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WORLD POPULATION DAY

UN: Address teen pregnancy rate, empower young women for economic growth


The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said the Philippines must address the high fertility rate and ensure education and health for young women to achieve a long-term economic boost.

Klaus Beck, country representative of UNFPA, pointed out that adolescent girls, or those aged 10 to 19 years old, make up 10 percent of the Philippines' population of over 100 million.

These young women, the UNFPA said, may help push for the country's "demographic dividend," or having a large working population—an opportunity for an economic boost in the long run.

For this to happen, a country must ensure that its young working-age population is equipped to seize opportunities for jobs and other income possibilities.

Beck emphasized that this possibility could be cut short by a relatively high fertility rate, especially among the poorest, and the young.

He also pointed out high unemployment rate among the youth, who fail to finish their studies due to poverty.

"Among 15- to 19-year-old Filipino girls, four in 10 girls are already or are soon-to-be mothers," Beck pointed out. "This means they have to drop out of school... Your future can be derailed and you can never realize your full potential."

"When a girl is empowered to make her own decisions, she is likely to realize her dreams. Her community and country thrive and prosper, too," he added.

Monday marked the World Population Day, with this year's celebrations centered on empowering young girls.

Citing a study conducted by University of the Philippines School of Statistics dean Dennis Mapa, Beck noted that the Philippines must fully implement the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.

"With the right policies and investments in human capital, countries can empower young people to drive economic and social development and boost per-capita incomes," he said.

For her part, Vice President Leni Robredo called on young girls to take their studies seriously and excel in their endeavors.

In a speech delivered by her eldest daughter, Aika, Robredo noted that the window of demographic dividend—which can catapult the Philippines to become the 17th biggest economy in the world by 2050—"will not be open to us forever."

"Remember what our youth need to be, so that we can harvest this demographic dividend. You need to be educated well, get a good job, and marry at the right time," she said.

"Your individual choices become our national future. Your daily acts that show you are willing to work hard, study hard, act responsibly, strive hard to claim that awesome future—put all together—is the stuff that will make our country proud and strong," she added.

Robredo also noted that focus is needed for young girls' health.

"Aside from enriching the minds of our youth, we must also give attention to their health. It is alarming that our country’s unwanted and teenage pregnancies have been increasing in previous years," she said.

She added: "To address this issue, we must ensure that the proper knowledge is given to our adolescents. The recently passed RH Law give us includes reproductive health in each school’s curriculum." — BM, GMA News

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