By Gabriela Baron
Majority of teenage births were fathered by males who were 10 years older than the young mothers, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
“Fathers who are more than 10 years older than the adolescent mothers are responsible for about six to seven percent of births, every year, from 2016 to 2020,” PSA noted.
Meanwhile, the majority of registered teenage live births were fathered by men three to five years older than the mothers.
On the other hand, teenage births fathered by adult men 20 years old and over saw a declining trend to 59.5% from 64.8% of registered live births in 2016.
Senator Risa Hontiveros raised alarm about the PSA data showing that 2,113 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2021.
“Nakababahala na dumadami ang mga ganitong kabatang babae na nabubuntis [nang] wala sa panahon at [nang] walang suporta,” Hontiveros said.
“Adolescent pregnancy has deprived many girls of an education, of job opportunities, of a future. But this doesn’t have to be the case,” she added.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara raised alarm over the rising number of young girls getting pregnant.
“Nakaaalarmang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga batang babaeng may gulang na 10 hanggang 14 na nagdadalantao,” Angara said.
Angara filed Senate Resolution No. 462 seeking an inquiry into the alarming increase of pregnancies among 10 to 14 years old.
“Layunin din nitong kalampagin ang mga kinauukulan upang makalikha ng mga polisiyang lulutas sa suliraning ito para mailigtas ang mga kabataang babae sa panganib na dulot ng maagang pagbubuntis,” he added.
Hontiveros, for her part, called on the lawmakers to pass the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Bill.
This seeks to provide comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education programs for young Filipinos nationwide, as well as social protection programs for teenage mothers – including accessible maternal health services, workshops, and livelihood programs. -ag
