CPD alarmed over rising repeat teen pregnancies

MANILA, Philippines — Repeat pregnancies among the young Filipino population are increasing, according to the Commission on Population and Development (CPD).

More than 25,000 repeat pregnancies involving teenagers or younger have been recorded, acting CPD Knowledge Management and Communications Division chief Mylin Mirasol Quiray said yesterday during the Conference on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill in Quezon City.

“We have already over 25,358 repeat pregnancies among girls 10 to 19 years old. Even before the age of 20, they got pregnant again,” Quiray said.

Latest CPD data showed there were 23,022 mothers aged 15 to 19 who underwent pregnancies for the second time.

Third pregnancies in this age group were at 2,169, fourth at 125 and two persons got pregnant for the fifth time.

For those under age 15, the CPD recorded 40 girls who got pregnant for the second time.

UN Population Fund Philippines (UNFPA) country representative Leila Saiji Joudane said a law that addresses adolescent pregnancies can provide a framework for comprehensive action.

Human capital

The CPD is concerned about the underutilization of the country’s human capital.

Filipino children born today are projected to reach only 52 percent of their potential productivity compared to a child with full health and good quality education, CPD executive director Lisa Grace Bersales said, citing the World Bank Human Capital Review’s recent findings.

Based on the HCR findings, the Philippines is projected to achieve upper-middle-income country status by 2026 due to a significant increase in gross national income.

“Despite the upward trajectory of GNI per capita, the country is currently utilizing less than half of its human capital potential,” Bersales pointed out.

Pregnancy prevention

The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, CPD and UNFPA yesterday urged the Senate to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention bill.

The measure would provide comprehensive sexuality education, improved access to adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights services and data collection mechanisms to inform future policies and programs.

HIV and AIDS are also on the rise among the youth and issues like gender-based violence and child marriage persist, especially in marginalized communities, Joudane noted. – Pia-Lee Brago, Mayen Jaymalin