Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives are once again pushing for the passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill—a measure they say is urgently needed to protect young girls and give them a chance at a better future.
Negros Occidental Rep. Javi Benitez spoke with deep concern, saying that the government should not stand in the way of women making choices for their own bodies.
“I am pro-choice. Women deserve to know their rights—and that’s true empowerment,” he said.
On Wednesday, Party-list Reps. Renee Co of Kabataan and Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers formally filed House Bill No. 4115, which lays out clear provisions for access to reproductive health services, counseling, and family planning methods specifically designed for adolescents. The filing even coincided with the screening of an award-winning Filipino film that highlighted the struggles of teenage mothers.
What the Bill Proposes
The bill seeks to:
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Guarantee confidential, safe, and non-discriminatory reproductive health services for adolescents.
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Ensure that teens are not denied treatment, counseling, or information just because of their age.
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Allow adolescents ages 15 to 18 to access these services without parental consent.
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Extend services to minors below 15 years old who are pregnant, already mothers, victims of abuse, or engaged in risky behaviors—again, without needing parental approval.
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Provide a safeguard for cases when parents refuse or cannot be located, giving trained health professionals the authority to grant access instead.
A Problem Close to Home
Benitez shared the alarming reality in his own district of Victorias City.
“At one point, we recorded 189 teenage pregnancies. What’s even more heartbreaking is that some of these young mothers were only 8 to 14 years old,” he revealed, his voice heavy with emotion.
For him, the solution is not just about numbers and policies. It is about empathy.
“We have to look at this issue with both data and compassion. Religion should not be the sole factor in our decisions. Even Spain, which gave us Christianity, already has more progressive laws. We need a comprehensive, fully funded bill because this saves lives,” he said.
Protecting Childhood
Rep. Renee Co also emphasized that young girls deserve to live freely as children—not forced into early motherhood.
“Children should not be having children. This is not just a family issue—it is a social illness caused by widespread abuse of women. The government must act now,” she said.
Both lawmakers stressed that teen pregnancy is not just a statistic—it is a crisis that robs young girls of their childhood, their dreams, and sometimes even their lives.
