De Lima wants Senate to look into alarming rise in teenage pregnancies
By AJ Siytangco
Published Nov 4, 2019 12:38 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Detained Senator Leila de Lima has formally filed a resolution, asking the Senate to investigate the alarming rise of teenage pregnancies in the country.
De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, said it was high-time the Senate probes the sharp rise in teenage pregnancies, and review the status of the implementation of the existing law on responsible parenthood and reproductive health.
Senator Leila de Lima
(REUTERS / ROMEO RANOCO / FILE PHOTO MANILA BULLETIN) De Lima joined other lawmakers in expressing her concern over the alarming figures as she pointed out how teenage pregnancy deprives adolescents of a chance to have a better future while making them susceptible to life-threatening scenarios. “It becomes crucial and imperative for the State to immediately act on what is now considered as a ‘national social emergency’ in order to provide for holistic solutions to the various challenges faced by our youth, especially those who are most vulnerable and exposed to the many effects caused by unintended pregnancies,” de Lima said. It can be recalled that last month, the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) urged President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a national emergency on the alarming growth of adolescent pregnancy. According to PopCom, there are about 1.2 million adolescents having children yearly, some of them as young as 10 years old and about 30,000 young mothers have already experienced repeated pregnancies. Also, based on the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey, one in every 10 Filipino women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother or pregnant with her first child, concluding that early pregnancy is more prevalent among poor households. In line with this phenomenon, the senator noted that the Philippines was the only country among its regional neighbors experiencing a rapid increase in the number of teenage pregnancies. “There is an urgent need to protect and effectively address teenage pregnancies to help youth attain their full productive capacity and vigorously contribute and participate in the development and growth of the country,” said the senator. De Lima also stressed the need for a comprehensive review of Republic Act (RA) 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, which provides for heightened public awareness “on the protection and promotion of reproductive health and rights,” such as family planning and responsible parenthood information and services. “It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment and review of (this law) to ensure its effective implementation, guarantee the compliance of concerned government agencies and stakeholders and provide accessible and relevant education to the youth,” she said. She further said the youth should have access to age-appropriate sexuality education to help them have better and informed decision-making capabilities as it is mandated by law. “Their lack of awareness and poor access to correct information make them more prone to sexual abuse and deprives them of more opportunities to have a better future because instead of studying they are burdened to find means to support their young families,” de Lima said.
Senator Leila de Lima(REUTERS / ROMEO RANOCO / FILE PHOTO MANILA BULLETIN) De Lima joined other lawmakers in expressing her concern over the alarming figures as she pointed out how teenage pregnancy deprives adolescents of a chance to have a better future while making them susceptible to life-threatening scenarios. “It becomes crucial and imperative for the State to immediately act on what is now considered as a ‘national social emergency’ in order to provide for holistic solutions to the various challenges faced by our youth, especially those who are most vulnerable and exposed to the many effects caused by unintended pregnancies,” de Lima said. It can be recalled that last month, the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) urged President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a national emergency on the alarming growth of adolescent pregnancy. According to PopCom, there are about 1.2 million adolescents having children yearly, some of them as young as 10 years old and about 30,000 young mothers have already experienced repeated pregnancies. Also, based on the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey, one in every 10 Filipino women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother or pregnant with her first child, concluding that early pregnancy is more prevalent among poor households. In line with this phenomenon, the senator noted that the Philippines was the only country among its regional neighbors experiencing a rapid increase in the number of teenage pregnancies. “There is an urgent need to protect and effectively address teenage pregnancies to help youth attain their full productive capacity and vigorously contribute and participate in the development and growth of the country,” said the senator. De Lima also stressed the need for a comprehensive review of Republic Act (RA) 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, which provides for heightened public awareness “on the protection and promotion of reproductive health and rights,” such as family planning and responsible parenthood information and services. “It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment and review of (this law) to ensure its effective implementation, guarantee the compliance of concerned government agencies and stakeholders and provide accessible and relevant education to the youth,” she said. She further said the youth should have access to age-appropriate sexuality education to help them have better and informed decision-making capabilities as it is mandated by law. “Their lack of awareness and poor access to correct information make them more prone to sexual abuse and deprives them of more opportunities to have a better future because instead of studying they are burdened to find means to support their young families,” de Lima said.