Manila: The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) is urgently calling for the passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, as the country sees a rise in pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14. Mylin Mirasol Quiray, CPD's Information Management and Communication Division chief, emphasized the need for immediate legislative action to address the issue during an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon over PTV-4.
According to Philippines News Agency, Quiray highlighted new data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), revealing an 8 percent increase in births among young girls in this age group. The CPD is concerned by the rise in cases from 3,343 in 2023 to 3,612 in 2024, pointing out that the lack of a comprehensive framework limits the government's ability to tackle the problem effectively.
The CPD underscored that pregnancies in this age category might suggest abuse, as the legal age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 16. Quiray stressed the importance of child protection and teaching young individuals to safeguard themselves. She noted that giving birth before the age of 16 could indicate situations of abuse.
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen the national response by institutionalizing comprehensive reproductive health education and enhancing adolescent-friendly health services. It also seeks to expand social protection for young mothers and ensure the availability of accurate, age-appropriate information in line with standards set by the Department of Education and the Department of Health.
Quiray pointed out that the bill addresses significant gaps in awareness, as many Filipino parents do not discuss sexual health with their children, leaving adolescents to turn to unreliable sources like social media. The CPD supports efforts to expedite the bill, including harmonizing different versions to speed up its passage. She assured that current programs, such as an interagency technical working group, are in place to address adolescent pregnancy.
While the House of Representatives approved its version of the bill (House Bill 8910) in 2023, the Senate has yet to pass its version (Senate Bill 1979).
