support to livelihood programs for the
household of the adolescent parents especially for the indigents;

(6) Continuing CASE for adolescent parents;

(g) Workshops on couples counseling, parenting, and positive discipline for the
prospective parents;

(h) Protective and support services for adolescents who are victims of or are
exposed to gender-based violence, abuse, and exploitation;

(i) Safety net measures for adolescent parents during emergency and crisis
situations;

() Support mechanisms that will encourage the return of adolescent parents to
schools such as in-school day-care, breastfeeding stations, among others; and

(k) Psycho-social support and mental health services for adolescent mothers.

Beneficiaries of the program who are eighteen (18) years old and above shall be
entitled to maternal and paternal leave, especially if both are employed. Suspension,
forced resignation, and other discriminatory acts in the workplace and in school
against pregnant girls shall be prohibited. The local councils shall, through the Local
Social Welfare and Development and the Population Office, implement a continuing


CASE program for adolescent mothers and fathers with technical assistance from the
Council,

The services shall safeguard the rights of the adolescents to privacy, confidentiality,
respect, and informed consent while ensuring respect for cultural values and beliefs.

SEC. 17. Adolescent Male Involvement and Shared Responsibility in the Prevention of Early
and Unintended Pregnancies. — The Council shall develop programs to be
implemented by LGUs that shall promote adolescent males’ active involvement in
the prevention of early and unintended pregnancies. These programs shall include
the topics such as responsible fatherhood, couples counseling, laws against abuse,
violence against women, and gender-based life skills, and co-parenting strategies.
These programs shall emphasize the roles and responsibilities of adolescent fathers
and ensure their active involvement. These programs shall also serve as an avenue to
encourage the uptake of SRH services and information for boys and young men.

SEC. 18. Foster Care or Adoption. — The Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) shall provide assistance to adolescent parents who may
decide to put their child up to foster care or adoption. The consent of both adolescent
parents, or at least one of them, if the whereabouts of the other, despite diligent
efforts is unknown, shall be needed for the validity of the foster care or adoption.

Social workers and guidance counselors shall provide support and guidance to
adolescent parents as well as the parents or guardians of the latter to enable them to
make an informed choice on the possible legal and non-legal consequences of their
actions.

SEC. 19. Social Protection in Cases of Sexual Violence. — The Council shall provide
social protection mechanisms against violence for adolescents, especially for girls.
Expectant and current mothers whose pregnancies were the result of sexual violence
shall be given access and support to legal, medical, and psycho-social services.
Furthermore, the Council shall reinforce the capacities of health facilities in
providing comprehensive care for adolescents in case of sexual violence.

Social protection services shall include the following:

(a) Psychosocial care, counseling, and administration of psychological or
psychiatric tests;

(b) Referral to medico-legal examination;

(©) Professional health services;


(d) Legal services; and

(©) Referral or transfer to any DSWD, LGU, or any registered and licensed care
facility for temporary shelter or protective custody.

The scope of sexual violence shall include offenses committed through online means
and physical contact. Incidents of sexual violence against adolescents shall be
reported to the Council either personally or online. The Council shall conduct
regular informative seminars across schools and LGUs nationwide to educate
adolescents on laws protecting their rights, the identification of sexual violence,
utilization of the related reporting system, and other protective services available.

Health service providers, particularly the BHWs, other primary health care
providers, and local population officers shall be given confidentiality and
safeguarding guidelines and tools for spotting sexual exploitation and abuse of
adolescents. A referral pathway shall be created by the Council to ensure that
identified sexual abuse and exploitation survivors are assisted and properly
handled.

SEC. 20. Social Protection in Cases of Humanitarian, Armed Conflict, and Emergency
Situations. — The local ISDN shall be strengthened in the event of humanitarian
crises, armed conflict, and climate-related or emergency situations. The local ISDN
shall ensure swift and efficient delivery of SRH services to vulnerable adolescents
and young pregnant girls. Increased vigilance shall be practiced in cases of gender
violence, sexual assault, and exploitation. All incidences of the aforementioned
situations shall be immediately addressed by the local ISDN through appropriate
channels.

