Manila: Funds are available to support the nutrition and continued schooling of teenage mothers enrolled in public schools, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Friday. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, noted that of the PHP25.6 billion allocated for the School-Based Feeding Program, around PHP369 million is set aside to provide nutritional support to at least 140,000 nutritionally at-risk pregnant adolescents.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of enabling young mothers to continue their education, thereby providing them hope for a better future. "Mahalagang mabigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga batang ina na maipagpatuloy ang kanilang pag-aaral para hindi sila tuluyang mawalan ng pag-asa sa mas magandang kinabukasan," he stated in a news release.
Furthermore, he highlighted the necessity of ensuring the nutrition of these teenage mothers as part of the support system, which also involves laying a strong foundation for the future of their children. "Bahagi ng suportang dapat nating ibigay sa kanila ang pagtiyak sa kanilang nutrisyon at ang paglalatag ng matibay na pundasyon para sa kinabukasan ng kanilang mga anak," he added.
Gatchalian also pointed out that supporting malnourished teenage mothers could contribute to addressing stunting, which currently affects 26.7 percent of Filipino children under five years old. For those teenage mothers unable to enroll in the formal school system, Gatchalian suggested the Alternative Learning System, which offers out-of-school youth, adult learners, and other marginalized sectors a second chance to complete basic education.
