By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bacolod City Population Office (CPO) and the Commission on Population and Development in Negros Island Region (CPD-NIR) are ramping up efforts to curb teenage pregnancies and improve youth mental wellness through the implementation of a data-driven system that streamlines service delivery and advocacy.

Together with various stakeholders, CPO and CPD-NIR are spearheading the Information Service and Delivery Network (ISDN) Program, designed to efficiently track and monitor critical indicators, such as teenage pregnancies — particularly cases involving girls aged 15 and below — and mental health issues among the youth.

“This system is like a pool of services that will provide appropriate interventions for our adolescent clients,” CPO officer-in-charge Gilda Lluisma said during a consolidation meeting at the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday, July 18.

“This will also help us in tracking and monitoring cases like mental health concerns and teenage pregnancies, especially among those as young as 15 years old,” Lluisma stated, stressing the need for collective action.

A key feature of ISDN is its multi-sectoral collaboration as this brings together the City Health Office, Department of Social Services and Development, Bacolod City Police Office-Women and Children Protection Desk, child care institutions, and school organizations to provide a holistic approach to adolescent health and family planning.

Lluisma emphasized that ISDN serves as a centralized hub, enabling coordinated case management and targeted interventions based on real-time data and emerging trends.

To make services more accessible, CPO and its partners are working on expanding the ISDN program to the barangay level, ensuring that reproductive health education and mental health support reach adolescents even in remote areas.

The city government has expressed strong support for this initiative, noting that a multi-agency, data-driven approach is key to protecting adolescents and empowering families to make informed choices about health and wellness./CJ, WDJ