Manila: The Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) has called for the swift passage of legislation aimed at addressing adolescent pregnancy and promoting gender equality, referring to the situation as a "national social emergency" impacting young Filipino girls.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PLCPD highlighted the severe issue of early childbirth in the country, citing a documented case involving an eight-year-old girl who gave birth at the age of nine. "No girl deserves this. All of us adults in this room, especially the duty bearers, should not let this situation continue," stated PLCPD Executive Director Au Quilala.
Quilala emphasized that adolescent pregnancy poses a significant public health and development concern, with children born to young mothers facing higher risks of malnutrition and low birth weight. Data from the Commission on Population and Development reveal a disturbing increase in pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a rise in live births among this age group to 3,135 in 2022, marking a 35.13 percent increase from the 2,320 births recorded in 2021. The PLCPD stressed that the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Bill is essential for addressing gaps in the Reproductive Health Law, complementing existing laws such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Raising the Age to Determine Statutory Rape Act.
Quilala further asserted, "The Constitution guarantees children the rights to education, health, and protection from abuse and exploitation. These rights must be made real through enabling policies." In addition to the APP bill, the organization advocated for the passage of other key measures, including the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill, the Divorce Bill, the Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy, and the Human Rights Defenders Protection (HRD) Act.
The PLCPD also expressed concerns over ongoing misogyny in public discourse and within Congress, noting that women continue to encounter harassment and double standards in policymaking arenas. Quilala insisted that such behavior must be countered through institutional reforms and stronger legal protections to achieve genuine gender equality.
