Statement of the Alliance of Local Legislators for Human Development (ALL4HD) in Support of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill or Senate Bill 1979

The Alliance of Local Legislators for Human Development, a national organization of local legislators from various provinces, cities, and municipalities nationwide promoting and advocating human development through legislation and good governance, remains steadfast in its call for the immediate passage of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill and counterpart ordinances at the local level.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that there was a 35-percent surge in live births among adolescent mothers aged 14 and below from 2021 to 2022. This translates to 3,135 children giving birth to children of their own in just one year. In 2023, this further increased to 3,343 children below 15 years old giving birth to children. Early childbearing makes a girl more vulnerable to sexual abuse, violence, and discrimination. It poses significant health risks. It also restricts her personal development and earning potential. According to UNFPA Philippines, the country loses about 33 billion pesos per year in potential income of adolescent girls because of adolescent pregnancy. 

We believe that comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is important in protecting and empowering children, and that children are best guided by their parents and teachers. Thus, the enactment of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill will provide inroads for children to be properly and appropriately informed on the risks associated with early pregnancies. The proposed law, however, respects childhood. It is a means to achieve human development and not a tool for depravity. Furthermore, the state should be able to support the teaching of age- and development-appropriate and culturally sensitive sexuality education.

Local governments are at the forefront of the provision of social services. Next to the family, local governments have the impetus and are best positioned to protect children and ensure their well-being. Local governments can contribute to addressing adolescent pregnancy by enacting and implementing comprehensive adolescent reproductive health or adolescent pregnancy prevention ordinances that institutionalize sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services; age- and development-appropriate and culturally sensitive comprehensive sexuality education; and social protection for adolescent parents to prevent repeat unintended pregnancies, protect them from gender-based violence, and help young parents to continue their education and have access to meaningful employment.

We call on the Senate to act on the proposed law with urgency. Likewise, we call on local legislators across the country to have the commitment to craft ordinances that aim to prevent adolescent pregnancies. This is because addressing an issue of “urgent national priority” necessitates decisive action at all levels.

The Alliance of Local Legislators for Human Development or ALL4HD is a progressive and non-partisan national alliance of local legislators who champion human development and local legislation on rural development, children’s rights, women’s rights, gender equality, adequate housing, and climate resilience, among others. Butuan City Vice Mayor Lawrence Fortun is the President of ALL4HD.