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House OKs 'Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act' on 3rd, final reading

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RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Mothers nurse their newborn babies in the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila on June 9, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/03/14/20160609-hospital-josefabella-jc-4.jpg"/><figcaption>Mothers nurse their newborn babies in the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila on June 9, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATE) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading House Bill 8910 or the &quot;Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act,&quot; in an effort to prevent teenage pregnancies and protect young women in the country.House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement that it seeks to address the social problem of early pregnancy and mothering, which has adverse effects on both the mother and the baby, and on society in general.Citing surveys, the House chief maintained that the problem worsened during the pandemic, when the government advised people, including the youth, to stay home to stave off the spread of the highly contagious Covid-19 virus.“The social cost of this issue and the negative impact on the national budget could run into billions - in terms of the government having to take care of young mothers and their babies. There is also the human development aspect,” Romualdez said.Romualdez added that the state has to prepare the youth for a healthy adolescent and adult life and responsible parenthood by instilling in them the appropriate moral and sexual values.The Speaker&#x27;s office explained that the consolidated bill is entitled, “An Act providing for a national policy in preventing adolescent pregnancies and institutionalizing social protection for adolescent parents.”It also said that the bill establishes the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Inter-Agency Council (APPIAC), to be composed of the Population Commission&#x27;s executive director as chairperson with the executive director of the Council for the Welfare of Children as co-chairperson. The council’s principal mandate is to formulate and implement a national action plan on the prevention of teenage pregnancies and recommend relevant legislative and administrative measures.Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, a prime mover of the measure, lauded the approval.&quot;Enacting a law preventing adolescent pregnancy will save young girls from the clutches of maternal death, unemployment, and poverty, and improve their future and reinforce their self-esteem. &quot; Lagman said.Even the Makabayan bloc was happy with the bill.&quot;At the heart of this bill is the recognition of the role of adolescents and young people in the overall human socio-economic development of our country. Thus, one of its policies is to create and sustain an enabling environment for adolescents to achieve their potentials and fully contribute to nation-building, &quot; Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said.&quot;Moreover, the bill aims to promote and protect the basic human rights of adolescents, particularly their rights to sexual and reproductive health, development as well as education and participation,&quot; she said.Among others, the bill gives adolescents access and information to modern family planning methods with proper counseling by trained service providers.Those aged 15 to 18 shall have access to reproductive health services without need of consent from a parent or guardian. Those below 15 who have already begun childbearing, who are pregnant, or who have experienced child abuse, miscarriage, or are sexually active, engage in high risk behavior shall have full access to reproductive health services without need for consent from a parent or guardian. In all other cases not covered by the earlier sections, consent to access reproductive health services shall be obtained from the parents or guardian if the person is below 15 year of age or is mentally incapacitated.Meanwhile, the bill mandates that beneficiaries of the program who are 18 years old and above shall be entitled to 13 maternal and paternal leave, especially if both are employed. It also states that 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.It also stated that the bill 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.Social protection services under the bill shall include the following: (a) Psychosocial care, counseling, and administration of psychological or psychiatric tests; (b) Referral to medico-legal examination; (c) Professional health services; (d) Legal services; and (e) 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 includes offenses committed through online means and physical contact. The existing residential care facilities for marginalized and disadvantaged women of the DSWD shall be capacitated to accommodate the needs of pregnant girls.The bill will be sent to the Senate for action.<div>RELATED VIDEO</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qrM8Kad4_Ak?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement that it seeks to address the social problem of early pregnancy and mothering.

House OKs 'Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act' on 3rd, final reading

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House OKs 'Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act' on 3rd, final reading

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 05, 2023 07:26 PM PHT

|

Updated September 06, 2023 10:04 AM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Congress

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act

House Bill 8910

teen pregnancies

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