Save the Children lauds passage of bill preventing adolescent pregnancy

A children’s rights advocacy group on Thursday hailed the passage of a proposed measure seeking to prevent teenage pregnancy and institutionalize social protection for adolescent parents at the House of Representatives.

Save the Children Philippines said the approval of proposed House Bill No. 8910 or the “Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act” is a “crucial step" in establishing a comprehensive policy in addressing adolescent pregnancy as it called for the Senate to pass a counterpart measure of the bill.

“When pregnancies and births happen to girls before their bodies are fully developed, they face higher risks not only for the adolescent mother but also for their child,” Shebana Alqaseer, Save the Children Philippines’ technical adviser on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, said.

“Complications during pregnancies are also the leading causes of death among adolescents. Meanwhile, adolescents are more likely to drop out of school, and limits their potential and full development,” she added.

Voting 232-0, legislators at the House of Representatives passed on the third and final reading proposed HB No. 8910 on Tuesday.

Once enacted, an inter-agency council tasked to formulate and implement sexual and reproductive health policies and programs will be established.

A comprehensive social protection program shall likewise be provided to adolescent parents to prevent repeat pregnancies and to ensure their well-being while assuming the responsibilities of being young parents.

In January, the Commission on Population and Development said the number of pregnancies among 10 to 14-year-olds was still high in 2022 at more than 2,000.—Sundy Locus/AOL/BM, GMA Integrated News