FILIPINO families should take a proactive role in educating their children about the risks and consequences of childhood pregnancy.

This was the message of former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., in observance of World Children’s Day.

Abalos expressed concern over the alarming rise of childhood pregnancies, with reports from the Department of Health showing an increasing trend in cases of children under 15 years old becoming pregnant.

According to DOH, childhood pregnancy has become a pressing issue in the country. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the DOH reported that 59 children under 15 years old were pregnant out of every 100,000 people in 2022. This is a significant increase from 39 children per 100,000 in 2020, and 44 children in 2021.

Abalos believes that the family unit plays a key role in addressing this issue by engaging in open and respectful discussions about relationships and sexual health.

While the government and schools also have an important role in providing reproductive health education, Abalos emphasized that the family is often the first place where young people learn values and responsibility.

He also encouraged local government units to initiate family-centered programs that promote open communication about sexual health, acknowledging that some cases of childhood pregnancy may stem from abuse at home.

“It takes a village to raise a child. When families, schools, and communities work together to equip young people with the right knowledge and values, we can create a society that protects them from early pregnancies and the challenges they bring,” Abalos said.