1 month ago
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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Officials of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in the Ilocos Region have expressed concern over the alarming rise in adolescent pregnancies in the region, particularly among girls under the age of 15.
In a press statement last week, CPD Region 1 Director Aileen Serrano called for collective action to curb adolescent pregnancies, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort across all sectors.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority Civil Registration and Vital Statistics revealed a staggering 260.5 percent increase in adolescent pregnancies, rising from 38 cases in 2020 to 137 in 2023.
The upward trend has been observed across all four Ilocos Region provinces, with Pangasinan experiencing the greatest surge, from 10 recorded live births in 2020 to 75 in 2023.
Serrano underscored the importance of strengthening local population offices to effectively implement Executive Order 141, which prioritizes addressing the root causes of rising teenage pregnancies.
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The CPD, as mandated by its Board of Commissioners, is actively working to implement the strategies outlined in the order.
Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales, CPD executive director, highlighted the urgency of a more comprehensive approach, advocating for intensified age-appropriate, developmentally, and culturally sensitive comprehensive sexuality education.
She said that equipping adolescents with life skills and protecting them from abuse is crucial in helping them make informed choices about their future.
"We call for urgent action on this issue given that it affects the health and well-being of this segment of the population, who will be the future workforce of the country," Bersales said.
"This will significantly impact the gains from the demographic dividend, a condition where the country gains traction for economic growth, since the population is mostly made up of working ages 15 to 64," she added.
She said the increasing number of live births among girls ages 10-14 underscores the need for more responsive policies.
Last December, the Pangasinan provincial board passed an ordinance aimed at addressing the rising rate of teenage pregnancy in the province.
The ordinance was authored by Board Members Shiela Marie Baniqued and Rosary Gracia Perez-Tababa.
During one of its committee hearings, the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program under the Family Health Cluster of the Provincial Health Office reported a steady rise in recorded pregnancies in Pangasinan.
It was also noted that most recorded teenage pregnancies come from Pangasinan towns belonging to the third, fourth, and fifth income classifications.
A third class town has an annual income of P130 million or more but less than P160 million, while a fourth class town's annual income is P90 million or more but less than P130 million. A fifth class town has an annual income of less than P90 million.
