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Teenage Pregnancy Down By 9.7% In Central Luzon

Teenage pregnancy cases in Central Luzon decreased by 9.7%, from 17,107 in 2022 to 15,442 in 2023, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Civil Registry and Vital Statistics.

Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Regional Director Lourdes Nacionales credited the decline to the collaborative efforts of national and local governments, stakeholders, and civil society organizations that have focused on raising awareness and promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health education.

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐿𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠 (CPD Region 3 File photo)

Despite the overall decrease in cases for ages 10 to 19, Nacionales expressed concern over the rising number of pregnancies among girls aged 14 and below, with Central Luzon ranking second nationwide for the highest number of cases in this age group.

“This is alarming because early pregnancies pose significant health risks to both the mother and the child. These young girls also face serious social and economic challenges, such as limited educational and career opportunities, which can perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality,” Nacionales said.

To address these issues, she emphasized the importance of tackling underlying factors such as the lack of access to age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health education, poverty, and child abuse.

The CPD is intensifying efforts through partnerships and the development of strategies, policies, and programs aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy in the region. Ongoing initiatives include collaborations with the Department of Education to integrate Comprehensive Sexuality Education, the adoption of The Challenge Initiative for Adolescent Youth Friendly Cities, and programs such as the Special Protection Program for Adolescent Mothers and their Children.

The agency is also working with the Department of Health to establish Adolescent Friendly Health Facilities and Information and Service Delivery Network Teen Centers to provide better services for youth.

Additionally, CPD continues to collaborate with local government units and other agencies to implement evidence-based interventions, provide accurate sexual and reproductive health information, and create policies that support multi-sectoral strategies to reduce teenage pregnancies.

“We are committed to a holistic and sustainable approach, working with our partners to prevent the increasing incidence of teenage pregnancies. Collective action is crucial for ensuring the well-being of our teens and a safer future for Central Luzon,” Nacionales said.

She also emphasized the importance of destigmatizing discussions around teenage pregnancy and creating supportive environments where adolescents feel empowered to seek guidance and make informed decisions about their sexual health.

Among Central Luzon’s provinces, Pampanga recorded the highest number of teenage pregnancies with 3,886 cases, followed by Bulacan with 3,850, Nueva Ecija with 3,214, Tarlac with 1,594, Bataan with 1,284, Zambales with 1,207, and Aurora with 443 cases. (PIA Region 3 – Pampanga)

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