Special attention shall be given to young mothers who are in the late stages of
pregnancy in case of labor. In order to ensure the delivery of SRH to adolescents and
adolescent expectant parents, LGUs shall incorporate ASRH-specific content and
safeguards in their local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans.

SEC. 21. Harmonization and Integration of Local Programs for the Prevention of Adolescent
Pregnancy in the Local Council in the Protection of Children, Local Youth Development
Council, and Sangguniang Kabataan Programs. — Strategies and programs which aim
to prevent the incidence of adolescent pregnancies shall be integrated into the LCPC,
LYDG, and SK programs at the local and community level: Provided, That SK shall
use ten percent (10%) of SK funds to integrate these programs.


The LCPC, LYDC, and SK shall likewise implement programs and activities that aim
to develop the potential and skills of adolescents to make them more productive
members of the society.

The topics of the said programs and activities shall include: (1) Health literacy,
hygiene, and fertility awareness, (2) Sexuality and gender equality, (3)
Comprehensive sexuality education, contraceptive information, counselling, and
services, (4) Antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, (5) STIs and HIV prevention
and care, (6) Violence against women and girls: prevention, support and care, (7)
Harmful traditional practices such as child marriage, (8) Laws protecting children
and adolescents, (9) Disaster preparedness and risk reduction, and (10) Building
community support for ASRH and dealing with resistance.

The LCPC, LYDC, and SK shall encourage adolescent participation in these activities
as means of focusing their potential into more meaningful and productive
endeavors.

The LCPC, LYDC, and SK shall enlist the support of the local barangay council and
barangay health center to be able to provide a more complete array of services,
activities, and programs.

SEC. 22. Residential Care Facilities for Marginalized and Disadvantaged Women. — The
existing residential care facilities for marginalized and disadvantaged women of the
DSWD shall be capacitated to accommodate the needs of pregnant girls. The
management of the said facilities shall coordinate with their respective locality’s
ISDN to provide SRH information and services to their residents, In order to
effectively serve their pregnant adolescent residents, these facilities shall mobilize
the following personnel from the existing ISDN: a healthcare worker, an on-call
obstetrician-gynecologist, a full-time midwife or nurse, and a psychologist.

If there is an identified demand and need for a residential care facility to be built and
established, the local ISDN shall prioritize the city or municipality with the highest
rate of adolescent pregnancy.

SEC. 23. Creation of a National Monitoring and Evaluation System on Prevention of
Adolescent Pregnancy. — The Council shall create a monitoring and evaluation system
that shall comprehensively assess and effectively monitor and evaluate the status,
success, and efficacy of the NPPAP.

An Adolescent Health and Development Survey shall be carried out every four (4)
years to conduct surveys and collect age- and gender-disaggregated data. The
survey shall cover a wide range of topics and indicators extending beyond


adolescent sexuality and reproductive health including, but not limited to, topics
such as education, adolescent health, and labor. Existing surveys such as the
National Demographic and Health Survey, Family Health Survey, Family Planning
Survey, and Maternal and Child Health Survey shall cover the collection of data
disaggregated at ages 10-19 and include nevermarried women in the data collection
in order to have a more accurate picture. Research and data from the assessment and
evaluation shall be stored in a public database.

LGUs are required to conduct safety audits every three (3) years to assess the efficacy
and effectiveness of the implementation of this Act within their jurisdiction. Such
audits shall be multi-sectoral and participatory, in consultation with population
officers, social workers, health workers, schools, and CSOs.

SEC, 24. Preventing Adolescents’ Involvement in Other Risky Behaviors. — All barangays
shall adopt and implement legal measures to prevent adolescents from engaging in
risky behaviors including those that may lead to adolescent pregnancy, sexual
assault or violence.

