Erin Devanadera

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released its latest 2023 report on registered live births in the country, signaling an increase of more than 3,000 cases of mothers aged 10 to 14 years old, with older men found to be the leading cause.

Photo Courtesy of Reuters.

The report, published on December 20, 2024, noted a 6.6% rise in these young mothers, spiking to 3,343 in 2023 from 2,411 in 2019.

Former Executive Director of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Dr. Jeepy Perez, stated that a myriad of these teenage pregnancies were initiated by older men in positions of authority and power with abusive and sexual intent. 

“Only 22 of the fathers reported were the same age as the mother. Ninety-nine percent of the reported births involved someone older than 17 years old—older than them,” said Perez.

"If you look at the entire year of 2023, all births to children in 2023 would fall under the category of statutory rape. And the numbers are quite alarming," he added.

Perez also mentioned how sexual abuse towards these young individuals was likely repeated by their perpetrators, with 38 young girls giving birth a second time and 17 young girls giving birth for the fifth time before the age of 20, the report finds. 

"Because you only have a 30% chance of getting pregnant from a single sexual act. So you could have three or four acts before conception occurs," reiterated Perez, highlighting the likelihood of repeated abuse.

The CPD, represented by Undersecretary Lisa Grace S. Bersales, is calling for the immediate implementation of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill (Senate Bill 1979) and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) to help combat sexual abuse and equip young girls and women with the necessary support and skills for their safety and well-being.

“We cannot overemphasize the significance of having the bill enacted. It is my strong belief, and that of the agency, that its enactment will be essential in addressing the lingering concern of early childbearing and motherhood among a great number of our juvenile Filipino girls,” said Bersales.

Teenage pregnancy remains one of the prevailing social issues in the Philippines. According to the PSA, one of the “high-risk” groups is defined by the 9.6% of registered births from mothers aged 15 to 19 years old per 1,000 cases prone to poor health conditions and lower educational attainment.