SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged the national and local governments to implement measures to prevent a spike in teenage pregnancies in storm-hit areas, a phenomenon observed in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Gatchalian cited a study by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines in 2017 which revealed that when Typhoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, 23.5 percent of the region’s population of teenage girls got pregnant.

The study showed that 14.8 percent had another child the following year.

Dr. Gloria Luz Nelson, the author of the study, shared that young girls aged 10-19 are the most vulnerable in relocation and evacuation centers, where they are at risk of getting molested.

Gatchalian said this should prompt government agencies, including local government units, to protect young girls in evacuation and relocation centers.

He added that resuming education is crucial to restore normalcy for affected children.

The senator also emphasized the importance of continuous implementation of child protection and reproductive health programs.

He mentioned that the Covid19 crisis also contributed to the upsurge of teenage pregnancy worldwide.

“Ang epekto ng pandemya ay isa nang posibleng sanhi ng pagdami ng mga batang ina sa bansa. At dahil sa mga nagdaang bagyo, ang mga batang babae sa mga nasalantang lugar ay mas nanganganib na mabiktima ng karahasan, pang-aabuso, at maging mga batang ina,” Gatchalian said.

“Marami nang mga pagkakataong nakita nating ang mga kalamidad ay nagiging sanhi ng pagdami ng mga batang ina. Kailangan nating tutukan ang bantang ito upang protektahan ang ating mga kabataan at ang kanilang kinabukasan,” he added.

He reiterated the need for comprehensive sexuality education in schools to raise awareness on preventing the surge of teenage pregnancy.