THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is enhancing its psychosocial interventions for teenage mothers and their families as part of “ProtecTEEN,” the agency’s effort to address the country’s increasing cases of adolescent pregnancies.
According to a report presented by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), 142,276 adolescent mothers gave birth in the Philippines in 2023.
While the 2023 data on teenage pregnancy is lower than the 150,148 cases recorded in 2022, the CPD reported an alarming increase in the number of very young adolescent mothers under the age of 15.
From a total of 2,411 under-15-year-olds who gave birth in 2019, the number has climbed to 3,343 pregnancies in 2023.
Faced with the growing incidence of adolescent pregnancies, the DSWD took immediate action by pilot testing the ProtecTEEN in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and Antipolo City from 2022 to 2023.
“In 2024, the ProtecTEEN and its menu of services were expanded to select cities and municipalities across all regions nationwide and so far have served over 870 adolescent mothers,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Saturday.
ProtecTEEN stands for Psychosocial Support and Other Interventions for Adolescent Mothers and their Families Project.
The DSWD is complying with Executive Order 141, series of 2021, which deems the implementation of measures to address the underlying factors of the growing incidence of adolescent pregnancies a “national priority.”
The ProtecTEEN initiative focuses on the need to address the complex challenges that adolescent mothers face in order to assist them in getting past their current situation and becoming productive members of society.
“The main goal of ProtecTEEN is to protect and promote the rights and well-being of adolescent mothers, their spouses or partners, and their families, as well as to further empower them in their civic efficiency as part of nation-building and development,” Dumlao said.
