Save the Children Philippines urged the swift passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, highlighting its crucial role in tackling the escalating teenage pregnancy crisis in the country.
Over 500 Filipino adolescents, especially those aged 15 and below, became mothers. The Philippines has witnessed a troubling 35% rise in live births within this age group from 2021 to 2022. The organization cautions that these alarming figures are more than just statistics—they reflect the lost childhoods of countless young girls.
“These figures tell a heartbreaking story of young lives derailed by circumstances beyond their control. Girls as young as 10 are being thrust into the role of mothers, while still children themselves,” shared Wilma Banaga, Child Protection Advisor at Save the Children Philippines.
The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill was further discussed in the Senate on August 19, awaiting approval on its second reading. It has already passed the third reading in the House of Representatives.
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