ILOILO CITY – The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) is urging elected youth officials, particularly Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders, to invest in reproductive health education to help address the alarming rise in adolescent pregnancies.
“Basketball leagues and beauty contests are fine, but SK funds should also support reproductive health programs,” said CPD official Mylin Mirasol Quiray during a media conference organized by the Department of Health, this city.
CPD data shows pregnancies among girls aged 10–14 have steadily increased—from 2,113 cases in 2020 to 3,343 in 2023. Eastern Visayas remains among the regions with the highest adolescent birth rates at 11.1%.
Quiray also called on policymakers to include parents in awareness efforts and to ensure sustainable funding. She urged media to report not only on reproductive health but also on youth mental health to help prevent suicide among adolescents.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
