MANILA – Mylin Mirasol Quiray, chief of the Commission on Population and Development’s (CPD) Information Management and Communication Division, urged lawmakers to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill amid growing cases among girls aged 10 to 14.
“Passing this bill is crucial to strengthen our national program on reducing adolescent pregnancies, particularly among the youngest adolescents,” Quiray said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on PTV-4.
Quiray cited recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showing an 8 percent rise in births among 10- to 14-year-old girls, increasing from 3,343 in 2023 to 3,612 in 2024. She highlighted that without a comprehensive framework, the government struggles to fully address the needs of the most vulnerable.
She also emphasized enhancing social protection for adolescent mothers and their children, as well as preventive programs such as reproductive health education, once the bill is enacted.
The CPD noted that pregnancies in this age group may suggest abuse, as the legal age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 16. “Discussions around this bill start with child protection, especially teaching young adolescents how to safeguard themselves,” Quiray explained.
The proposed legislation aims to institutionalize comprehensive reproductive health education, expand adolescent-friendly health services, and strengthen social support for young mothers. It also ensures that youth receive accurate, age-appropriate sexual health information while making health services more accessible and judgment-free.
Quiray added that awareness gaps remain a concern, as only a small number of Filipino parents talk to their children about sexual health, leaving adolescents reliant on social media and other potentially misleading sources.
The CPD supports efforts to fast-track the bill, including harmonizing versions in both chambers of Congress. The House approved House Bill 8910 in 2023, while the Senate is yet to pass Senate Bill 1979.
ia/xf
