Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed deep concern Thursday over the increasing number of maternal deaths in Northern Mindanao, following a Department of Health (DoH) warning that more women, particularly young and first-time mothers, are dying from preventable childbirth complications.

Go called for urgent and sustained interventions to strengthen prenatal and postnatal care services, especially in rural and geographically isolated areas.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go stressed that improving maternal health outcomes must remain a priority in policymaking and public service delivery.

“No one should die during childbirth, especially if it can be prevented with proper information and government services,” Go said. “That’s why we are pushing for the implementation of programs focused on the health of mothers and infants.”

His statement follows reports from DoH Region X citing a rise in maternal mortality. In 2023, the region recorded a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 5.5 per 100,000 live births, the highest in five years and significantly higher than the previous year’s 4.1.

Among the reported cases was the death of 27-year-old Almera Andagao from Pigsag-an, who died two days after being admitted to a Cagayan de Oro City hospital due to childbirth complications.

DoH officials attributed the increase to inadequate prenatal care and limited access to skilled healthcare providers. The DoH’s Family Health Cluster highlighted the importance of the “1-2-5” prenatal checkup schedule — one visit in the first trimester, two in the second, and five in the third — as part of its Safe Motherhood Initiative.