FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building. It has 
the duty of providing them with the necessary programs and infrastructures that 
will implement this objective. 
For the past several years, there has been a considerable number of 
teenage pregnancy not only in foreign countries but also here in the Philippines. 
Probably due to the neo-colonial nature of our society wherein Filipinos, 
especially the youth imitates the way of life of their Western counterparts, the 
liberal principles and outlook in life justified certain acts which used to be unusual 
in the norms of the Filipino custom. Hence, teenage pregnancy proliferated. Rich 
and poor, movie and television figures and ordinary citizens alike - they all 
cannot escape from the possibility of teenage pregnancy. 
The government as well as private organizations has, in fact, several 
programs that address the problems of the young mothers. These programs, 
however, has to be reviewed and evaluated, hence this bill came into being. The 
evaluation of such programs will enable the authorities to strengthen and if 
needed, revise them for more applicable implementation. This bill intends to 
reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy to provide them and their future children 
the means to enjoy healthy and stable living. 
For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
,HGGO$ 
EJERCITO ESTRAD)~ 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
REDUCING THE RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY THROUGH 
EVALUATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS 
Be it enacted by the Senafe and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
This Act shall be known as the "Teenage Pregnancy 
Reduction Act." 
SEC 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 their human development. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the terms: 
(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; 
Prevention program means a program for the prevention of 
pregnancy in adolescents; 
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Health 
SEC 4. Evaluation of Effective Programs for Prevention of Adolescent 
Pregnancy. The Secretary shall arrange for the evaluation of a wide 
variety of existing programs designed in whole or in part to prevent 
pregnancy in adolescents, including programs that do not receive funds 
from the government for the operation of the programs. The purpose of 
the evaluation shall be the determination of the following: 
(1) The effectiveness of such programs in reducing adolescent pregnancy; 
(2) The factors contributing to the effectiveness of the programs; and 
(3) The feasibility of replicating the programs in other locations. 


SEC 5. Participation of Government and Private Organizations. In 
carrying out the evaluation under the preceding Section, the Secretary 
shall as appropriate: 
(1) Provide for the participation of the Department of Education, 
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department 
of Science and Technology and the Population Commission, 
and 
(2) Provide for the participation of organizations with demonstrated 
expertise in conducting evaluations of adolescent pregnancy 
prevention program. 
SEC 6. Design of Evaluation. Subject to Section 7, the Secretary shall 
select a design for the evaluation under Section 4 for among proposals 
that: 
(1) Provide for the evaluation of programs in various geographic 
regions; 
(2) With respect to the populations served by the programs, provide 
for determining factors that are specific to various socio- 
economic, age groups and factors that are specific to gender; 
and, 
(3) Meet such other criteria as the Secretary may establish. 
SEC 7. Measures of Effectiveness. The Secretary shall define the 
measures of effectiveness used in evaluating the programs designed to 
reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy, and shall include a variety of 
measures of effectiveness in the definition. 
SEC 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 Congress that describes the findings 
made in the evaluation and provides recommendations for future 
programs designed to reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy. 
SEC 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, organizations working on such programs, professional 
medical associations, entities providing public health services, entities 
providing social work services, and school administrators. 
SEC 10. Rule of Construction. The provisions of this Act apply with 
respect to a prevention program without regard to which of the various 
programmatic approaches for the prevention of pregnancy in adolescents 
is the focus of the program. 
SEC 11. Appropriation. To carry out the provision of the 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. 


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