Empowering Teen Moms DSWD's ProtecTEEN Initiative Addresses Rising Cases of Adolescent Pregnancies

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Empowering Teen Moms DSWD's ProtecTEEN Initiative Addresses Rising Cases of Adolescent Pregnancies

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has taken a proactive approach to address the growing incidence of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines. The ProtecTEEN initiative, which stands for Psychosocial Support and Other Interventions for Adolescent Mothers and their Families Project, aims to provide much-needed support to young mothers and their families.

According to recent data, there were 142,276 adolescent mothers who gave birth in the Philippines in 2023, with a significant increase in the number of very young adolescent mothers under the age of 15. In fact, the number of under-15-year-olds who gave birth has risen from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 pregnancies in 2023.

In response to these statistics, the DSWD launched the ProtecTEEN pilot program in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and Antipolo City from 2022 to 2023. This initiative focuses on providing psychosocial support to adolescent mothers and their families, as well as addressing the complex challenges they face.

The ProtecTEEN program has been expanded nationwide, with services now available in select cities and municipalities across all regions. To date, over 870 adolescent mothers have received support through this initiative.

So, what does the ProtecTEEN program entail? According to Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the main goal of ProtecTEEN is to protect and promote the rights and well-being of adolescent mothers, their spouses or partners, and their families, as well as to further empower them in their civic efficiency as part of nation-building and development.

To achieve this goal, the ProtecTEEN program offers a range of services, including counseling, job training, education support, and other forms of psychosocial assistance. These services are designed to help young mothers and their families overcome the challenges they face and build a brighter future for themselves.

The DSWD is committed to addressing the root causes of adolescent pregnancies and providing support to those affected by this issue. As Assistant Secretary Dumlao noted, The implementation of measures to address the underlying factors of the growing incidence of adolescent pregnancies is a national priority.

With ProtecTEEN, the DSWD is taking a proactive approach to empowering young mothers and their families. This initiative is an important step towards building a brighter future for all Filipinos.

Keywords Adolescent Pregnancies, ProtecTEEN, DSWD, Psychosocial Support, Nation-Building, Development

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.