Plan Int’l lauds approval of measures addressing adolescent pregnancy in PHL

Child and girls’ rights organization Plan International Philippines has expressed its support for the decision of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development to consolidate and approve bills aimed at addressing adolescent pregnancy in the country.

“Adolescent pregnancy has far-reaching impacts on the health and development of young mothers and their children. It can lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth. It can also have long-term consequences on young mothers’ education and economic opportunities, affecting their overall quality of life. It is important that we tackle this issue at its root,” said Jacqui Lyn Calaranan, Plan International Philippines’ Country Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition.

A study by the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) showed that the Philippines has the second-highest adolescent birth rate in Southeast Asia.

Yet, according to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), only 43 percent of young women aged 15-24 have comprehensive knowledge of contraception and only 39 percent of currently married young women have access to and are using modern methods of contraception.

For many adolescents, pregnancy and childbirth are neither planned nor wanted. Girls who become pregnant before the age of 18 are also more likely to experience violence within a marriage or partnership.

An excerpt from 2020 research by Plan International Philippines, “Through her Lens: The Impact of COVID-19 on Filipino Girls and Young Women,” highlights the important role that education and legal protection play in addressing teenage childbearing.

“Girls and young women need information about pregnancy, and laws that can protect them in case they have been abused,” said Julie Ann, a young woman from Rizal.

The consolidated bill outlines measures to implement sustainable, cost-effective strategies to reduce and prevent adolescent pregnancies that involve collaboration and strategic resource allocation from multiple agencies and sectors at all levels, aimed at addressing the various health, cultural, socio-economic, and institutional factors that contribute to the prevalence of young girls giving birth before reaching adulthood.

In addition, the implementation of community-based and culturally-sensitive comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) will be prioritized. The proposal calls for CSE becoming a mandatory component of education, integrated into all levels of learning to normalize the discussion of sex and gender and reduce the stigma and misinformation around sensitive topics such as sexual and reproductive health.

“We believe that sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education, services, and programs should be delivered in an age-appropriate and gender-responsive manner, and therefore we acclaim the Committee’s decision to integrate CSE into the school curriculum,” Calaranan said.

“By providing young people with accurate information about sexuality and reproductive health, they can make informed decisions about their bodies and their futures,” she added.

The Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and the Information and Service Delivery Network (ISDN) for Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) will collaborate to implement relevant programs and interventions to support and protect adolescent mothers and their children. This effort is outlined in House Bill 79.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal author of the said bill, pointed out that a comprehensive law is imperative to institutionalize policies and strategies for eliminating or mitigating adolescent pregnancy.

“[The law] will save young girls from maternal death, unemployment, and poverty, as well as improve their future and reinforce their self-esteem,” Lagman said.

The bill aims not only to provide minors with access to sexual and reproductive information and services but also to improve their understanding of modern contraception and other family planning methods, with proper counselling provided by trained professionals in both public and private health facilities.

Plan International Philippines recognizes the urgency and magnitude of the increasing cases of adolescent pregnancy and fully supports the government’s efforts to give access to ageappropriate and gender-responsive SRHR information and services to adolescents.

The organization submitted a position statement on the proposed policies addressing adolescent pregnancy, discussing the need for a gender-transformative and rights-based approach. This means that every adolescent and young person seeking services and programs related to sexual and reproductive health will be treated with respect, dignity, and without discrimination.

Plan International Philippines recommends a Youth Peer Education program, to reach a diverse group of young people and ensure that information and services related to adolescent pregnancy are accessible to all regardless of their background. A peer-to-peer approach would also create a supportive and inclusive environment where young people feel comfortable discussing and addressing issues related to sexual and reproductive health.

“Ultimately, preventing adolescent pregnancy requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving families, schools, communities, and healthcare providers and reinforcing policies. By working together, we can empower young people to make healthy and responsible decisions and create a brighter future for all,” Calaranan stated.

Plan International Philippines hopes that the consolidated bill will be passed into law and be a step towards addressing the issue of adolescent pregnancies and ensuring the health and wellbeing of young mothers and their children.