© AFP/File Senate to conduct probeon rise in teen pregnancies

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is set to conduct an inquiry into the alarming rise in cases of child and teenage pregnancies, which is spawning a slew of social, economic and health problems.

Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said he is considering supporting the call of the Commission on Population (PopCom) to declare the rising child and teenage pregnancies as a national emergency.

“When young girls get pregnant, they are forced to quit school. Their lives take an unexpected detour, ambitions are set aside and they effectively lose their childhood. No child should to go through this,” Angara said.

He cited the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority found that nine percent of teenage women aged 15 to 19 were pregnant.

The survey showed the highest incidence of teenage pregnancies were recorded in Davao, Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKARGEN.

PopCom said an average of 530 teenage girls get pregnant daily and in 2017, the figure went as high as 574 per day.

It also reported a 50 percent increase in pregnancies among the 10 to 14-year-old age group since 2011.

“What is even more alarming is that 30 to 50 percent of these pregnancies involved 10-year-old girls. Children this age should be in school and playing with other kids. They cannot possibly be ready to get pregnant and raise their own children,” Angara said.

According to the Department of Education, underage pregnancies has led to an increase in the dropout rate among female students.

He said the inquiry aims to strengthen Republic Act 10534 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Law).

“With the Philippines having one of the lowest minimum age of sexual consent and the high prevalence of unmet need for family planning, it is necessary to review our policies in order to prevent child and teenage pregnancies,” Angara said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also sought an inquiry to strengthen the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and curb teenage pregnancies in the Philippines.

“Despite the existence of CSE and the RH Law, teenage pregnancy rates in the country are still alarming. This prompts us to revisit and strengthen our existing policies so we can save teenagers from getting pregnant and falling into the trap of intergenerational poverty,” said Gatchalian, who chairs the committee on basic education, arts and culture.

He cited a United Nations Population Fund report that said teenagers, especially the poor and marginalized, get pregnant because they lack access to school, information, and sexual and RH care.

The UN agency added that teenage pregnancy costs the Philippines P33 billion in annual income.

“We need urgency in institutionalizing measures and ensuring their proper implementation to address this situation. Protecting girls from teenage pregnancy empowers them to be independent and economically productive members of the society,” Gatchalian said.