The advocacy group Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) on Tuesday, 28 October, urged more lawmakers to push for a teen pregnancy prevention bill.

On Monday, 27 October, the Akbayan Party-list filed the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Bill in the 20th Congress. Similar bills were also earlier filed by Albay 1st District Rep. Krisel Lagman, Isabela 5th District Rep. Michael Carlos, La Union First District Rep. Paolo Ortega, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros' version of the bill was filed last 10 July.

In a statement, PLCPD executive director Au Quilala expressed hope that the bill, which has been more than a decade in the making, will finally be passed into law this 20th Congress.

“We admire the courage and dedication of these legislators in protecting the Filipino children and youth, especially girls, from early and unintended pregnancies, sexual abuse, and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV,” Quilala said.

Quilala explained that the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Bill will institutionalize a data-driven and evidence- and rights-based strategy to end the national social emergency of teen pregnancy, as declared by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development in 2019.

These include: Age- and development-appropriate Comprehensive Adolescent Sexuality Education; Protection against gender-based violence; Access of youth to reproductive health services, including modern family planning, to prevent teen pregnancies and repeat teen pregnancies; and Social protection (continuing education, health services, livelihood) for teen parents and their children.

“The bill is a product of comprehensive consultations with children and young people, non-government organizations, including faith-based groups, legislators, the academe, local government units, and stakeholders in education and health who are united in aspiring for a future where there are no more children having children,” Quilala continued.

The Philippines still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancies in Southeast Asia. But what’s more disturbing is the data in the 10 to 14 bracket, wherein the number of children born to 10 to 14-year-old girls has been increasing.

In 2023, it went up to 3,343 children from 3,135 in 2022 and 2,113 in 2020.

“The number of very young girls getting pregnant is not even the saddest story. Data shows that most of these pregnancies may involve statutory rape, as the men who impregnated the girls were practically adults or significantly older than them,” she stressed.

Quilala further urged the lawmakers to "unite in protecting Filipino children, especially girls."

“To the 20th Congress: Listen to evidence and heed the people’s call. The Philippines is losing P33 billion yearly in potential income because many girls are forced to drop out of school and miss economic opportunities," she added.

“Let’s help Filipino girls and boys reach their dreams and full potential. Let us pass the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Bill now."