Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2025

Binto 1f TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P3:17 SENATE RECEIVED BY S.B. No. 388 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY IN PREVENTING ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR ADOLESCENT PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE In 2022, around 150,138 adolescent Filipinas gave birth. This was concerning, given that adolescent pregnancy in the country have been in a decline from 2018 to 2021 but experienced a sharp increase of about 10% in 2022 alone. Even more alarming is that births from teen girls aged 15 below experienced a 35.1% increase in one year alone, which could suggest a huge spike in sexual violence committed against young girls. As early as 2019, adolescent pregnancy has been determined to be a national and social emergency and the implementation of measures designed to address it have been adopted as a national policy through Executive Order 141. In addition, adolescent pregnancy has been deemed as the most important problem Filipinas face based on a national survey. In order to address the rising prevalence of adolescent pregnancy, the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2025 is hereby filed to introduce and strengthen the delivery of necessary reproductive health information and services to Filipino adolescents. The proposed bill seeks to provide Filipino adolescents access to crucial reproductive health and information they need. It also seeks to provide a comprehensive set of social protection for young parents to encourage their continuing education and to help them be responsible and good parents to their children, especially for first-time parents. The bill also recognizes the role of parents and guardians in shaping the attitudes and health-seeking behaviors of their children. A community- and school- based program for the education and awareness of parents and guardians shall be developed to strengthen their capacity to guide and provide support to their children

in relation to adolescent reproductive health and to encourage Filipino adolescents to have these discussions with their parents, instead of turning to unreliable sources. The country cannot afford to have children having children. In light of this, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. RISA HONTIVEROS Senator

i Dine of lie do TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P3:17 SENATE RECEIVED 5 S.B. No. 388 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY IN PREVENTING ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR ADOLESCENT PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Sec. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Prevention of Adolescent

Pregnancy Act of 2025." 4 Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to: 5 a Treat the prevention of teenage pregnancies as a national priority; 6 b) Recognize the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall: inculcate nationalism in the youth and encourage their involvement in public and civic 9 affairs. c) Recognize the role of women in nation-building and ensure the fundamental equality of women and men before the law; d) Protect and promote the right to health of the people, instill health consciousness among them and ensure corresponding interventions that could respond to the socioeconomic, health, and emotional needs of adolescents and youth, especially young women. To this end, adolescent pregnancy shall be approached as a health issue; e) Provide scientific, accurate, and comprehensive information to adolescents to help them prevent early and unintended pregnancies and their life-long consequences;

1 1) Give priority to education to accelerate social progress, and promote total 2 human liberation and development. Pursuant thereto, the State shall encourage 3 adolescent mothers and fathers to continue and finish their education in order to equip 4 them for a better life; increase their human potential; help prevent early marriages, 5 high-risk child-bearing, and repeated pregnancy; and to reduce associated mortality 6 and morbidity through comprehensive social protection interventions; and 7 g) Recognize and promote the rights, duties, and responsibilities of parents, 8 teachers, and other persons legally responsible for the growth of adolescents to 9 provide direction and guidance in a manner consistent with adolescents' ability to make responsible decisions and to take responsibility for their actions.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall

be defined as follows: a) Adolescents - refers to the population aged 10 to 19 years; b) Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Care - refers to the access to a full range of methods, techniques, and services that contribute to the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of young people by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems as defined in R.A. 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012; c) Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) - refers to age- and development- appropriate, culturally relevant program to teaching about sexuality and relationships 22 by providing scientifically accurate, realistic, and non-judgmental information; 23 d) Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples - refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall likewise include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time of

1 conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and 2 cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, who retain some or all of 3 their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions, but who may have been 4 5 displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled outside their 5 ancestral domains; 6 e) Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) - refers to the local body to be created 7 based on Republic Act No. 10742 (SK Reform Law) which is composed of & representatives of youth and youth-serving organizations in the provincial, city, and 9 municipal and barangay level with the primary function of assisting in the planning 10 and execution of projects and programs of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and the 11 Federations in all levels; Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) - refers to the council 13 organized at the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels that serves as the umbrella organization for all children's concerns; 9) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) - is a cooperative arrangement between one or more public and private sectors, typically of a long-term nature, for various 17 development programs or projects; 18 h) Sexual and Reproductive Health - refers to sexual and reproductive health as 19 defined in Republic Act No. 10354; Sexual Abuse - refers to actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. 22 j Sexual exploitation - refers to any actual or attempted abuse of position of 23 vulnerability, differential power or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not. limited to, profiting monetarily, socially, or politically from the sexual exploitation of another; k) Social Protection - constitutes policies and programs that seek to reduce poverty and vulnerability to risks and enhance the social status and rights of the marginalized by promoting and protecting livelihood and employment, protecting against hazards and sudden loss of income, and improving people's capacity to manage risks.

