EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 26th REGULAR SESSION OF THE 10th SANGGUNIANG

PANLALAWIGAN OF ISABELA HELD AT PROVINCIAL CAPITOL, ILAGAN CITY, ISABELA

ON March 10, 2020.
PRESENT:
FAUSTINO G. DY III Vice Governor & Presiding Officer
DELFINITO EMMANUEL L. ALBANO Member (1st District) & Floor Leader
EMMANUEL JOSELITO B. AÑES Member (1st District)
ED CHRISTIAN S. GO Member (2nd District)
EDGAR R. CAPUCHINO Member (2nd District)
RANDOLPH JOSEPH P. ARREOLA Member (3rd District)
RAMON JUAN N. REYES, JR. Member (3rd District)
CLIFFORD R. RASPADO Member (4th District)
ABEGAIL V. SABLE Member (4th District)
FAUSTINO U. DY IV Member (5th District)
EDWARD S. ISIDRO Member (5th District)
ALFREDO V. ALILI Member (6th District)
MARCO PAOLO A. MERIS Member (6th District)
ANTONIO S. HUI Member, PCL Federation President
DANTE G. HALAMAN Member, LnB Federation President
DAX PAOLO C. BINAG Member, SK Federation President
ADRIAN PHILIP S. BAYSAC Member, Agricultural /Industrial Workers
Labor Sector Representative
VENUS T. BAUTISTA Member, Women’s Sectoral Representative
GRETCHEN F. VALDEZ Member, Indigenous Cultural Communities
Sector Representative

EXPLANATORY NOTE

WHEREAS, the Province of Isabela has adopted the policy of the State under the
1987 Philippine Constitution in recognizing the vital role of the youth in nation-building
and to promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being;

WHEREAS, the Province of Isabela recognizes its duty under the Local
Government Code to protect and promote the right of the people to health and instill
health consciousness among them;

WHEREAS, it is alarming that Region 02 has been found as having one of the
highest incidences of teenage pregnancies in the Philippines, based from a recent survey
from the Population Commission;

WHEREAS, it is disheartening to know that such young people has to experience

the physical and psychological hardships of pregnancy and the social and financial
difficulties of raising a child at a very early age;

WHEREAS, teenage pregnancies have serious consequences. Early parenthood

increases the likelihood that the would-be parents will drop out of school and is
therefore less likely to pursue further education or skills training, and the chances of
committing abortion due to the unplanned, unwanted, and untimely pregnancy which
poses great health risk to the pregnant teenager;
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AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL POLICY IN PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL
PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

WHEREAS, at the initiative of Vice Governor Faustino G. Dy III, the Sanggunian

was tasked to formulate a government intervention program that will help curb this
alarming trend and to institutionalize a comprehensive assistance program that will
uplift the psyche of teenage parents;

WHEREFORE, premises considered, and by virtue of the powers vested by law, it

is hereby resolved to enact –

ORDINANCE NO. 2020-09-1

SERIES OF 2020

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL POLICY IN PREVENTING TEENAGE

PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE PARENTS,
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Sponsored by: HON. VENUS T. BAUTISTA

Chairperson, Committee on Women’s Affairs

Be in enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan duly assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Ordinance shall be known as the “Ordinance Preventing
Adolescent Pregnancy”.

SECTION 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS. – For purposes of this Ordinance, the following

terms shall be defined as follows:

(a) Adolescents – refers to the population aged ten to nineteen years old;
(b) Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Care – refers to the
access to a comprehensive service that contribute to the reproductive
health and well-being of young people by preventing and solving
reproductive health problems;

(c) Adolescent Sexuality – refers to the reproductive system, gender

identity, values or beliefs, emotions, relationships, and sexual behavior of
young people as social beings;

(d) Comprehensive Sexuality Education – hereinafter referred to as CSE,

refers to the educational process of providing an accurate, relevant, and
age-appropriate information on all matters relating to the reproductive
system, its functions and processes, human sexuality, attitudes and
beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationship, affection,
intimacy, and gender roles, and other related topics. It has the purpose of
developing the maturity of young people regarding sex and reproduction.

