PIA’s Panagtigum highlights inter-agency cooperation to address teenage pregnancy
By : NiΓ±a Jonalyn G. Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga’s ‘Panagtigum sa Barangay’ dubbed ‘Parent-Teen Talk,’ held in Brgy. Lingayao, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte on April 2, identified the teenage pregnancy as a community concern needing utmost attention.
The Panagtigum, which meant gathering in local dialect, focused on the said topic as the most pressing issue of the community that is affecting the youth and requires intervention of the family, school, barangay and other sectors of society.
According to Punong Barangay Noli Jay B. Dapat, “The barangay received an average of five reported teenage pregnancy every year and we are strongly working with partners and stakeholders that for 2025 there will be no more teenage pregnancy in our barangay.”
“In 2022, 13 cases of teenage pregnancy were recorded with six individuals at age 19. In 2023, there were nine and as of last year, eight were also confirmed with one case of a 15-year old teenage mother as the youngest,” Dapat added.
The efforts of the barangay council and the schools in the town through the student leaders’ organization conducted consistent youth engagement and advocacy campaign activities against teenage pregnancy were given credit.
Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Caraga Director Alexander A. Makinano, as the resource speaker, shared to the audience of almost 300 Grade 6 to 12 students, teachers and barangay officials, the creation of Memorandum Circular No. 40, series of 2023 otherwise known as the ‘Approving and Adopting the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action 2023-2028.’
“Nagpasalamat kami nga ang kasamtangag administrasyon ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. nipagawas gayud ug MC No. 40 nga nagmando sa tanang ahensya sa atong nasudnong kagamhanan apil ang PIA nga mumugna ug mga lakang aron sa pagtabang sa pagpatuman sa Philippine Population Development Plan of Action (PPD POA) sulod niini ang Advanced Adolescent Health and Development,” said Dir. Makinano.
(We are grateful to the current administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for approving MC No. 40 that orders all national government agencies which includes the PIA to formulate strategies on the implementation of the Philippine Population Development Plan of Action (PPD POA) and also the Advanced Adolescent Health and Development.)
He likewise acknowledged how inter-agency initiatives such as the Panagtigum sa Barangay, the brainchild of PIA Caraga in partnership with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), and the Radyo Pilipinas, has become a platform in providing timely, accurate, and relevant information to the public which will also serve as a guide for the youth in making more responsible decisions for their future.
The Panagtigum filled in the communication gap between parents and their children surrounding the sensitive issues on sexuality including premarital sex, safe sex and contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Government assistance for teenage mothers
In the open chair discussion, Jourine Dula, a teenage mother who became pregnant at the age of 17 shared her insights on how challenging it was to be pregnant at such a young age.
“Grabe ka lisod ang magbuntis samtang nag-eskwela kay kailangan nimo e-balanse ang pag eskwela samtang gi handle usab ang sintomas sa pagbuntis,” Dula said.
(It is so difficult to be pregnant while studying since you have to balance your role as a student while handling all the pregnancy symptoms.)
During the discussion, she was asked if she was able to receive benefits and services from the government while she was pregnant and after she gave birth.
“Nakadawat ko gikan sa RHU (Regional Health Unit) ug mga hinabang sama sa mga groceries ug mga vitamins samtang ako gabuntis (I received goods from the RHU such as groceries and vitamins while I was pregnant),” she added.
Another resident of Brgy. Lingayao, Jane Olayan, a parent to a teenage mother was also invited on stage to share her experiences on the issue. During the open forum of the program, she relayed her query to the resource speaker on what kinds of government assistance are available to teenage mothers like her daughter.
Makinano responded by introducing the program of the CPD which is the Social Protection Program for Adolescent Mothers and their Children (SPPAMC).
SPPAMC aims to support adolescent mothers, especially minors, and their children through continuing education, skills development, employment, and other assistance, ultimately safeguarding a better quality of life and reducing poverty.
“Ang gihimo nato sa atong ahensya, by region ug by province and atong pilot implementation. Ug ang cascading niini muabot ngadto sa mga kabaranggayan (The pilot implementation of our agency is currently being done by region and by province. This will also be cascaded down to our barangays),” Makinano said.
“Sa pagkakaron, ubos sa Garcia-Mandanas ruling, ang mga LGUs aduna nay 60 porsyento sa nahipos na pondo sa BIR ug Bureau of Customs. Kanhi 40 porsyento lamang, apan karon 60 porsyento na. Kalakip niining pagdako sa budget sa LGUs mao pud ang pagdako sa ilang responsibilidad ug pagpatuman sa ilang basic services. Apil na ani ang services for the welfare of adolescents and their children ug teenage parents,” he added.
(As of now, under the Garcia-Mandanas ruling, LGUs now receive 60 percent of the tax collections from BIR and Bureau of Customs. Before it was 40 percent but now it has increased to 60 percent. With the increment in the budget given to LGUs we will also expect from them a higher sense of responsibility and better provision of basic services. This also includes the services for the welfare of adolescents and their children, and teenage parents.)
Also, the director highlighted to the audience especially the youth not to misinterpret the messaging of the government in its advocacy against teenage pregnancy. According to him, the programs and assistance given to teenage parents do not mean that the government tolerates teenage pregnancy. Rather, the government aims to somehow unburden the consequences of teenage pregnancy through government intervention.
Meanwhile, the Las Nieves Municipal Health Office conducted a short discussion on adolescence to the audience, while CPD Caraga distributed information, education and communication (IEC) materials during the duration of the activity.
The Panagtigum is a quarterly and regional initiative of PIA Caraga to strengthen information literacy of the programs and projects of the government at the grassroots communities. Through this inclusive program, PIA Caraga fulfills its mandate as the development communication arm of the government as it brings accurate, timely and relevant information nearer to the communities. (NJGD, PIA Caraga)
