Despite a significant increase in child pregnancies, Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Ted Herbosa expressed reservations on Sunday about the need for a new law to address the issue.

In a radio interview, the DoH chief argued that the existing Reproductive Health Law of 2012 or Republic Act 10354 provides sufficient tools to combat adolescent pregnancy.

He also criticized the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill or Senate Bill 1979, stating that previous attempts to legislate on the issue have caused unnecessary conflict.

“We don’t think the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill helped. It caused conflict — the Catholic Church opposed it, as did Project Dalisay. There were debates and arguments. We won’t move forward that way,” Herbosa said.

“We already have the Reproductive Health Law, and we don’t need another law. What’s important is educating our citizens that the real problems are unplanned pregnancies and the rising maternal deaths due to childbirth,” he added.

The DoH secretary also stressed that pregnancies among those aged 15 and below are inherently unplanned and fall under “childhood pregnancy.”

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveals a concerning trend, as in 2022, at least 2,113 babies were born to mothers under 15. In 2021, the number increased to 2,320 while in 2022, the number further climbed to 3,135.

Herbosa stressed that the sharp increase highlights the urgent need to address the root causes of adolescent pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros introduced a substitute bill to Senate Bill 1979 with amendments addressing concerns about Comprehensive Sexual Education.

Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality Committee, expressed confidence that the revised bill would address concerns raised by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the previous version.