The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has sounded the alarm over the rising incidence of adolescent pregnancies:ensitive sexuality education to address the issue.

According to Philippines News Agency, Bersales emphasized the importance of protecting adolescents from abuse and equipping them with life skills to make informed decisions. She cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that live births among girls aged 10 to 14 increased from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023, marking a 6.6 percent rise.

Bersales further noted that 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 densely populated areas such as Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON, which includes Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

To address the issue, Bersales called for swift legislative action, urging the Senate to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill (Senate Bill 1979), which is currently under interpellation. She stressed that this is a critical issue affecting the health and future workforce of the country, and addressing it is essential for realizing the benefits of the demographic dividend and sustaining economic growth.