A multi-agency initiative is intensifying the fight against teenage pregnancy with a new data-driven system designed to track and address the issue more effectively.
The City Population Office (CPO) and the Commission on Population and Development – Negros Island Region (CPD-NIR), in collaboration with key stakeholders, are implementing the Information Service and Delivery Network(ISDN) program to address teenage pregnancies, repeat pregnancies and improve youth mental wellness.
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, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
The system allows the efficient tracking and monitoring of key indicators, including teenage pregnancies, particularly among those 15 years old and under, and mental health concerns.
“This system is like a pool of services that will provide appropriate services for our adolescent clients,” Gilda Lluisma, CPO Officer in Charge, said during a consolidation meeting on Friday, July 18, at the Bacolod City Government Center.
She called for sustained commitment among all stakeholders. “This will also help us in tracking and monitoring cases like mental health concerns and teenage pregnancies especially from age 15 years old and below.”
In 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority registered 256 live births to mothers aged 19 and under nationwide.
A crucial element of the program is the strong collaboration between 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 highlighted the importance of collaborative approach, emphasizing that the ISDN program acts as a centralized hub providing appropriate services to adolescent clients, facilitates efficient case management and allows for targeted interventions based on individual needs and identified trends.
To enhance accessibility, the City Population Office and partner agencies are exploring expansion of the ISDN program to the barangay level. This decentralization aims to ensure all adolescents, including those in remote areas, can access reproductive health education.
The administration of Mayor Greg Gasataya hopes this multi agency approach ensures a comprehensive and coordinated response to the needs of adolescents and their families, the BCCO said.*