Sec. 4. Development of the National Program of Action and Investment Plan

for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy. - The DepEd, DOH, and DSWD, in

1 consultation with other members of the National Implementation Team (NIT) of the 2 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RRH) Law, the National 3 Commission on Indigenous Populations (NCIP), National Commission on Muslim 4 Filipinos (NCMF), and other relevant national and local agencies, non-government 5 organizations, civil society organizations, including women and children's 6 organizations, parent-teachers-community associations, and adolescent and young 7 people's organizations shall develop an evidence-based National Program on the 8 Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (NPPTP). It shall be funded at all levels and 9 become a priority program of the Philippine Population Management Program of the 10 Population Commission (POPCOM). The NPPTP shall be based on the inter-agency program of action involving all relevant government agencies, eligible for multiyear funding and inter-agency obligational authority to ensure the allocation for the key strategies in all concerned government agencies. The NPPTP shall be formulated with clear and prescriptive guidance for better implementation at the local level. In developing the NPPTP, consultations shall be conducted with adolescents from specific at-risk populations, including children and adolescents from indigenous cultural communities, those in situations of armed conflict an humanitarian situations, children with disabilities, and children living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Sec. 5. Local Delivery Network for Adolescent Health and Development. - City

or Municipal Health Officers, in cooperation with different government and non- government organizations, institutions, and facilities, shall include the delivery of information and services for Adolescent Health and Development. They shall provide accessible and quality health services that are responsive to the particular needs of adolescents.

Sec. 6. Age and Development-Appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education

(CSE). - The program for reproductive health education provided in Republic Act No.

1 10354, as well as orders and rules implementing the same, shall include 2 comprehensive, age- and developmentally- appropriate information affecting the 3 reproductive health and sexuality of adolescents and shall incorporate the objectives, 4 initiatives, and programs set forth in this Act. The provisions of Republic Act No. 9710 5 or the Magna Carta of Women and implementing rules or issuances related thereto 6 shall likewise be included. 8 The CSE shall address adolescent pregnancy as a health issue, emphasizing adverse 9 health outcomes on the adolescent mother and the infant, particularly the toll caused 10 on the body of young mothers, higher risk of eclampsia, endometritis, hemorrhage and systemic infections; infant mortality and poor nutrition. CSE shall likewise discuss the impact of early pregnancies and childbirth on the mental health of young parents as well as its adverse social and economic outcomes, including intergenerational poverty associated with early and unintended pregnancies. The CSE shall be scientific, culturally sensitive, community-led, consultative, and inclusive. It shall likewise be provided to out of school adolescents, members of indigenous communities, and children in emergency situations. 20 A community-based and school-based program for education and awareness of parents and guardians shall be developed and implemented with the main objective of capacitating them to effectively guide, counsel, and provide support to their adolescent children in the household on concerns and decisions related to their sexual and reproductive health, while addressing familial and societal norms that perpetuate lack of awareness on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. CSE shall be integrated into the existing programs of the DSWD, Deped, DOH, and shall be discussed in PTA meetings and other avenues. The Local Social Welfare Development Officers (LSWDOs) shall endeavor to reach out to parent organizations in schools and communities to promote such programs.

1 Professional preparation and training for students in teacher-education institutions in 2 the country shall integrate CSE standards and concepts. 4 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish parental authority or academic and 5 religious freedom.

Sec. 7. Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SH) Information and

8 Services. - Adolescents shall be allowed to access SRH information and services, provided that access by adolescents below the age of sixteen shall require the consent of their parents or guardian. Absent a parent or guardian, consent may be alternatively be obtained from a licensed social worker or doctor, or in the case of indigenous cultural communities, a trained healthcare representative designated by their respective indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IMPR). In all cases, counseling shall be carried out to ensure optimal health outcomes and effective protections against possible sexual abuse and exploitation. 17 For this purpose, all health service providers in all health facilities including school clinics and school-linked health centers shall be trained on providing adolescent- friendly and responsive SRH information and services: Provided, That all health facilities shall be enhanced to become an adolescent-friendly facility by ensuring confidentiality, availability of services and exclusive schedule for adolescents, non- judgmental and responsive health service providers. The DOH shall ensure that ASH training is integrated in the capacity building of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) under R.A. 10354 and in the training of front-line health care providers and social workers. The said training shall include topics such as, but not limited to: informed consent, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, children's rights disease prevention, HIV/AIDS and the more common STIs, hygiene, healthy lifestyles, and prevention of gender and sexual violence. Linkages and referral systems shall be established in educational institutions in order to bridge gaps in between CSE and access to SRH services for in-school adolescents.

2 A wider spectrum of SRH services shall be made available to the pregnant adolescents 3 and their unborn child, spanning the pre-natal until the post-natal stages of pregnancy 4 and their respective health care requirements. For in-school pregnant adolescents, 5 consultations with the school nurse and guidance counselor shall be encouraged. 7 Provision of sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents shall be based on 8 the principles of non-discrimination and confidentiality, the rights of adolescents, and their ability to make responsible decision and take responsibility for their actions.

