Manila: As the Philippines observes World Contraception Day, the Commission on Population Development (CPD) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women and adolescents in making informed reproductive health decisions. This year’s campaign, “Empowering Choices, One Decision at a Time,” emphasizes the need for accessible reproductive health services to ensure planned and wanted pregnancies.
According to Philippines News Agency, data from the 2022 State of World Population Report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) ranks the Philippines 56th in unintended pregnancies globally, with 71 per 1,000 women affected annually. The CPD also highlighted a troubling rise in adolescent pregnancies, particularly among minors aged 17 and below, with live births among girls aged 10-14 increasing from 2,319 in 2020 to 3,135 in 2022. The CPD noted that many of these cases indicate statutory rape. In response, CPD has partnered with organizations such as Bayer Philippines and the Forum for Family Planning and Development to break down barriers to reproductive health services and improve digital access to family planning resources.
The CPD stressed the importance of using social media to empower individuals by providing them with information and resources to make informed reproductive health decisions.