By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) said it will help local government units (LGUs) and the local schools division of the Department of Education (DepEd) address the growing number of teenage pregnancies in the province.

PHO head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said the LGUs are actively strengthening their campaign against teenage pregnancy.

Pinongan said that although the number of teenage pregnancies dropped last year, they can still regard it as alarming.

PHO recorded 6,026 teenage pregnancies in 2022.

The number dropped to 5,271 in 2023.

Pinongan further noted that a large majority of the teenage mothers were out-of-school youth.

The PHO is already introducing intervention programs to address the growing problem.

Earlier, the provincial government established the Family Planning Training Center at Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City.

TLJPH head Dr. Mary Ann Maestral noted that the training center can help address the growing number of teenage pregnancies in the province./DGB, WDJ