By Joseph John J. Perez
LEGAZPI CITY, July 12 (PIA) -- The Commission on Population (PopCom) in Bicol acknowledged the important role of the media as the most accessible means of communication to inform and reach out especially to the younger generation who are most exposed to broadcast media.
“The youth are the primary audience and has access to television, internet and media where issues on relationships, sex, marriage and family are aired and tackled,” PopCom Regional Director Magdalena Abellera said in a media consultation held in Albay last week.
"The media is the perfect platform where the advocacy against pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy can be promoted," Abellera said.
The partnership with the local media was established as PopCom Bicol noted that mothers in Bicol are getting younger. PopCom Bicol disclosed that a twelve year old mother gave birth recently in Albay in an undisclosed government hospital confirming their statistics that teenage pregnancy in the region shoot up to 26 percent in 2008 compared to the data in 1993 with only 5.5 percent.
“Teenage pregnancy must be addressed now if we want to work for a brighter future,” Abellera said. Anything that happens in terms of population has a significant impact on the government, Abellera adds.
“Teenage pregnancy in the region is rapidly increasing since 1998 with 9.8% which rose to 21.8% in 2003 and reached 26% in 2008,” PopCom Information Officer Miracle Bolaños said. If the trend is sustained, teenage pregnancy in Bicol may even exceed 30% this year, PopCom Bicol said.
“Philippines is now leading among the south east Asian nations in terms of teenage pregnancy,” Bolaños told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in a radio interview. Adolescent fertility which is the percentage of adolescents who have begun childbearing in the Philippines for 20 to 24 year old bracket remains high even it slightly dropped to 46.8 % in 2008 compared to 48.5 in 2003.
“However alarming is the adolescent fertility in ages 18 which shoot up to 14.4% in 2008 compared to 11.9% in 2003 and among 19-year olds with 24.1% in 2008 from 23.5 in 2008,” Bolaños said.
Meanwhile, total fertility rate (TFR) which refers to the number of births a woman would have on the average at the end of her productive life, slightly dropped in the Bicol Region to 4.1 in 2008 from 4.3 in 2003. “In 1993, TFR was at 5.9 and reduced at 5.4 in 1998,” Bolaños added.
“Teenage pregnancy results in reduction of potential of a person to have a better future in terms of educational attainment, job, income among others,” Bolaños said. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that teenagers are not yet physically and mentally matured and prepared for pregnancy and demands of motherhood, PopCom told PIA.
“There is always the risk of mother and child mortality and greater chances of irresponsible parenthood in teenage pregnancy,” Bolaños said.
PopCom Bicol observes World Population Day on July 11 with the theme, “Work for a Brighter Future, Address Teen pregnancy Now,” Abellera said. (MAL/JJJP/PIA5-Albay)
LEGAZPI CITY, July 12 (PIA) -- The Commission on Population (PopCom) in Bicol acknowledged the important role of the media as the most accessible means of communication to inform and reach out especially to the younger generation who are most exposed to broadcast media.
“The youth are the primary audience and has access to television, internet and media where issues on relationships, sex, marriage and family are aired and tackled,” PopCom Regional Director Magdalena Abellera said in a media consultation held in Albay last week.
"The media is the perfect platform where the advocacy against pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy can be promoted," Abellera said.
The partnership with the local media was established as PopCom Bicol noted that mothers in Bicol are getting younger. PopCom Bicol disclosed that a twelve year old mother gave birth recently in Albay in an undisclosed government hospital confirming their statistics that teenage pregnancy in the region shoot up to 26 percent in 2008 compared to the data in 1993 with only 5.5 percent.
“Teenage pregnancy must be addressed now if we want to work for a brighter future,” Abellera said. Anything that happens in terms of population has a significant impact on the government, Abellera adds.
“Teenage pregnancy in the region is rapidly increasing since 1998 with 9.8% which rose to 21.8% in 2003 and reached 26% in 2008,” PopCom Information Officer Miracle Bolaños said. If the trend is sustained, teenage pregnancy in Bicol may even exceed 30% this year, PopCom Bicol said.
“Philippines is now leading among the south east Asian nations in terms of teenage pregnancy,” Bolaños told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in a radio interview. Adolescent fertility which is the percentage of adolescents who have begun childbearing in the Philippines for 20 to 24 year old bracket remains high even it slightly dropped to 46.8 % in 2008 compared to 48.5 in 2003.
“However alarming is the adolescent fertility in ages 18 which shoot up to 14.4% in 2008 compared to 11.9% in 2003 and among 19-year olds with 24.1% in 2008 from 23.5 in 2008,” Bolaños said.
Meanwhile, total fertility rate (TFR) which refers to the number of births a woman would have on the average at the end of her productive life, slightly dropped in the Bicol Region to 4.1 in 2008 from 4.3 in 2003. “In 1993, TFR was at 5.9 and reduced at 5.4 in 1998,” Bolaños added.
“Teenage pregnancy results in reduction of potential of a person to have a better future in terms of educational attainment, job, income among others,” Bolaños said. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that teenagers are not yet physically and mentally matured and prepared for pregnancy and demands of motherhood, PopCom told PIA.
“There is always the risk of mother and child mortality and greater chances of irresponsible parenthood in teenage pregnancy,” Bolaños said.
PopCom Bicol observes World Population Day on July 11 with the theme, “Work for a Brighter Future, Address Teen pregnancy Now,” Abellera said. (MAL/JJJP/PIA5-Albay)
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