ILOILO CITY — The Commission on Population and Development (CPD)-6 is stepping up efforts to address the increasing number of live births among girls aged 10 to 14 in Western Visayas, even as pregnancies among older adolescents continue to decline.

CPD-6 Regional Director Harold Alfred Marshall said the region recorded 103 live births among girls aged 10 to 14 in 2023, with the figure rising to 111 in 2024.

Marshall said sustained government interventions have helped reduce pregnancies among adolescents aged 15 to 19, but the younger age group has emerged as a growing concern.

He said previous campaigns largely targeted older teenagers, contributing to the decline in pregnancies among those aged 15 to 19, while children aged 10 to 14 received less focus.

Population Program Officer III Dr. Roilo Laguna said limited access to accurate and age-appropriate reproductive health information is among the factors contributing to the increase.

Laguna underscored the role of parents in preventing early pregnancies by fostering open communication with their children and providing proper guidance and accurate information.

CPD-6 said it will continue strengthening its advocacy and education initiatives to help protect children and address the rising number of adolescent pregnancies in the region.