SEC. 25. Implementation Structure. — The Council created under Section 4 of this Act
shall be composed of the following:

(a) The POPCOM Executive Director as the Chairperson;

(b) The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Executive Director as
Co-Chairperson;

(©) Senior officials (at least Undersecretary level) of the DOH, PCW, National
Youth Commission (NYC), DepEd, DSWD, Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG), CHED, and Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) as ex-officio members: Provided, That
ex-officio members of the Council shall have the right to vote;

(d) Two (2) members from Women's Rights group or CSOs, selected by the
Council, who are persons with knowledge, expertise, accomplishment, and
with no less than five years of experience in the fields of public health,
adolescent rights, and social protection, and education, psychology, and social
welfare: Provided, That at least one is female;

(e) One (1) adolescent and one (1) youth representative selected by the Council
from various nationally-represented organizations composed of youth and
adolescents, provided that at least one appointed member is female; and


(© The Chairpersons of the League of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities.
The POPCOM and CWC shall serve as the secretariat of the Council.

SEC. 26. Powers and Duties of the Council. — The Council shall perform tasks and
functions that include:

(a) Facilitate the development, implementation, and assessment of the
comprehensive and integrated National Plan of Action and Investment Plan
for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy;

(b) Propose legislative and administrative policies on the prevention of
adolescent pregnancy based on emerging contexts, needs, and preferences of
adolescents;

(©) Develop operational guidelines and standards for government agencies and
private organizations in the development and implementation of
comprehensive strategies and programs for the prevention of adolescent
pregnancy;

(d) Facilitate the conduct of research and generation of evidence and knowledge
on the drivers of adolescent pregnancy to enhance the development of
programs and policies;

(e) Address and resolve emerging institutional barriers in the implementation of
this law;

(9 Provide relevant agencies and private organizations with recommendations
and solutions to challenges and gaps in the course of implementing the
program; and

(g) Engage the private sector and the citizenry to ensure active partnership in
looking for solutions to address the problems of adolescent pregnancy.

The Council shall create Regional, Provincial, City, and Municipal counterparts to
ensure localization and proper implementation of its programs. Specific strategies

shall be designed to reach marginalized and vulnerable adolescent sub-sectors.

SEC. 27. Roles and Responsibilities of Concerned Agencies. — At the national level, the
following agencies shall have the following duties and functions:

(a) The POPCOM shall:


(1) Develop, and coordinate with relevant agencies, the NPPAP as part of
the National Population Management Program;

(2) Take the lead in the nationwide and community-based campaign for
the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, including the development
and maintenance of the web portal for relevant online information and
services;

(3) Provide the public with evidence-based strategies to reduce or
eliminate adolescent pregnancy, and improve adolescent reproductive
health;

(4) Implement a program for the training of parents and guardians in
effectively guiding adolescents on ASRH issues;

(6) Set up a National Information System on the prevention of adolescent
pregnancy that shall be used for planning and programming,
monitoring and evaluation of indicators at all levels;

(6) Create an enabling environment for adolescents to make informed
choices on their sexual and reproductive health best suited to their
personal needs;

(7) Spearhead efforts to harmonize information within the network. The
POPCOM may invest in the platform or information portal that would
allow linking the data between members of the network;

(8) Serve as an overall coordinator for the nationwide and
community-based campaign for the prevention of adolescent
pregnancy, including the development and maintenance of a web
portal for relevant online information and services;

(9) Establish and promote a helpline for adolescent health and
development; and

(10) Serve as the secretariat of the Council.

(b) The DOH shall:

(1) Ensure the availability and provision of ASRH information, services,
and commodities in all public and private health facilities;


(2) Ensure the training of health service providers in providing
adolescent-friendly and responsive health services;

(8) Support and provide technical assistance in the capacity building of
existing ISDNs and establishment of new ISDNs at the local level;

(4) Establish Adolescent Mom Clinics in all hospitals to provide adolescent
mothers with access to post-natal services and counseling as well as
reproductive commodities to avoid successive pregnancies; and

(6) Coordinate with the POPCOM on the establishment of a Monitoring
and Evaluation System to ensure the responsiveness, accurate
coverage, and full implementation of this Act.

(©) The CWC shall:

(1) Integrate into its development and strategic frameworks issues and
concerns from children-specific to adolescent pregnancy and ensure the
adoption of such frameworks by the LGUs and other stakeholders;

(2) Vigorously advocate for the awareness and prevention of adolescent
pregnancy;

() Develop, adopt, and implement in a manner consistent with
adolescents’ evolving capacities, proposed legislation, policies, and
programs that will promote child and adolescent health and
development; and

(4) Serve as the secretariat of the Council.
(d) The PCW shall:
(1) Implement all programs, plans, and strategies in addressing adolescent
pregnancy, promote adolescent girls’ and mothers’ rights and welfare,

gender equity and equality;

(2) Assist the Council in ensuring that adolescent girls’ and mothers’
rights and welfare are prioritized as provided for under this Act; and


(8) Strongly encourage the integration of education programs to prevent
adolescent pregnancy in the mainstreaming work of the gender and
development focal points in government agencies.

