Stressing as alarming the spike in teenage pregnancies, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian sought to boost the teaching of sex education in schools.
While the Department of Education (DepEd) has a policy on implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) under DepEd Order No. 31 in 2018, Gatchalian cited the need to ensure its effective implementation in schools.
Records showed the increase in pregnancies among girls below 15 years old between 2021 and 2022.
To guarantee its effective roll out, the senator proposed Senate Resolution No. 13 to seek an inquiry on the rising number of adolescent pregnancies and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among the youth.
The inquiry aims to strengthen the DepEd’s CSE.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) reported that between 2021 and 2022, live births among girls 15 years old and below increased from 2,320 to 3,135, the equivalent of 35.13 percent.
CPD Executive Director Lisa Bersales pointed out that while live births from girls aged 14 and below are just 0.22 percent of the total live births, the agency is still concerned about the spike in teenage pregnancies.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) previously said that adolescents who began childbearing before the age of 18 are less likely to complete secondary education, which affects their employment opportunities in the future.
The population body also said that adolescent pregnancy poses an increased risk for poor health outcomes for both mother and child. Early pregnancy among adolescents is also associated with the risk of having greater age differences with their partners, making them more vulnerable to domestic violence.
Gatchalian also raised the possibility that these young girls might stop schooling once they get pregnant.
“It is important (for teenage girls) to ensure they are in school and they can obtain effective sexuality education for their protection,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate committee on basic education.
Under the DepEd’s 2024 national budget, at least P100 million under the Learner Support Programs was allotted for the implementation of the Adolescent Reproductive Health Program.