BAGUIO CITY – The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for prevention programs to address the increasing adolescent pregnancy in the city and providing funds for the said purpose.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr., it shall be the policy of the local government to recognize, promote and strengthen the role of adolescents and young people in the overall human and socio-economic development of the city; pursue sustainable and genuine human development that values human dignity; promote and protect the human rights of all individuals; pursue and adolescent pregnancy reduction strategy; provide full and comprehensive information to adolescents to help them prevent early and unintended pregnancies; provide safe, quality and respectful maternal health care; ensure corresponding interventions; encourage and enable adolescent mothers and fathers to continue and finish their education and recognize and promote the rights, duties and responsibilities of parents, health professionals and other persons legally responsible for the growth of adolescents.
The Ordinance also seeks to establish the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Council to be chaired by the City Mayor with the City Vice Mayor serving as vice chairperson. The members of the council are the Chairperson of the City Council Committee on Health, Chairperson of the Council Committee on Social Services, Women and Urban Poor; Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president; Liga ng mga Barangay president; City Health Services Officer; Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center chief; City Social Welfare and Development Officer; City Legal Officer; City Planning and Development Officer; Baguio City Women’s Protection Center head; Public Employment Services Officer, Public Information Officer; Baguio City Police Office head; City Schools Division head; DILG field office head; six representatives from different civil society groups working for the welfare of identified key populations while the local youth development office will serve as the secretariat.
It added that the council, in collaboration with other relevant government agencies and local civil society organizations, shall develop an evidence-based local program of action and investment plan which shall serve as the local framework for inter-agency and inter-sectoral collaboration at all levels to address the various health, cultural, socio-economic and institutional deter of teenage pregnancy.
According to the proposal, the council, through the City Schools Division and the Public Information Office, and in collaboration with relevant government agencies and civil society organizations shall develop and promote localized messaging and educational information that promotes adolescent reproductive health in schools, communities and other youth institutions. The council shall ensure that the messaging produced are included in local materials and that they are culturally sensitive, age and developed appropriately.
The city shall continue to provide family planning information, counselling and services and that it shall ensure that all minors shall be given access to family planning methods information and services with the consent of their parents or guardians and after counselling.
The ordinance mandates the allocation of an initial fund of PhP2 million for the implementation of the proposed measure, succeeding appropriations shall be included in the annual budget of the local government by Dexter A. See
