The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) sounded the alarm over increasing pregnancy among adolescents, particularly below 15 years old, impacting not only their health but also education.
CPD Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division Chief Mylin Mirasol Quiray, during the Visayas Media Conference hosted by the Department of Health (DOH) in Iloilo, said the number of registered live births among very young adolescents aged zero to 14 has generally increased from 2019 to 2023.
“The fact that it is increasing is very alarming,” she said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), she said one in 10 babies was born to an adolescent mother in 2023.
But while the live birth is declining for the 15 to 19 age group, it is increasing for 14-year-olds and below.
The national data showed that of the 150,138 adolescent mothers in 2022, 3,135 were below 15 years old. In 2023, out of 142,275 adolescent mothers, 3,343 were below 15 years old.
In Western Visayas, live births among the 10 to 14 age group increased over the past five years, from 85 in 2019 to 111 in 2022, and 103 in 2023.
Quiray said local officials, particularly the Sangguniang Kabataan, are encouraged to prioritize programs on reproductive health to help address increasing adolescent pregnancy and mental health issues.
“Our young people need information and reproductive health education. Our Sanggunian Kabataan should be aware that their money can be put to good use if they have reproductive health education,” she added.
She said the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study showed that a lot of young Filipinos 15 to 24 years old think of suicide.
Quiray added that they can craft a policy to ensure the budget and sustainability of their reproductive health program.
Meanwhile, she said there is no reason for alarm amid the country’s declining population growth rate.
Citing PSA data, she said 13 provinces and around 16 percent or 216 of the total cities and municipalities in the country recorded a negative population growth rate (PGR) in 2020-2024.
Also, 16 of 18 regions experienced a slowdown in PGR for the same period.
“Even if our population growth rate may be negative, it will still grow because of the large population base. That concept is called population momentum,” she said.
She added that for now, their call is still on strengthening family planning and responsible parenthood for a good quality of life. (PNA)