TACLOBAN CITY – Despite the decrease in teenage pregnancy among Filipino women aged 15 to 19-years-old from 6.9 percent in 2017 to 4.9 percent in 2022 based on the National Health and Demographic Survey (NDHS), the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) stands firm in attaining zero teenage pregnancy.
"This is still a large number if you go into absolute value because we are still talking about numerous teenagers," PopCom-8 Regional Director Elnora Pulma said.
She said teenage pregnancy was identified as one of the most pressing issues that Filipino youth are facing today. "One teenage pregnancy is one case too many," Pulma added.
She said that a United Nations Population Fund study revealed that adolescents in the Philippines who have begun child-bearing before the age of 18 are less likely to complete secondary education compared to adolescents who have not begun child-bearing.
"The non-completion of secondary education impacts employment opportunities in the future and the total lifetime earnings of families."
The net estimated effect of early child-bearing due to lost opportunities and foregone earnings can be as high as P33 billion in annual losses for the country.
The PopCom official attributed the decrease due to the restrictions imposed during the pandemic and she sees an increasing trend with the easing of restrictions and more interactions among teenagers.