(e) Teenage Parent – refers to persons between the age of ten to nineteen
years old who are either expecting to have or have an offspring.
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AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL POLICY IN PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL
PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 3. AGE-APPROPRIATE CSE. – The Provincial Health Office, in collaboration with

the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Youth Development
Office, Isabela Youth Development Council, and in consultation with agencies and
institutions concerned with the development of the youth, shall develop educational
materials and modules that will promote CSE. A program during the BUWAN NG
KABATAAN and Provincial Youth Summit shall be dedicated for the presentation of such
medium to its youth attendees.

SECTION 4. TRAINING OF BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS ON CSE. – All Barangay Health

Workers within the Province of Isabela shall undergo a Skills Enhancement Training
Program aimed at equipping them with knowledge on CSE and basic counseling skills.

SECTION 5. PROMOTING THE CSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER DIGITAL OR ONLINE
COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS. – The Provincial Government of Isabela, with the
assistance of the Isabela Youth Development Council, shall utilize the social media and
other online platforms to provide adolescents with accurate information and messages
regarding CSE.

SECTION 6. MANDATORY ESTABLISHMENT OF FUNCTIONAL LOCAL TEEN CENTERS FOR

ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. – The PGI shall establish and operationalize
a Teen Center for Adolescent Health and Development. Such teen center shall serve as a
facility where adolescents and youth can access appropriate information and services on
ASRH and other concerns relevant to their holistic development.

The Center shall also serve as peer helping, counseling, and treatment center
especially for adolescents in crisis or victims of abuse and violence.

SECTION 7. REGULATING ACCESS OF MINORS TO PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS AND

OBSCENE SHOWS. Existing laws penalizing pornography and obscenity in the Province
shall be strengthened by the following regulatory provisions:

a. All business establishments providing computer and internet access shall

strictly restrict or prohibit minors from accessing pornographic websites
by setting-up filters or parental control programs to block or filter-out
pornographic internet contents in all their computer units and by posting
a signage prohibiting minors from access to pornographic materials.
Non-compliance to this provision shall cause the cancellation of the
business permit of the said establishment.

b. Selling, distribution, or exerting influence to minors to access to

pornographic printed materials or videos in any format shall be
prohibited and penalized under pertinent laws.

c. Any business establishment that causes the participation and access in

minors in obscene shows shall be penalized and shall be ground for the
cancellation of the business permit of such establishment.
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AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL POLICY IN PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL
PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 8. ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES (ARHS). Sexually active

adolescents or those who have already engaged in sexual activities shall be allowed to
access modern family planning methods with proper counseling. For this purpose, the
staff of local health centers shall be trained in the provision of adolescent-friendly and
responsive information and services. Furthermore, local health centers and their
employees shall ensure the confidentiality of the identity of adolescents who avails
services under this Section.

SECTION 9. SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE MOTHERS OR PARENTS. A

comprehensive social protection service shall be provided to teenage mothers or
adolescents who are currently pregnant and their partners to prevent repeat of
unplanned pregnancies and to ensure the well-being of adolescents while assuming the
responsibilities of being young parents. Such services shall include the following:

a. Maternal health services including antenatal check-ups and facility-based

delivery;

b. Post-partum family planning, counseling, and services for either or both

parents;

SECTION 10. DESIGNATING FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS THE MONTH OF RAISING

PUBLIC AWARENESS ON PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND CONDUCT OF
PROVINCE-WIDE COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN. To raise public consciousness on the
issues on teenage pregnancy and generate support from various stakeholders, the
entire month of February shall be designated as Month for Public Awareness on
Preventing Teenage Pregnancy which shall be observed province-wide. Schools and
other stakeholders shall hold activities with the objective of raising awareness and
generate critical actions to address the issues of increasing teenage pregnancy.

