Teen pregnancy program being rolled out nationwide
The agency has yet to publicly release consolidated findings from the pilot areas, including data on program coverage, outcomes or cost-effectiveness.
The agency has yet to publicly release consolidated findings from the pilot areas, including data on program coverage, outcomes or cost-effectiveness.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is moving toward the nationwide implementation of its ProtecTEEN Program, a social welfare initiative aimed at addressing adolescent pregnancy, following pilot runs in selected local government units.
The planned expansion comes as the agency continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, which targets adolescent mothers through psychosocial support, parenting interventions, and referrals to social services.
As part of the pilot phase, the DSWD Field Office 10 in Northern Mindanao formalized a partnership with the Cagayan de Oro City government on 2 December, signing a memorandum of agreement to implement the Enhanced ProtecTEEN Program in selected barangays.
According to Ramel Jamen, special assistant to the DSWD secretary for field office special programs and concurrent officer in charge of Field Office 10, the partnership is intended to strengthen service delivery for adolescent mothers and their children, particularly in areas of mental health support, parenting skills and access to government services.
DSWD officials said the agency has conducted data-gathering activities in several pilot areas nationwide as part of the program’s evaluation phase.
The department said the assessment is meant to determine whether the interventions have resulted in measurable improvements in the well-being of adolescent mothers and their children, and whether gaps remain in local service delivery.
However, the agency has yet to publicly release consolidated findings from the pilot areas, including data on program coverage, outcomes or cost-effectiveness.
The DSWD is also preparing a project launch and payout activity in Iloilo Province, where eligible adolescent mothers are expected to receive social assistance and complementary services under the program.
