When childhood ends too soon: Why lawmakers are urged to act as pregnancies rise among girls aged 10–14

When childhood ends too soon: Why lawmakers are urged to act as pregnancies rise among girls aged 10–14

MANILA – For government officials working on population and development, the growing number of pregnancies among girls barely out of childhood is no longer just a statistic—it is a warning.

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) is sounding the alarm as new data reveal a troubling rise in pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14, a trend officials say underscores the urgent need for stronger laws, better protection, and earlier intervention.

At the center of that call is the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, which CPD officials believe is critical to strengthening national efforts to protect very young adolescents from early pregnancy, abuse, and long‑term harm.

“Talagang nararapat na i-pass na natin itong Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill para po iyong national program on reducing adolescent pregnancy lalo na sa very young adolescent, ages 10 to 14 ay mas mapalakas,” said Mylin Mirasol Quiray, chief of CPD’s Information Management and Communication Division, during an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon aired on PTV‑4.

Numbers that demand attention

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), births among girls aged 10 to 14 increased by 8 percent, a rise that CPD officials say cannot be ignored.

The number of reported pregnancies in this age group climbed from 3,343 cases in 2023 to 3,612 in 2024, a jump that highlights the vulnerability of children who should still be focused on school, safety, and development—not motherhood.

For Quiray, the data point to gaps in the country’s ability to respond fully and systematically, particularly in the absence of a comprehensive law that institutionalizes prevention, education, and protection.

“Kailangan din po mas mapalakas pa iyong social protection program for adolescent mothers and their children, mapalakas ang preventive programs natin katulad ng reproductive health education kapag po napasa ang bill na ito,” she said.

A child‑protection issue

The CPD emphasized that pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14 raise serious concerns beyond public health. Under Philippine law, the age of sexual consent is 16, meaning pregnancies in this age bracket may involve abuse or exploitation.

“Lagi po nating sinasabi sa CPD ang pag-start po ng discussion is really protection, child protection talaga from abuse, lalo na teaching our young kids to protect themselves,” Quiray said.

“So, if less than 16 ka nanganak, so ibig sabihin it maybe abusive or there is an abuse there that is involved because of the age sexual consent,” she added.

Advocates say this reality makes early pregnancy prevention inseparable from child protection—requiring not only health services, but also education, social support, and safeguards against violence.

What the bill aims to change

The proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill seeks to provide a coordinated national response by institutionalizing comprehensive reproductive health education, expanding adolescent‑friendly health services, and strengthening social protection for young mothers and their children.

The measure also aims to ensure that both boys and girls receive scientifically accurate and age‑appropriate information, aligned with the standards of the Department of Education and the Department of Health, while promoting access to health services that are non‑judgmental and youth‑friendly.

Quiray noted that the bill also addresses gaps in awareness at home, pointing out that only a small number of Filipino parents openly discuss sexual health with their children. As a result, many adolescents turn to social media and other unreliable sources for information.

Waiting for the law

While the CPD continues to implement existing interventions—including an interagency technical working group among concerned government agencies—officials say legislation remains crucial to ensure consistency, funding, and long‑term impact.

The House of Representatives passed its version of the measure, House Bill No. 8910, in 2023. However, the Senate has yet to approve its counterpart, Senate Bill No. 1979, leaving the proposed law stalled.

For advocates, every delay carries real consequences.

As Quiray and CPD officials continue to push for the bill’s passage, they stress that protecting children—especially the youngest and most vulnerable—must remain at the center of national policy, not as a future goal, but as an urgent responsibility. (via PNA)

The Philippines Herald | Negosentro Media