ILOILO City – Despite the rise in teenage pregnancies and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Western Visayas, the region has far surpassed its target for adolescent health outreach, with more than 147,000 youths receiving vital interventions on reproductive health and development in 2024.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) reported that 147,898 adolescents across Western Visayas participated in the Advance Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) program this year — nearly five times its original target of 30,000.
“This outcome reflects the community’s strong commitment to promoting adolescent health and development,” said CPD Region 6 director Harold Alfred Marshall.
The AHD program aims to equip teens with knowledge and life skills to avoid early pregnancies by focusing on reproductive health education and youth empowerment. Marshall emphasized the collective effort behind the milestone.
“The 2024 accomplishments indicate the collaborative efforts of the Local Government Units (LGUs), partner agencies, Civil Society Organizations, academe, and other development partners. Of course, it was not a walk in the park. LGUs faced obstacles and challenges, but they continued to be resilient and eager to serve for the benefit of their constituents,” he said.
“May we always strive to enable institutions towards people-centered development and empower Filipino families, communities, and institutions in Western Visayas,” he added.
High outreach, low fertility, high risks
Despite the success in outreach, CPD-6 warned of a growing paradox: while the region’s total fertility rate has dropped to 1.57 children per woman — well below the population replacement level of 2.1 — adolescent pregnancies and HIV infections continue to surge.
CPD-6 noted 7,774 live births in 2023 among girls aged 10 to 19. Disturbingly, this included the childbirth of an 11-year-old in Iloilo province and a reported fatal delivery by a nine-year-old — an incident not even captured in official statistics.
“We have the numbers — rising adolescent births, falling fertility rates — but behind each statistic is a young person whose choices are constrained,” Marshall said.
The agency also flagged the growing number of HIV/AIDS cases as a looming threat to the health and future of young people.
Breakdown of accomplishments
Out of the total reached, 99,566 adolescents came from provinces and highly urbanized cities:
* Capiz – 26,080 (26%)
* Negros Occidental – 25,273 (26%)
* Iloilo – 15,316 (15%)
* Antique – 14,173 (14%)
* Iloilo City – 8,761 (9%)
* Aklan – 6,264
* Bacolod City – 2,796
* Guimaras – 903
Meanwhile, 48,332 adolescents were reached in component cities, with Talisay City leading the effort:
* Talisay City – 13,246 (27%)
* Himamaylan City – 9,306 (19%)
* Victorias City – 6,322 (13%)
* Roxas City – 3,216 (7%)
* Sagay City – 3,157 (7%)
Others included:
* Kabankalan City – 2,889
* Cadiz City – 2,592
* San Carlos City – 2,438
* Bago City – 1,478
* Silay City – 1,110
* Escalante City – 851
* Sipalay City – 782
* Passi City – 726
* La Carlota City – 219
Thirteen of the 14 component cities exceeded their targets.
Tech innovation for youth health
In a bid to further strengthen adolescent education, CPD-6 launched AHlam Na! 3.0, a mobile app designed to provide accurate information and easier access to adolescent reproductive health services.
According to the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey (YAFSS), 39% of Filipino males and 44% of females aged 15-24 lack access to reliable sexual health information.
“Adolescents today are navigating a more complex world. As their challenges evolve, our strategies must evolve as well,” said Marshall. “We are not just unveiling a mobile app; we are opening a gateway to information, access, and empowerment.”/PN
