ILOILO City – To combat the rising costs and consequences of adolescent pregnancy, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 6, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, launched AHlam Na! 3.0, a mobile application aimed at bridging the persistent gap in adolescent reproductive health education and services.
The app launch comes amid alarming statistics: according to the United Nations Population Fund, the Philippines loses an estimated ₱33 billion annually due to adolescent pregnancies.
Meanwhile, the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey (YAFSS) revealed that 39% of young Filipino males aged 15-24 and 44% of females in the same age group lack access to reliable information on sexual and reproductive health.
“Adolescents today are navigating a more complex world. As their challenges evolve, our strategies must evolve as well,” said CPD-6 regional director Harold Alfred Marshall. “We are not just unveiling a mobile app; we are opening a gateway to information, access, and empowerment.”
AHlam Na! 3.0 is designed as a digital companion for young people, particularly those in underserved communities. It incorporates the Integrated Information and Service Delivery Network (ISDN), which connects users directly with trained health service providers for counseling and support. This is especially critical for youth who may face social or logistical barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
The app also aligns with the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA) 2023–2028, which prioritizes adolescent health and development. With the widespread use of mobile phones and social media among young Filipinos, CPD-6 believes leveraging digital platforms is key to engaging adolescents effectively.
“Most of our youth today scroll, swipe, and search on their phones. If that’s where they are, that’s where we must be,” Marshall added.
Funded by DOH Region 6, the app is part of a broader push to normalize access to reproductive health resources and counter the stigma often associated with the topic. It aims to serve both in-school and out-of-school youth by delivering accurate, age-appropriate information and linking them to essential services through a user-friendly, mobile-first platform.
CPD-6 is calling on government agencies, local government units, the academe, and responsible media to champion the initiative and ensure that access to health information and services becomes a standard – not a privilege – for Filipino adolescents./PN
