Posted by ReyFort Media
MANILA — The Commission on Population Development has expressed alarm over the increase in the cases of pregnancies among young girls aged 10-14, prompting it to renew its call on Congress to pass a measure seeking to address adolescent pregnancies.
CPD Information Management and Communication Division chief Mylin Mirasol Quiray said there has been an 8% increase in the number of pregnancies from 3,343 in 2023 to 3,612 in 2024 based on recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Two of the youngest mothers recorded were only ten years old, that was [in] 2024 — one from Bicol Region and another one from Western Visayas,” she said in an interview with state-run PTV Wednesday, March 25.
For this reason, they are pushing for the passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, according to Quiray.
If passed into law, the bill will institutionalize comprehensive reproductive health education and will expand adolescent-friendly health services.
“More than ten percent lamang ng Pilipino parents ang nakikipag-usap tungkol sa sex sa kanilang mga anak, so kailangan natin ito,” she noted.
“At next to none, social media ang secondary source of information ng ating mga kabataang Pilipino tungkol sa adolescent reproductive health,” Quiray added.
The official noted they are backing Representative Michaela Gonzales’ push for the creation of a Quinta committee to harmonize the different versions of the bill.
Quiray also allayed fears about the comprehensive reproductive health education, calling it age-appropriate and scientifically accurate.
“Hindi po natin kailangang matakot na ang ating mga anak at ang kabataan ay tinuturuan natin ng mga bagay-bagay na hindi pa sapat or appropriate para sa kanilang edad,” she said.
“So, culturally sensitive and scientifically accurate po according to standard po ng Department of Education policies and also iyong mga napalabas po ng Department of Health na policies,” Quiray added. (H. Delgado/abs-cbn )
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