Two legislators on Thursday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for declaring as a “national priority” the prevention of teenage pregnancies.
Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles and Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun hailed the President ordering the implementation of measures to prevent the growing social problem.
The Commission on Human Rights also backed the proposed actions of the government to make the prevention of teenage pregnancies a national priority across all relevant institutions.
“This demonstrates a whole-of-government approach in addressing a deeply seated problem that results to social, economic, and health consequences to young women and to the overall fabric of our nation,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
She lauded Duterte’s signing of Executive Order 141 of 2021 on June 25, affirming the State’s obligation to protect and promote the rights of all persons, particularly the rights of young women who are vulnerable to adolescent pregnancies.
“We thank the President for recognizing this brewing crisis affecting our youth and directing all of government to address it. Magiging magandang pamana ang pagkakaroon ng polisiya para matugunan ang lumalalang isyu ng teenage pregnancy,” Nograles, who has been pushing for the passage of a measure setting a national policy on teenage pregnancy prevention, said.
Nograles is the author of House Bill 5516, or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2019, which would provide teenagers easy access to full and comprehensive information that could help them prevent early and unintended pregnancies.
Fortun also expressed gratitude to the President “for making this [teenage pregnancy] urgent concern a national priority.
“This is already a national social emergency, and the Executive Order is indeed most timely,” said Fortun, who filed HB 6579 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act.
“The sooner the House approves HB 6579, the sooner there can be a bicameral conference to reconcile differing provisions. Perhaps, the committee on family relations and committee on children could also be involved in tackling HB 6579 if that would make the bill move faster,” he added.
“As the Philippine Gender Ombud, the CHR has been active in supporting government policies and making recommendations to address persisting issues of women and girls, with focus on reproductive health rights,” De Guia said.
“We have consistently raised how a young girl’s life can change dramatically if she becomes pregnant. This entails deprivation of life opportunities such as education and employment; decline in health; and increased vulnerability to poverty, violence, and social exclusion,” she said.
“Together with partner government agencies and civil society organizations, we find avenues where we can push for policies that ensure the protection and fulfilment of girls’ rights and advocating for the best interest of the child,” the CHR spokesperson added.
One of the necessary steps to be identified is to popularize a comprehensive sexuality education and sexual reproductive health care to help girls avoid pregnancy, De Guia said.
“Likewise, we push for the provision of necessary support to pregnant young women including access to justice, education, and work opportunities. It is our society’s responsibility to make sure that teenage pregnant women and mothers get a chance to reach their full potential,” she said.
The CHR “has high hopes in the implementation of this policy and expect that it will be integrated in the overall plans and programs of the government to genuinely address the toxic environment and situation where teenage girls fall into,” De Guia said,
“The Commission will continue its work in voicing out the experiences on the ground of the most marginalized, disadvantaged, and vulnerable populations, especially women and girls,” she stressed.