City Dad cites need for education to address teen pregnancy

DAVAO CITY, May 28 (PIA) City Councilor Maria Belen Acosta, chair of the city council committee on education cited the need to once and for all address the increasing teenage pregnancy besetting Davao City.

She issued the statement during the First Stakeholders’ Forum on Adolescent Health and Teenage Pregnancy Wednesday, participated in by various sectors where she expressed concern on the figures where one out of ten Filipinas aged 15 years old to 19 years old is already bearing a child.

Acosta noted that teenage pregnancy is prevalent among indigent families where females aging 12 and 13, already take care of their own babies who are prone to malnutrition.

“It is a social problem where all sectors need to cooperate in the discussion,” she said.

Acosta said that momentarily, her committee can assist in addressing teenage pregnancy by helping young mothers who aspire to go back to school.

She said educational options for teenage mothers range from Sunday school, alternative learning system being offered by the Department of Education, and skills development as proposed by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority, and the “abot-alam” education program.

“We are willing to share rice and foodstuff, skills training and livelihood that will be learned in a few hours,” Acosta said.

She also assured medical assistance for post-partum-depression cases affecting young mothers.

Acosta noted that young mothers are also prone to post-partum-depression as hormones drop at lowest levels, consequently affecting the physiological make up of a person.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)