The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has raised concerns about the increasing number of adolescent pregnancies, especially among girls under 15. CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales emphasized the urgency of the situation in a recent statement, calling for immediate and comprehensive measures to tackle the issue. She stressed the importance of age-appropriate sexuality education to empower young people with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed choices and protect themselves from abuse. According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of live births among girls aged 10 to 14 increased by 6.6 percent from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023. Additionally, 38 girls under 15 had multiple pregnancies in 2023, and 17 women under 20 had given birth five or more times. The problem is most severe in densely populated areas like Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON. Bersales called for the swift passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill (Senate Bill 1979) to address this critical issue, which she said is vital for the health and future economic stability of the country.
Commission on Population and Development Urges Immediate Action on Rising Adolescent Pregnancy Rates
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