Many of the girls rescued from sex-trafficking organizations are taken to womens shelters similar to this one in Tacloban City. Many teen-age girls rescued from sex-trafficking groups fall victim to unplanned pregnancies. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) reported that older adult men are responsible for most pregnancies involving underage girls, prompting renewed calls for stronger public awareness and child protection efforts.
CWC Executive Director Angelo Tapales emphasized the need to intensify education campaigns on adolescent pregnancy, citing the continued prevalence of adult men impregnating minors.
“Majority ng nakakabuntis sa ating adolescent mothers, ay matatandang lalaki, mas matatanda kesa sa kanila. Ito ay mga adults na. So we have to take into consideration the child protection complexion,” Tapales said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
He added that government initiatives are addressing both socioeconomic and protection concerns. “Ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan dyan, of course, we are addressing the poverty aspect, but we are also creating awareness to protect children,” he said.
Under the amended Anti-Rape Law, any sexual activity between an adult and a person under 16 is classified as rape. Tapales noted that the council’s cohabitation database has helped strengthen enforcement of child protection measures.
Data from the CWC show a decline in overall adolescent pregnancies since 2022. Recorded cases dropped to 142,000 in 2023 from 150,000 the previous year. However, pregnancies among girls below 15 years old saw a slight increase.
“Batay sa datos na nakukuha natin, ang adolescent pregnancy o panganganak ng adolescent mothers, bumaba po ‘yan. Pababa po siya. In 2023, nasa 142,000 mula sa 150,000 noong 2022. So medyo pababa siya. Pero tumaas po ng konti naman yung panganganak ng mga below 15… naging 3,343 mula sa 3,135,” Tapales said.
The CWC also raised concern over rising unwanted pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14.
The agency is marking Girl Child Week, observed every fourth week of March, to promote the protection of girls and ensure their access to education and health services. As part of the observance, the council is conducting community outreach activities in areas such as Marillac Hills, where children face high risks of abuse and health issues.