MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay has filed a resolution urging the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the “alarming” increase in the number of adolescent pregnancies in the country.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 650, Binay cited the Civil Registry Statistics of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which revealed two registered births from girls as young as 10 years old from Metro Manila and Calabarzon, both of which have a relatively high population.
The resolution was received by the Senate’s Office of the Secretary on February 15.
In calling for a Senate inquiry, Binay also noted the Commission on Population’s report that 2,411 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2019, revealing an average of seven births every day with Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon registering the highest incidents.
“The problem of teenage pregnancy still remains as a national emergency as this is the 9th year since 2011 that the rate has increased, noting that one out of every 10 pregnancies in the Philippines has been among teenagers,” she said.
Citing the United Nations Population Fund, Binay also noted that a young girl’s life can radically change when she becomes pregnant.
“Her education may end and her job prospects diminish. She becomes more vulnerable to poverty and exclusion, and her health often suffers,” said Binay, adding that complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among adolescent girls.
“Tens of thousands of adolescents die annually of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In fact, these are the leading cause of death among adolescent girls, aged 15-19, globally,” she also said.
Binay said that “based on the foregoing, it is imperative to conduct a complete assessment and review of all government policies and programs regarding the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in the country.”
Earlier this month, the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives also sought an investigation into what it called an “alarming” rise in teenage pregnancies among girls aged 15 and below.
In 2019, Senator Leila de Lima also urged the Senate to investigate the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the county.