SECTION 11. INTEGRATION OF LOCAL PROGRAM FOR THE PREVENTION OF TEENAGE

PREGNANCY IN YOUTH COUNCIL PLANS. Strategies and programs which aim to prevent
incidence of teenage pregnancies shall be integrated in the youth development plan of
the Isabela Youth Development Council.

SECTION 12. PREVENTING ADOLESCENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER RISKY BEHAVIORS

THAT ARE FACILITATIVE OF ENGAGEMENT IN SEXUAL ACTIVITIES. All local government
units shall implement measures to prevent adolescents from engaging in risky
behaviors, particularly drinking alcoholic beverages, illegal drug use, hanging-out at late
hours doing risky behaviors and other behaviors that may lead them to sexual activities
or engaging in sexual assault or violence.

All LGUs shall also strictly prohibit the access of minors to videoke bars, beer houses,
night clubs, and other similar facilities that may encourage adolescents to engage in any
criminal or sexual activities, or sex-related violence.

SECTION 13. DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS. In accordance with their existing mandates, the
following local government agencies and departments shall perform the following
duties and functions in relation to the implementation of this Ordinance.
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AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL POLICY IN PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL
PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

a. Provincial Government of Isabela

i. Ensure the availability and provision of ASRH services for
adolescents in all its public health facilities;
ii. Ensure the training of its medical and health service providers and
barangay health workers in providing adolescent-friendly and
responsive health services;
iii. Support and provide technical assistance to local government
units in their establishment of information and service delivery
networks;
iv. Ensure the integration of social protection services in teen
centers;
v. Promote CSE to adolescents and their parents;
vi. Capacitate the Isabela Youth Development Council in the
implementation of programs aimed at providing and promoting
CSE to adolescents;
vii. Allocate funds necessary for the strategies in preventing teenage
pregnancy.

b. Local Government Units

i. Ensure the development of local strategies for the prevention of
teenage pregnancies in their localities;
ii. Ensure the promotion of CSE in their communities;
iii. Mobilize the Sangguniang Kabataan for key strategies in the
prevention of teenage pregnancy in their locality;
iv. Set-up database on teenage pregnancy for programming and
planning;
v. Support the CSE programs of the PGI.

c. Sangguniang Kabataan
i. Integrate in their annual plans programs or other measures that
minimize the incidence of teenage pregnancy in their locality;
ii. Exhibit tangible and technical support to the PGI and their LGU on
activities relative to the implementation of this Ordinance;
iii. Assist the Province in the dissemination of information regarding
CSE, ARHS, and other matters relative to the implementation of
this Ordinance.

SECTION 14. INCENTIVE AND AWARDS SCHEME. The PGI shall provide LGUs and local
Sangguniang Kabataans which comply with this Ordinance recognition for their efforts in
limiting the teenage pregnancy incidences in their community.

SECTION 15. ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS. The PGI shall include in its annual budget any
amount as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Ordinance.

SECTION 16. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND PROCEDURES. Within 120 days upon the
effectivity of this Ordinance, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development in
partnership with the Provincial Youth Development Council shall lead the creation of a
Technical Working Group which is tasked to formulate the Implementing Rules and
Procedures of this Ordinance.
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AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL POLICY IN PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCIES, INSTITUTIONALIZING SOCIAL
PROTECTION FOR TEENAGE PARENTS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 17. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any part, section, or provision of this Ordinance is
held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

SECTION 18. REPEALING CLAUSE. All other Ordinances, Orders, and other issuances
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, or
modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 19. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in newspapers of general circulation, and posting in at least two (2)
conspicuous places in the Provincial Capitol Building.

I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was duly enacted by the
Sangguninang Panlalawigan of Isabela during its 26th Regular Session on March 10,
2020.

ATTY. FRANCIS JAMES E. MEER

Secretary, Sangguniang Panlalawigan

ATTESTED:

FAUSTINO G. DY III
Provincial Vice Governor & Presiding Officer

APPROVED:

RODOLFO T. ALBANO III

Provincial Governor