Sec. 8. Social Protection for Adolescent Mothers and/or Parents. - A

comprehensive social protection service shall be provided by LGUs to adolescents who are currently pregnant or have given birth and to their partners, in order to prevent repeat pregnancies and to ensure their well-being while assuming the responsibilities of being young parents. Such services shall include the following: a) Maternal health services including pre-natal and post-natal check-ups and facility-based delivery; b) Post-natal family planning counseling and services for both adolescent parents; c) Home-based or online, in-school, or tech-vocational education for adolescent parents; d) Personal PhilHealth coverage, making mandatory enrollment and membership of indigent adolescent -parents; e) Enrolment to social insurance like the Social Security Services; 24 f) Training, skills development, and support to livelihood programs for the household of the adolescent parents especially for the indigents; 9) Continuing CSe for adolescent parents; h) Workshops on couples counseling, parenting, and positive discipline for the parents; Psycho-social support and mental health services for adolescent parents; and 30 j) In the case of solo adolescent parents, preferential access to benefits under the Expanded Solo Parent-Welfare Act.

1 Discriminatory and exclusionary practices that harm and discourage the education of 2 adolescent parents shall be prohibited. All efforts shall be taken by school 3 administrations to ensure and encourage the continuation of education of all 4 adolescent parents, especially girls. 6 Adolescent mothers shall be entitled to maternity leave benefit, and their partners to 7 paternity leave, if applicable. Termination, forced resignation, suspension, diminution 8 of benefits, and other discriminatory acts in the workplace against non-minor pregnant 9 girls and adolescent parents shall be prohibited.

Sec. 9. Protective Services in Cases of Sexual Violence. - Strengthened

comprehensive social protection mechanisms for adolescents, especially for girls, shall be provided. Expectant and current mothers whose pregnancies were the result of sexual abuse or exploitation shall be given access and support to legal, medical, and psycho-social services. The DOH, in coordination with the DSWD shall reinforce the capacities of health facilities in providing comprehensive post-trauma care for adolescents in cases of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or sexual harassment: Provided, That post-trauma care includes but is not limited to services such as purposive family planning and counselling. Health service providers and relevant officers shall be given confidentiality and safeguarding guidelines and tools for spotting and referring cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of adolescents. Where the adolescent involved is below 16 years old, a mandatory reporting mechanism shall be instituted by the BHWs or other healthcare workers and the LSWDOs together with the PNP's Women and Children Protection Desks consistent with Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and 27 Their Children Act of 2004. 29 The DOH and DSWD shall ensure swift and efficient delivery of SRH services to vulnerable adolescents and young pregnant girls. Increased vigilance shall be practiced in cases of and sexual abuse and exploitation in these situations.

1 Special attention shall be given to young mothers who are at the late stages of pregnancy in case of premature labor. In order to ensure-the delivery of SRH 3 information and services to adolescents and adolescent expectant parents, LGUs shall 4 incorporate adolescent SRH-specific content and safeguards in their local Disaster Risk 5 Reduction and Management Plans and their Comprehensive Emergency Program for 6 Children.

Sec. 10. Care and Management for First Time Parents. - All pregnant

9 adolescents, especially among the poor and hard-to-reach groups shall have access 10 to skilled care throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and post-natal periods. SRH providers shall strive to provide as many adolescent mothers with their birth plans that details their intended place of childbirth delivery, availability of transport to these health care institutions, and respective costs. Special attention shall be given to younger pregnant mothers during obstetric care. Workshops, classes, and seminars for first time parents shall be provided with pre- 17 and post-natal education. These classes shall include topics such as, but not limited to: breastfeeding, infant feeding and care, positive discipline, responsible parenthood, mental health wellness, and safe sex practices. The classes shall be made available free of charge and at times most convenient for the adolescent parents. Educational institutions shall be encouraged to develop and establish support mechanisms that will encourage the return of adolescent mothers and parents, such as in school day-care and breastfeeding stations. Existing daycare facilities shall give preferential treatment to the children of adolescent parents.

Sec. 11. Male Involvement in the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy; Shared

Parenthood. - The DepEd, in coordination with the DOH, shall develop programs that will promote male involvement in the prevention of adolescent pregnancies while capacitating them for parenthood in the event of such pregnancies. These programs shall include topics such as, but not limited to: responsible fatherhood, couples counseling, shared care work, and co-parenting strategies.

Sec. 12. Foster Care or Adoption. - The DSWD, with the National Authority on

3 Childcare, shall provide assistance to adolescent mothers who may decide to put their 4 child to foster care or adoption. The consent of the adolescent mother and her parent 5 or guardian shall be required, consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 11642 6 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act. 8 Social workers and guidance counselors shall provide support and guidance to 9 adolescent mothers and their guardians to enable them to make well-informed 10 decisions regarding the potential consequences of their actions.

