Teenage pregnancy, education and employment – these are the primary concerns of the youth sector in Western Visayas that Uswag Ilonggo Regional Party-List has vowed to address.

In November 17’s Virtual Sectoral TownHall Meeting hosted by Uswag Ilonggo Regional Party-List, majority of the region’s youth leaders highlighted teenage pregnancy as one of the root causes of the many problems surrounding education and employment among youth especially during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Teenage pregnancy has long been a problem in the Philippines. It even worsened when the pandemic hit the country in 2020. According to the Commission on Population (POPCOM), a surge in cases of teenage pregnancy last year was recorded in most regions, including Western Visayas (WV).

According to Flora Joy Paragon of Family Planning Organization Office of the Philippines (POP), cases of teenage pregnancy during this pandemic are alarming.

“Actually, pressing nga issue gid nga gina-atubang sang kabataan right now is kadamo na gid ang nagabulusong. So, POP is now working with POPCOM-6 para ma-address ini nga issue. Pero currently, ang amon gid problema is that naga-gamay na lang gid ang volunteers namon working with us and partnering with us. I think we need funding for capacity building nga mapadamo ang networks naton so that all youth bala would unite and work together para ma-address ang amo ni nga issue. So, currently we have outreach activities para ma-reach ang kabataan about awareness about teenage pregnancy,” Paragon said.

Treñas-Chu, for her part, assured the youth in Western Visayas that Uswag Ilonggo is determined to help prevent teen pregnancies in the region and other problems related to it. They are partnering with POPCOM, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and local government units (LGUs) to further strengthen the campaign against teenage pregnancy through giving “correct, timely and useful information” to teenagers and continued teaching of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in schools.

Uswag Ilonggo is also eyeing a partnership with POPCOM and DSWD to establish a social protection program for teenage mothers who are minors and their children.

In 2020, Western Visayas recorded 10,309 teenage pregnancy cases – a 5.56-percent increase from the 9,766 cases logged in 2019, data from the Field Health Service Information System of the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

The province of Negros Occidental topped other areas in the region, recording 4,989 cases of teenage pregnancy.

Here are other areas recording teenage pregnancy cases:

* Iloilo province – 1,138
* Antique – 855
* Aklan – 705
* Capiz – 678
* Guimaras – 174
* Iloilo City – 613
* Bacolod City – 457

“The objective of the town hall meeting is to ensure our partners like you nga ara sa youth sector, maka-contribute man for the development in every part of Region 6,” said Treñas-Chu, adding that through Uswag Ilonggo, youth will be prioritized by providing them venue to collaborate on projects and initiatives addressing key issues in the region.

In general, Uswag Ilonggo aims to elevate the lives of Western Visayans through programs that promote change, inclusivity and progress throughout the region.

Treñas-Chu is working on having Uswag Ilonggo meet with Region 6’s youth sector and LGUs so that they can brainstorm for future initiatives.