CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — Government agencies in Central Luzon are ramping up coordinated efforts to address the double burden of rising human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases and teenage pregnancy among the region’s youth.
The Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) has recorded over 14,000 confirmed HIV cases as of January 25, with about 30 percent coming from ages 15 to 24 years old.
In addition, cases of teenage pregnancy remain high in the region, mirroring national trends which saw a rise in births among 10- to 14-year-old girls from 2,411 cases in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023.
With this, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) raises alarm as these challenges highlight critical gaps in access to reproductive health information, education, and services, particularly for adolescents.
To address these concerns, CPD Central Luzon Regional Director Lourdes Nacionales said they continue to partner with various agencies in intensifying the implementation of its various youth-focused programs.
Among these interventions is the Parent-Teen Talk initiative, which equips parents with the skills and tools to engage in open and age-appropriate conversations about sexuality, relationships, and reproductive health.
This is complemented by the “I Choose #MalayaAkongMaging” campaign, which encourages adolescents to make informed and responsible choices.
Nacionales said CPD is also intensifying its ProtectTeen program to provide adolescent mothers and their children with social protection package including healthcare services, psychosocial aid, education, and livelihood trainings.
This program is currently rolled out in high-priority areas including Pampanga, Bulacan, and Tarlac.
CPD is also partnering with local government units (LGUs) in advocating for the establishment of teen centers, which offers counseling, peer support, and access to reproductive health resources among adolescents.
At the national level, the government is pushing for the passage of a national policy to eradicate adolescent pregnancy, as well as the full implementation of Republic Act 11166 or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act.
Nacionales likewise stressed the importance of community involvement in ensuring the success and sustainability of their programs.
“The wellbeing of our young people is at stake if their sexual and reproductive health are not addressed. Therefore, we call on educators, institutions, local governments, especially parents and families and other stakeholders to join us in this critical effort. Investing and ensuring that every youth is protected and their potentials are developed is the key to a progressive family, community and eventually our country,” she said. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
