ILOILO City – The Commission on Population and Development or PopCom Region 6 emphasizes the importance of expressing love beyond physical intimacy this Valentine’s Day.
While modern society recognizes sex as a form of expression among adults, it is crucial to prioritize protection to safeguard one’s future and that of the potential offspring, according to Roilo Vincent G. Laguna, population program officer and Technical Section head of PopCom-6.
Contraceptives, available at drugstores and Rural Health Units (RHU), are promoted for responsible family planning and disease prevention, he stressed.
Popcom advises adolescents against engaging in sexual activities, pointing to the significant risks and the recent increase in teenage pregnancies within the region.
According to the 2022 statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in the region, there were 166 reported cases of pregnancies in girls aged 10 to 14, an uptick from previous years, illustrating a concerning trend across various provinces and cities within the region.
The breakdown of the 166 adolescent pregnancies by province and highly urbanized city is as follows:
* Aklan – 13
* Antique – nine
* Capiz – 28
* Guimaras – four
* Iloilo Province – 46
* Negros Occidental – 52
* Bacolod City – three
* Iloilo City – 11
The PSA data further revealed a total of 89,901 live births in 2022, with 166 or 0.18 percent accounted for by the 10 to 14 age group. The total live births in 2022 were as follows:
* Aklan – 7,148
* Antique – 6,504
* Capiz – 9,394
* Guimaras – 2,339
* Iloilo Province – 23,333
* Negros Occidental – 31,109
* Bacolod City – 5,096
* Iloilo City – 4,978
For the slightly older group of 15 to 19 years old, there were 8,621 pregnancies in 2022, with the following breakdown by province and highly urbanized city:
* Aklan – 681
* Antique – 546
* Capiz – 945
* Guimaras – 228
* Iloilo Province – 2,344
* Negros Occidental – 3,253
* Bacolod City – 253
* Iloilo City – 371
Amid these statistics, the youngest reported case of pregnancy was an 11-year-old in 2020, who was allegedly a victim of sexual abuse, underscoring the critical nature of this issue.
PopCom’s message for Valentine’s is one of responsibility and care, urging people to enjoy the day responsibly with loved ones, including family, friends, or even by oneself.
In addition to addressing teenage pregnancies, CPD-6 notes a rising trend in the population and growth rate from 2015 to 2020, with an overall increase of 1.14 percent in the region’s population.
The population growth rate per province and highly urbanized city in 2015 and 2020 is as follows:
* Guimaras – from 174,613 in 2015 to 187,842 or a 1.55 percent increase in 2020
* Aklan – from 574,823 in 2015 to 615,475 or a 1.45 percent increase in 2020
* Bacolod City – from 561,875 in 2015 to 600,783 or a 1.42 percent increase in 2020
* Iloilo Province – from 1,936,423 in 2015 to 2,051,899 or a 1.23 percent increase in 2020
* Capiz – from 761,384 in 2015 to 804,952 or a 1.18 percent increase in 2020
* Antique – from 582,012 in 2015 to 612,974 or a 1.10 percent increase
* Negros Occidental – from 2,497,261 in 2015 to 2,623,172 or a 1.04 percent increase in 2020
* Iloilo City – from 447,992 in 2015 to 457,626 or a 0.45 percent increase in 2020.
To combat the increase in adolescent pregnancies, PopCom advocates for a comprehensive approach involving government units, the Department of Health, and the community.
It stresses the need for collective action to reduce these numbers and encourages individuals to prioritize their futures over momentary pleasures./PN