Sec. 13. Raising Public Awareness on Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy and

Conduct of Nationwide Communication Campaign. - To raise public consciousness on adolescent pregnancy and generate support from various stakeholders, February shall be designated as the National Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Month, 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 increasing prevalence of adolescent pregnancy. The DOH, DepEd, DSWD and other relevant agencies, LGUs, CSOs, and the private sector shall develop, launch, and sustain a nationwide campaign for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy. The agencies tasked with the implementation of CSE shall optimize media and online platforms to reach adolescents with accurate and accessible information and messages on ASRH rights and concerns. A web portal for the NPPTP shall be developed to harmonize and link various websites and online services for ASRH. Private broadcast networks shall be encouraged and given access to relevant information and material to do the same. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) shall review their existing guidelines to ensure that no television programs promote and encourage

1 unsafe sexual activities among adolescents. Within one year from the effectivity of this 2 Act, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, in coordination with the National 3 Council for Children's Television and other relevant government agencies, shall 4 formulate its own guidelines to ensure that unsafe adolescent sexual activity is not promoted or encouraged in broadcast media.

Sec. 14. Residential Care Facilities for Disadvantaged Women. - The existing

residential care facilities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for 9 disadvantaged women shall be capacitated to accommodate the needs of adolescent mothers and their infants. In order to effectively serve their pregnant adolescent residents, these centers shall employ the following personnel: a case worker, an on-call obstetrician-gynecologist, full-time midwife or nurse, and a psychologist. The city or municipality with the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy shall be prioritized in the establishment of residential care facilities.

Sec. 15. Integration of Programs for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy. -

The NIT shall institute programs focused on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, taking into consideration the specific mandates of agencies comprising the team. Strategies and programs which aim to prevent incidence of adolescent pregnancies shall be integrated in the SK and the LCPC programs at the local and community level, with the SKs using 10% of their SK funds. The SK and the LCPC 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 are inclusive of but are not limited to: leadership trainings and life skills seminars that can be done by the adolescents and their families together. The SK and the LCPC shall encourage

1 youth participation in these activities as means of diverting the focus and potential of 2 adolescents into more meaningful and productive endeavors. 4 The SK and the LCPC shall enlist the support of the local barangay council and the 5 barangay health center in providing a more complete array of services, activities, and programs.

Sec. 16. Creation of a National Information System on the Prevention of

9 Adolescent Pregnancy - The DOH, the DepEd, and the DSWD, in consultation with 10 NIT, the shall endeavor to create a system that will comprehensively assess and effectively monitor and evaluate the status, success, and efficacy of the National 12 Program of Action for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy and the NPPTP. The existing Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study shall be renamed Adolescent Health and Development Survey and be carried out every four years to conduct surveys and collect age- and gender-disaggregated data. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall conduct a dedicated study with the sole focus of collecting ASH data and information from 10 to 14 year-olds, subject to the compliance of accepted ethical research standards. Research and data collected from the assessment and evaluation shall be stored in a public database.

Sec. 17. Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Indicators in the Seal of Good

Local Governance. - The DILG shall incorporate Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy indicators into the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) assessment criteria under the social protection and sensitivity program, health compliance and responsiveness, and programs for sustainable education, as provided under Section 7(c), (d), and (e) of Republic Act No. 11292, or "The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019", to promote and recognize LGUs' commitment to preventing adolescent pregnancy. The DILG, in consultation with the NIT-RPRH, shall develop the indicators and formulate incentives and programs to support LGUs.

Sec. 18. Appropriations. - All concerned government agencies shall include in

2 their annual budget, the necessary funds for strategies and activities within their 3 mandates that contribute to the implementation of this Act. Agencies and LGUs may 4 also utilize their Gender and Development (GAD) budget in implementing programs 5 and activities to carry out the objectives of this Act.

Sec. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within 120 days upon the

8 effectivity of this Act, the DOH, DSWD, and the DepEd, shall form a technical working 9 group to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act, in consultation 10 with other members of the NIT. The IRR shall ensure the unified and cohesive implementation of this Act by all concerned agencies.

Sec. 20. Annual Report. - No later than April 30 of every year, a joint

consolidated report shall be submitted by the implementing agencies to the President of the Philippines and the Congress. The report 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 actions. The report shall be printed and distributed to all national agencies, the LGUs, NGOs and private sector organizations involved in said programs.

Sec. 21. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provisions of this Act is

held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 22. Repealing Clause. - All other statutes, executive orders, and

administrative issuances or rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. Nothing in this law amends or repeals Articles 256 and 259 of the Revised Penal Code.

Sec. 23. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

2 publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,