DSWD urges next admin to make teenage pregnancy prevention a priority

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday urged the incoming Marcos administration to ensure that measures aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy will be in place, alongside efficient implementation of Universal Health Care law, among others.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Joseline Niwane made the appeal after Day 1 of the Duterte Legacy Summit which touted the accomplishments of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, saying these are key to addressing poverty.

Niwane did not cite a specific program but the DSWD and the Commission on Population and Development have a Social Protection program for Teenaged Mothers and their Children which provides support to teenaged mothers and their children, including returning to school and social amelioration program to give them a head start before they are qualified to apply for gainful employment.

"We are hoping, praying, that they consider to prioritize addressing teenage pregnancy and helping the [government]program. We have a program in place and we are hoping this would be done," Niwane said.

"When a teenager gets pregnant, that teenage mother does not have an income, and that is a problem. Where would she get the expenses to feed her baby. We should be able to minimize this," she added.

Young people should remain productive, the DSWD official said.

"They should be productive so we can cut the cycle of poverty," she added.

Aside from teenage pregnancy, Niwane said the incoming administration should ensure smooth implementation of the Universal Health Care law and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program which grants cash to poorest households in exchange of complying with conditions promoting human development such as keeping kids in school, attending family development sessions, among others.

"We hope that they will be able to support these programs," she added.

The UHC law was passed in February 2019 while the CCT has been in place since 2008.—LDF, GMA News