Population commission  says teenage pregnancy rising, urgent action needed

DAVAO CITY — The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has sounded the alarm over the rising incidence of adolescent pregnancies, particularly among those under 15 years old.

In a news release on Wednesday, CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales stressed the urgency of addressing this growing issue, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, age-sensitive sexuality education and enhanced support systems to combat the problem.

“Our emphasis is on protection from abuse and equipping adolescents with life skills to make informed decisions,” she said.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, Bersales noted that live births among girls aged 10 to 14 rose from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023, a 6.6 percent increase. More troubling, she added, 38 girls under 15 experienced multiple pregnancies in 2023, and 17 women under 20 had given birth five or more times.

The issue is particularly acute in high-population regions such as Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon). However, Mindanao has also seen significant challenges.

In rural areas, especially in regions such as Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao, and Soccsksargen, the rates of teenage pregnancies are alarmingly high. Factors such as limited access to reproductive health services, cultural attitudes towards early marriage, and a lack of education on sexual and reproductive health contribute to the rise of adolescent pregnancies in these areas.

Reports indicate that in some provinces in Mindanao, teenage pregnancy rates are among the highest in the country, with many young girls facing the compounded risks of early childbearing and limited educational opportunities. The lack of comprehensive sexual education and early interventions in these regions exacerbates the situation.

Bersales emphasized that these trends are a public health concern and have long-term implications for the country’s socioeconomic development. She urged legislators to take swift action to prevent further escalation of the crisis, calling on the Senate to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill (Senate Bill 1979), which is currently under interpellation.

“This critical issue affects our country’s health and future workforce. Addressing it is essential for realizing the benefits of the demographic dividend and sustaining economic growth,” Bersales concluded.

Teenage pregnancy remains a critical public health issue worldwide, with significant consequences for both the adolescents involved and society as a whole.