BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is urging the City Population Office (CPO) and the City Health Office (CHO) to craft and implement aggressive, data-driven population control programs and strategies.
Councilor Caesar Distrito said his authored resolution which aims to address rising population concerns and the alarming rates of teenage and unplanned pregnancies was approved by the SP recently.
The resolution, according to Distrito, underscores the growing strain on public resources due to continued population growth.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s population reached over 112 million as of July 2024 — an increase of nearly 3.7 million since 2020.
The councilor said the resolution emphasizes that even modest population growth imposes increasing demands on public health, education, infrastructure, and social welfare systems.
Teenage pregnancies and unplanned parenthood particularly affect low-income families, leading to higher school dropout rates, adverse maternal and child health outcomes, and a continued cycle of poverty, according to the resolution.
“We must act now. Curbing teenage and unplanned pregnancies is not just a health issue — it is an economic and social imperative,” Distrito said.
He added that by investing in reproductive health education and responsible parenthood, we can empower our communities and better safeguard government’s limited resources.
The SP further calls on relevant city offices to design and roll out comprehensive and sustained programs targeting adolescent health education, community outreach, and reproductive health services. It also urges a multi-sectoral approach anchored on data, compassion, and urgency.
The council hopes that this initiative will lead to more resilient families, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future for the city.
Prior to the passage of the resolution, the city government has already implemented the Information Service and Delivery Network (ISDN) program initiated by the CPO.
The program, in collaboration with the national government, aims to curb teenage pregnancy in this locality, as well as repeat pregnancies and improve youth mental wellness.
General Services Office head Gilda Lluisma, concurrent CPO officer-in-charge, said the ISDN program utilizes a data-driven approach to streamline and enhance service delivery and advocacy related to family planning, adolescent reproductive health, and population management.
The system allows the efficient tracking and monitoring of key indicators, including teenage pregnancies (particularly among those 15 and under) and mental health concerns.
“This system is like a pool of services that will provide appropriate services for our adolescent clients,” Lluisma added./PN
