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Despite the unanimous passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Bill in the House of Representatives in September 2023, the Senate has yet to approve its version.
We are left wondering, why the delay?
Addressing adolescent pregnancy has been declared a “national priority” by the national government since 2021. Official government data showed that in 2022, there was a significant increase (35%) in live births among adolescent mothers aged 14 and below.
This is equivalent to having more than 3,000 girls giving birth to their own children in just one year.
The costs of early pregnancy are no laughing matter.
The Philippines is losing P33 billion of potential income yearly due to early pregnancies, according to the estimate of the UNFPA.
Aside from this, adolescent pregnancy poses significant health, social, and developmental risks to the girl child and her baby, including maternal and infant deaths, complications during delivery, and a higher likelihood of victimhood to domestic violence and abuse.
It also forces many girls to discontinue their studies, severely diminishing their future earning capacity.
The Philippine Legislature has a stellar record in enacting pro-women and pro-children legislation over the years. To name a few: the Magna Carta of Women in 2009, the Reproductive Health Law in 2012, and the recent enactment of landmark laws Prohibiting Child Marriage and Raising the Age of Sexual Consent.
It would be a disservice to break this winning streak for women’s and children’s rights in legislation if we do not give the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill a chance.
Adolescent pregnancy has consistently been a top concern for the younger generation, based on the consultations held by members of the Child Rights Network. This is clearly an issue that the Filipino youth cares about and wants the government to prioritize.
The current session of the 19th Congress is set to adjourn by March 22, a few days from now. Sessions will resume by April 29, but any seasoned political observer will note that the flurry of the midterm elections will slow down the legislative process and the chances of having anything notable accomplished by that time would be slim.
Now is the time to call on the Senate to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Bill and help create a future for Filipinos where there are no more children having children.