FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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.sEN~1J\ 
S.No. Hs15 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Recent scientific reports by the United States Institute of Medicine, the American 
Medical Association and the Office on National AIDS Policy stress the need for sexuality 
education that includes messages about abstinence and provides young people with information 
about contraception for the prevention of teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually 
transmitted diseases or "STDs". 
Research shows that teenagers who receive sexuality education that includes discussion 
of contraception are more likely than those who receive abstinence-only messages to delay 
sexual activity and to use contraceptives when they do become sexually active. 
Comprehensive sexuality education programs respect the diversity of values and beliefs 
represented in the community and will complement and augment the sexuality education children 
receive from their families. 
Filipino teens need access to full, complete, and medically and factually accurate 
information regarding sexuality, including contraception, STD/HIV prevention, and abstinence.' 
.. This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SEN~Ul 
S.No. 
~(S15 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago ! r'(~C'Vf'll ",v 
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AN ACT 
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TO PROVIDE FOR THE REDUCTION OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY, HIV RATES, 
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AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled. , 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the "Family Life Education Act." 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
(A) "Eligible city or municipality" means a city or municipality that submits to the 
Secretary an application for a grant under section 3 that is in such form, is made in 
such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the 
Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this Act. 
(B) "HIV / AIDS" means the human immunodeficiency virus, and includes acquired 
immune deficiency syndrome. 
(C) "Medically accurate", with respect to information, means information that is 
supported by research, recognized as accurate and objective by leading medical, 
psychological, psychiatric, and public health organizations and agencies, and where 
relevant, published in peer review journals. 
CD) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health. 
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SECTION 3. Assistance to Reduce Teen Pregnancy, HIVIAIDS, and other Sexually 
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Transmitted Diseases and to Support Healthy Adolescent Development. -
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CAl In General. - Each eligible municipality or city shall be entitled to receive from the 
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Secretary of Health, for each of the five (5) fiscal years following the passage of this Act, a grant 
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to conduct programs of family life education, including education on both abstinence and 
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contraception for the prevention of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, 
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including HlV I AIDS. 
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(B) Requirements for Family Life Programs. - For purposes of this Act, a program of 
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family life education is a program that--
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(I) Is age-appropriate and medically accl\rate; 
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(2) Does not teach or promote religion; 
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(3) Teaches that abstinence is the only sure way to avoid pregnancy or sexually 
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transmitted diseases; 
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(4) Stresses the value of abstinence while not ignoring those young people who 
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have had or are having sexual intercourse; 
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(5) Provides information about the health benefits and side effects of all 
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contraceptives and barrier methods as a means to prevent pregnancy; 
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(6) Provides information about the health benefits and side effects of all 
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contraceptives and barrier methods as a means to reduce the risk of contracting 
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sexually transmitted diseases, including HlV I AIDS; 
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(7) Encourages family communication about sexuality between parent and child; 
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(8) Teaches young people the skills to make responsible decisions about sexuality, 
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including how to avoid unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances and how 
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not to make unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances; and 
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(9) Teaches young people how alcohol and drug use can effect responsible 
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decision making. 
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(e) Additional Activities. - In carrying out a program of family life education, a city or 
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municipality may expend a grant under paragraph (A) to carry out educational and motivational 
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activities that help young people--
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(1) Gain knowledge about the physical, emotional, biological, and hormonal 
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changes of adolescence and subsequent stages of human maturation; 
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(2) Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure and protect their sexual 
and reproductive health from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted 
disease, including HIY/AIDS throughout their lifespan; 
(3) Gain knowledge about the specific involvement of and male responsibility in 
sexual decision making; 
(4) Develop healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and 
development, body image, gender roles, racial and ethnic diversity, sexual 
orientation, and other subjects; 
(5) Develop and practice healthy life skills including goal-setting, decision 
making, negotiation, communication, and stress management; 
(6) Promote self-esteem and positive interpersonal skills focusing on relationship 
dynamics, including, but not limited to, friendships, dating, romantic 
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involvement, marriage and family interactions; and 
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(7) Prepare for the adult world by focusing on educational and career success, 
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including developing skills for employment preparation, job seeking, independent 
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living, financial self-sufficiency, and workplace productivity. 
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SECTION 4. Evaluation of Programs. -
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(A) In General. - For the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of programs of family 
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life education carried out with a grant under Section 3, evaluations of such program shall be 
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carried out in accordance with paragraphs (B) and (C). 
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(B) National Evaluation. -
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(1) In General. - The Secretary shall provide for a national evaluation of a 
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representative sample of programs of family life education carried out with grants 
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under section 3. A condition for the receipt of such a grant is that the city or 
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municipality involved agrees to cooperate with the evaluation. The purposes of 
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the national evaluation shall be the determination of--
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(a) The effectiveness of such programs in helping to delay the initiation of 
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sexual intercourse and other high-risk behaviors; 
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(b) The effectiveness of such programs m preventing adolescent 
pregnancy; 
(c) The effectiveness of such programs in preventing sexually transmitted 
disease, including HIV / AIDS; 
(d) The effectiveness of such programs in increasing contraceptive 
knowledge and contraceptive behaviors when sexual intercourse occurs; 
and 
(e) A list of best practices based upon essential programmatic components 
of evaluated programs that have led to success in subparagraphs (a) 
through (d). 
(2) Report. - A report providing the results of the national evaluation under 
paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Congress not later than March 31 of the 
following the first year of the implementation of this law, with an interim report 
provided on a yearly basis at the end of each fiscal year. 
(C) Individual City/ Municipality Evaluations. -
(1) In General. - A condition for the receipt of a grant under Section 3 is that the 
city or municipality involved agrees to provide for the evaluation of the programs 
of family education carried out with the grant in accordance with the following: 
(a) The evaluation will be conducted by an external, independent entity. 
(b) The purposes of the evaluation will be the determination of--
(i) The effectiveness of such programs in helping to delay the 
initiation of sexual intercourse and other high-risk behaviors; 
(ii) The effectiveness of such programs in preventing adolescent 
pregnancy; 
(iii) The effectiveness of such programs in preventing sexually 
transmitted disease, including HIVI AIDS; and 
(iv) The effectiveness of such programs in increasing contraceptive 
knowledge and contraceptive behaviors when sexual intercourse 
occurs. 
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(2) Use of Grant. - A condition for the receipt of a grant under section 3 is that 
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the city or municipality involved agrees that not more than ten per cent (10%) of 
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the grant will be expended for the evaluation under paragraph (1). 
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SECTION 5. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such sum as may 
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be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and effective. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, proclamations, rules and 
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regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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