BACOLOD City – In partnership with the national government, the Bacolod City Government has ramped up efforts to address teenage pregnancy, repeat pregnancies, and youth mental health concerns through the implementation of the Information Service and Delivery Network (ISDN) program.
According to the City Population Office (CPO), the ISDN adopts a data-driven, multi-agency approach that enhances the delivery of services related to family planning, adolescent reproductive health, and population management.
Last week, the CPO, in coordination with the Commission on Population and Development – Negros Island Region (CPD-NIR) and other key stakeholders, held a consolidated meeting at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) to strengthen collaboration and review current data.
The latest data presented during the meeting showed that in 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded 256 live births to mothers aged 19 and below nationwide — a number officials say highlights the urgency of a proactive and sustained local response.
General Services Office head Gilda Lluisma, who concurrently serves as officer-in-charge of the CPO, explained that the ISDN system allows for the efficient tracking and monitoring of key indicators, such as teenage pregnancies — particularly among those aged 15 and below — as well as mental health concerns.
“This system serves as a pool of services that provides appropriate interventions for our adolescent clients,” Lluisma said, emphasizing the need for strong stakeholder commitment to ensure the program’s success.
A vital component of the ISDN program is the inter-agency collaboration involving the City Health Office (CHO), Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), Bacolod City Police Office – Women and Children Protection Desk (BCPO-WCPD), child care institutions, and various school organizations.
Lluisma said this centralized hub model enables efficient case management, personalized interventions, and real-time response to emerging trends affecting young people.
To widen its reach, the CPO and partner agencies are now exploring the expansion of the ISDN program to the barangay level, ensuring adolescents even in remote areas have access to reproductive health services and education.
“The city government believes that this multi-agency approach will result in a more comprehensive and coordinated response to the needs of adolescents and their families,” Lluisma added.
The initiative is part of Bacolod’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the well-being of its youth and promote responsible and informed decision-making among the city’s adolescent population./PN
