THE Commission on Population and Development reported a significant decline in teenage pregnancy in the Cordillera from a whopping 18.7 percent in 2013 to only 3.4 percent in 2017.
Former Popcom-CAR director Rose Fortaleza underscored one of the significant accomplishments of her office during her stint in the region was the achieved reduction of teenage pregnancy which was a tough task ahead considering the high percentage of teenagers who are pregnant.
In 2013, the Young Adults Fertility Survey (YAFS) showed that 18.7 percent of teenagers were pregnant or have been pregnant during their teenage years which prompted the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera to mobilize concerned government agencies and local governments to intensify their information and education campaign that will help in reducing the high prevalence of pregnancy among teenagers.
She claimed the active participation of the education department and school administrators in providing the knowledge to teenagers on the risks of engaging in premarital sex that result to unwanted pregnancies also contributed in achieving the goal of significantly reducing teenage pregnancies in the region to only 3.4 percent in 2017.
With the region’s achievement in reducing the teenage pregnancy to its minimal level, Fortaleza said the goal of having zero teenage pregnancy by 2022 is highly attainable which will be beneficial in ensuring the good health condition of teenagers when entering their young adult years.
Fortaleza turned over the leadership of the Popcom-Car to Magdalena Abellera in simple rites administered by Popcom Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez.
She will be assigned to Central Luzon.
Fortaleza claimed one of the challenging works that will be left behind for her successor to pursue will be to help concerned government agencies and the local government find the appropriate solutions in addressing the prevalence of very young mothers and the occurrence of pregnancies among teenagers aged 10 to 14.
Last year, the health department and the Popcom were able to document some 2,000 females aged 10 to 14 who have been pregnant that warrants the implementation of appropriate interventions to help address the said problem among young females.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 71 which tasked the Commission on Population and Development to strengthen the integration of population and development in increasing the country’s potential economic growth.
The move to rename the Commission on Population and Development will strengthen the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law which will benefit all Filipino families aside from being tasked to formulate policies on population as it relates to economic and social development. (PR)