(©) The DepEd and CHED shall:

(1) Ensure the development and promotion of CASE standards and its
corresponding learning modules for teachers and students;

(2) Ensure the comprehensive training of all teachers in CASE;

(3) Lead the delivery and implementation of CASE in all public and
private primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions as well
as in non-formal educational settings;

(4) Ensure the incorporation of CASE in the modules of future educators;

(5) Guarantee quality assurance of educational institutions in terms of
CASE delivery compliance through the Philippine Accreditation
System for Basic Education (PASBE);

(6) Ensure the proper implementation and delivery of CASE in all schools
and administer the PASBE review; and

(7) Promote the establishment of school-based adolescent centers.
(f) The TESDA shall:

(1) Provide skills and training and livelihood support to adolescent
parents; and

(2) Encourage enrollment in tech-vocational courses for adolescent parents
who are not fully equipped to return to in-school education.

(g) The DSWD shall:

(1) Take the lead in providing social protection for adolescent parents,
especially in cases of sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation;

(2) Ensure the provision of social protection for adolescents in
humanitarian and/or emergency situations;


(8) Equip the existing Distressed Centers for Disadvantaged Women with
increased capacity to accommodate more residents, particularly
adolescent girls;

(4) Incorporate ASRH and adolescent pregnancy prevention modules for
both parents and adolescents in existing family development sessions
and youth development sessions under the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino program with modules for adolescents emphasizing
peer-to-peer discussions;

(5) Promote CASE for adolescents with special needs and in difficult
circumstances; and

(6) Ensure the integration of social protection services in adolescent
centers.

(h) The NYC shall:

(1) Ensure the integration of ASRH and CASE promotion in the SK or Task
Force on Youth Development (IFYD) and LYDC programs and

projects;

(2) Capacitate the SK or TFYD and LYDC in the implementation of this Act
at the local level; and

(3) Conduct workshops, classes, and seminars for first-time parents in
partnership with POPCOM, DOH, DSWD, CWC, and other concerned
Council members and relevant agencies.

(i) The DILG shall:
(1) Ensure the compliance of concerned local councils in the
implementation of this Act by including the implementation of ASRH
programs as a qualifying requirement of the Seal of Good Local

Governance; and

(2) Assist the local ISDNs through their League of Provinces, League of
Cities, League of Municipalities, and League of Barangays.

() The LGUs shall:


(1) Ensure the development of local strategies for the prevention of
adolescent pregnancy in their localities;

(2) Ensure the promotion of CASE in schools and communities;

(8) Mobilize the SK for key strategies in the prevention of adolescent
pregnancy in their localities;

(4) Facilitate the organization and mobilization of ISDN for AHD;

(6) Ensure the availability and provision of appropriate health and social
services for adolescents;

(6) Set up a database on adolescent pregnancy for programming and
planning;

(7) Implement a program for the training of parents and guardians in
effectively guiding adolescents on ASRH issues;

(8) Enlist the participation of children, adolescents, and youth-oriented
groups as well as CSOs and NGOs as much as possible; and

(9) Allocate funds necessary for strategies in preventing adolescent
pregnancy.

