Office airs concern over teenage moms

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Population and Development Division (PDD) of Negros Occidental is worried with the number of teenage pregnancies in the province.

PDD data indicated that the teenage mothers are between 10 and 14 years old.

PDD head Dr. Edmund Calaor told Bombo Radyo- Bacolod that although they noticed a drop in the number of teenage pregnancies, they are concerned with the fact that most of the teen moms are 14 years old and below.

Calaor said a total of 102 girls aged 10-14 years old gave birth in 2018. Data also shows that around 6,644 or an equivalent of 14 percent of the mothers that gave birth in the province are teens.

Thirty-three teen moms are in the 6th district, with 22 in Kabankalan City alone.

Bago City, meanwhile, had 11 cases of teen pregnancies.

Calaor said some of the teenage mothers have already experienced repeat pregnancies.

He further pointed out that in most cases, teenage pregnancies were either due to sexual abuse, rape within the family, or lack of information.

Calaor appealed to parents to teach their children about sex education. He also urged teen mothers not to repeat their pregnancies.

He said they hope to reach zero repeated pregnancy in the province.