29-2-2024 (MANILA) In Northern Mindanao and Ilocos regions, officials are grappling with a shared challenge – the alarming surge in teenage pregnancies. Disturbing statistics have underscored the nationwide concern over escalating rates of teenage motherhood, leading to calls for legislative action and intensified efforts to protect the well-being of young Filipinos.
In the Northern Mindanao region, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) highlighted the daunting task of lifting every household above the poverty threshold due to the region’s high incidence of teenage pregnancies. Neil Aldrin Omega, the regional director of CPD, revealed that approximately 30 teenagers gave birth daily in Northern Mindanao from 2019 to 2022.
In 2022 alone, the CPD recorded 11,020 live births from teenage mothers aged 11 to 19 years old in the region. More concerning was the 30% increase observed among girls aged 10 to 14 years old becoming mothers, rising from 170 in 2020 to 287 in 2022.
The situation extended to Camiguin Island, where Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo reported an 83% increase in adolescent pregnancies in 2022. The provincial government responded by advocating the establishment of teen center facilities and the formulation of measures to address adolescent pregnancy.
While Northern Mindanao’s fertility rate dropped, Omega stressed that the expected benefits of a growing population couldn’t be realized due to teenage pregnancies. He emphasized the need to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty perpetuated by high rates of teenage pregnancies.
The Ilocos region in Luzon faces a similar predicament, with live births among young girls under 15 increasing dramatically from 38 in 2020 to 112 in 2022. Population officials in the region hope that the passage of a bill will address this concerning trend.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales stressed the importance of passing the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill (APPB) to curb early childbearing and motherhood. The bill would play a crucial role in implementing the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action, advancing adolescent health and development while preventing early pregnancies.
The government declared a national social emergency in 2019 due to the rising pregnancies among those aged 10 to 14. As the issue persists, legislative efforts and comprehensive strategies are deemed essential to protect the well-being and future opportunities of young Filipinos.