(k) The SK and LYDC shall:

(J) Mobilize the Katipunan ng mga Kabataan in every barangay for key
strategies in the prevention of adolescent pregnancy and their
involvement in risky behaviors that are facilitative of engagement in
sexual activities;

(2) Facilitate the organization and mobilization of ISDN for AHD in their
localities;

(3) Integrate the ASRH, CASE and local programs to prevent incidence of
adolescent pregnancies in the SK and LYDC programs, projects and
activities;

(4) Promote the CASE using social media and other digital or online
communication platforms in their localities;


(6) Enlist the support of the local barangay council and barangay health
center to be able to provide a more complete array of services, activities
and programs for the youth;

(6) Develop, launch, and sustain a campaign for the prevention of
adolescent pregnancy in their localities;

(7) Set-up a database on adolescent pregnancy in their localities for
programming and planning;

(8) Organize and mobilize youth volunteers, in collaboration with
barangay officials and peace officers, to monitor compliance of
computer shops and business establishments selling and distributing
videos and printed materials and in restricting minors from accessing
pornographic materials and obscene shows;

(9) Conduct workshops, classes and seminars for adolescents and
first-time parents on ASRH issues, in partnership with POPCOM,
DOH, DSWD, CWC, and other concerned Council members and
relevant agencies;

(10) Assist the LGUs in the management, operation and maintenance of
the local adolescent centers;

(11) Promote adolescent male involvement in the prevention of early
and unintended pregnancies; and

(12) Allocate funds necessary for strategies in preventing adolescent
pregnancy.

() The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board shall:

(1) Review existing guidelines to ensure that no movie and television
programs portray, depict, promote, and encourage unsafe sexual
activities among adolescents as a normative behavior in society; and

(2) Develop an incentive scheme for adolescent-friendly television
programs shall likewise be developed and implemented to encourage
movie and television networks to produce materials and programs that
promote responsible sexuality among adolescents.

The PIA shall:


(1) Take the lead in promoting ASRH and in advocating for adolescent
pregnancy prevention in media;

(2) Provide regular reports on the trend and incidence rates of adolescent
pregnancies in the country and provide the public with information on
resources and health practices for ASRH, among others, in
collaboration with relevant Council member agencies; and

() Encourage and mobilize private broadcast networks with news
channels or news programs for the national campaign as part of their
corporate social responsibility initiatives.

(n) The CSOs shall partner with the national and local government units in the
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 28. Designating February of Every Year as the Month for Raising Public Awareness on
Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy and Conduct of Nationwide Communication Campaign.
— To raise public consciousness on the issues of adolescent pregnancy and generate
support from various stakeholders, the entire month of February shall be designated
as the Month for Public Awareness on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention which shall
be observed nationwide. Schools and other stakeholders shall hold activities with the
objective of raising awareness and generating critical actions to address the issues on
increasing adolescent pregnancy.

Further, the Council shall, in collaboration with relevant agencies including the
CSOs and private sector, develop, launch, and sustain a nationwide campaign for the
prevention of adolescent pregnancy.

SEC. 29. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. — There is hereby created a Joint
Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of this Act and
to review the Implementing Rules and Regulations promulgated. The Committee
shall be composed of five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives, with at least 1
member from each house to come from the minority, to be appointed by the Senate
President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight
Committee shall be co-chaired by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on
Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, the Senate Committee on
Youth, the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, and the House
Committee on Population and Family Relations.

SEC. 30. Timeline for Adoption, Monitoring, and Evaluation of this Act. — The networks
and services included in this Act shall be established within one (1) year upon


effectivity of this Act. Periodic monitoring and evaluation of coverage and delivery
of reproductive health services for pregnant adolescents shall also be conducted
every three (3) years.

SEC. 31. Reportorial Requirements. — Before the end of April each year, the POPCOM
shall submit to the President of the Philippines and Congress an annual consolidated
accomplishment report, which shall provide a definitive and comprehensive
assessment of the implementation of its programs and those of other government
agencies in relation to the implementation of this Act and recommend priorities for
executive and legislative action. The report shall be printed and distributed to all
national agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and private sector organizations involved in said

programs.

SEC. 32. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days upon the
effectivity of this Act, the Council members shall convene to appoint the
representatives as identified in Section 26 (d), and (e), such appointments shall
require the concurrence of a simple majority of the government agencies represented
in the same Council. Subsequent appointments to the Council shall require a simple
majority of all members.

Immediately upon the appointment of the representatives in Section 26 (d) and (e),
regardless of whether the seats in the Council have been filled, the members of the
Council shall be organized to formulate the rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the provision of this Act, along with at least three (3) CSOs.

SEC. 33. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SEC. 34. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules, and
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed
amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 35. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,