A TEACHERS’ and parents’ group on Wednesday urged the Marcos administration to address adolescent pregnancy as an urgent national concern and certify as priority legislation the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act.
The Parents and Teachers for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (PTApp) noted that 6.8 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 have already begun childbearing, while pregnancies among children aged 10 to 14 continue to rise, underscoring the need for stronger preventive measures.
In a statement, the group called on President Marcos to certify as urgent the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act, first filed in Congress in 2017.
The group said the measure would strengthen efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy by improving coordination among schools, parents, communities, healthcare providers, and government agencies, while expanding age-appropriate education and support services for young people.
‘Every teacher knows this reality: by the time young people reach adolescence, they are already receiving messages about relationships, their bodies, and sex through social media, classmates, online content, and the people around them. In my 30 years as an educator, there has never been a school year without a student becoming pregnant,’ said Maria Zaida Padullo, PTApp spokesperson in a press statement.
‘The question is not whether young people are learning. The question is whether they are learning from trusted adults in safe spaces. More often than not, our experience tells us the answer is no,’ added Padullo, principal of a public high school in Quezon City.
The appeal comes amid continuing public discussions on the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention bill and growing concern over child and adolescent pregnancies. Once enacted, the law would help ensure that young Filipinos receive age-appropriate information, access to support services, and stronger protection before a pregnancy occurs. Educators said the measure would also equip schools and families to guide young people in making informed and responsible decisions.
According to the Fifth Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 5), only one in eight Filipino youth has ever discussed sex at home, while 19 percent identified social media as their primary source of information about puberty.
‘This data is deeply concerning. It shows that many Filipino adolescents are at risk of being exposed to misinformation about sex, increasing their vulnerability to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, sexual harassment, and abuse. As teachers, we witness these realities every day,’ Padullo said.
‘Families today are raising children in a world where they are constantly inundated with information that is often unfiltered and inaccurate. Schools should support parents by helping young people develop the knowledge and decision-making skills they need to protect themselves.’
YAFS 5 also found that while 70 percent of girls said they learned about puberty from their mothers, only 39 percent turn to their mothers when they have questions about sex, while 22 percent seek advice from friends. The gap is even more pronounced among boys, with nearly half saying they ask friends about sex, compared with only 12 percent who turn to their fathers and 11 percent to their mothers.
‘We cannot keep responding only after a child becomes pregnant. Protection begins before a crisis occurs. Young Filipinos deserve adults who are willing to guide them before misinformation, peer pressure, or exploitation takes hold,’ the group said.