Mga kabataang nabubuntis, bakit tila mas bumabata? | Reporter’s Notebook
Ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority, bumaba ang porsyento ng teenage pregnancy sa Pilipinas. Gayunpaman, lumabas sa kanilang pag-aaral na pabata nang pabata ang mga kabataang nabubuntis ngayon. Ano-ano ang hakbang ng pamahalaan sa seryosong isyu ng teenage pregnancy sa ating bansa?
Transcript
00:00 [Music]
00:09 In the middle of a hot and noisy road in Viduna and Milla Road in Quezon City,
00:16 two young women can be seen.
00:19 One of them is walking through the garbage.
00:22 The other one is selling snacks.
00:26 I leave home at 8 or 9 and go home at 2 in the morning.
00:31 We wake up at 6 and go straight to Viluna to do our chores.
00:36 At a young age, they are facing a heavy responsibility
00:41 because both of them have children.
00:46 [Music]
00:56 At the age of 13,
00:59 Christine has an 8-month-old baby.
01:04 Her name is not her real name.
01:06 You don't know anything about sex education.
01:11 If a man and a woman are together, even at a young age,
01:16 if they are together, they can result in a fight.
01:21 I just stay away from them because my mom sometimes tells me
01:26 that she will avoid me because she might repeat the same things again
01:31 because of her friends.
01:32 But before she gives birth to her baby,
01:36 she was left by her ex-boyfriend.
01:38 That's why she needs to lay eggs to give birth to her baby.
01:42 In a grocery store, Christine is getting milk for her baby.
01:47 [Baby crying]
01:51 When we talked to Christine about her parents' situation,
01:55 it's obvious that she doesn't have a face to face her responsibility.
02:00 It's like I'm just dreaming.
02:04 When I wake up, I have a baby.
02:07 We can't give birth to him or give him to anyone
02:10 because we might be charged for giving birth to your baby
02:15 or for selling him.
02:17 You blame yourself for having a child.
02:21 [Music]
02:28 She earns Php 200 a day in a grocery store.
02:32 Sometimes, I leave home at 8 or 9 and I go home at 2 in the morning.
02:37 When you leave home and you go to the grocery store,
02:41 who takes care of you?
02:44 My mom.
02:45 When my two siblings sleep, and my daughter wakes up,
02:49 she takes care of me.
02:50 When we asked her what her dream is for her child,
02:54 I haven't decided yet because I'm not ready yet.
02:58 I haven't accepted it yet.
03:01 I was just a kid and I wasn't used to being a mother yet.
03:06 Her mother admitted that she didn't take good care of her child.
03:12 I didn't take good care of him because I was always here at home.
03:17 My child is one year old.
03:21 If I'm always with my children, I don't think that will happen
03:26 because I have to take care of him.
03:29 [Music]
03:34 Along the streets of Viluna,
03:36 everyday, you can see a 16-year-old girl named Maria.
03:41 Her real name is not Sophia.
03:43 She drives her sidecar that is used for carrying garbage.
03:48 She is with her one-year-old daughter named Sophia.
03:53 Her real name is not Sophia.
03:58 Maria is in grade 4 and 15 years old when her fiancé, who was 19 years old, got pregnant.
04:04 We were in the street and we were eating and then we got pregnant.
04:09 What was the reason of your life that you got into this situation?
04:13 I thought I would give birth at 7 in the morning.
04:17 I didn't think that I would really give birth.
04:20 I was the first baby.
04:22 That's right.
04:24 His wife, Ruel, is working as an extra as a construction worker.
04:28 Her real name is not Sophia.
04:30 The day we met Maria.
04:33 She was in the hospital.
04:34 She chatted with me and asked me where I was from.
04:37 I said I was from Ia.
04:38 I was surprised that her parents were also here.
04:41 Because she can't leave her child, she is forced to bring her baby with her to the prayer meeting.
04:48 There are four of us.
04:49 There should be four women.
04:50 We already have five children.
04:51 There are six, seven, eight, and nine.
04:55 They are daily struggling in the dangerous streets.
05:02 When Maria was able to find a trash can, she started to walk.
05:10 She was looking for a can, plastic, carton, and other kinds of trash that can be sold.
05:16 I was also tired.
05:18 I was thinking that my child will get sick if it's hot and rainy.
05:23 I will also accompany her to walk.
05:25 We don't have anyone to watch over us.
05:28 After six hours of walking, she brought the trash to the junk shop.
05:35 How much is the trash can?
05:40 Five kilos.
05:43 Here it is.
05:45 Wait a minute.
05:47 What was the effect on your life when you had a child at a young age?
05:53 It was really hard.
05:55 Sometimes, I have to eat.
05:57 According to the National Economic Development Authority,
06:01 the effect of teenage pregnancy on the economy is also big.
06:03 The government is losing 42 billion pesos annually because of the early improvement of the youth.
06:12 Because of having a child, many teenage mothers are unable to finish their studies.
06:18 That's why they are also unable to find a decent job and income.
06:23 When it comes to teenage pregnancy, there are many factors.
06:27 Lack of proper and reliable, valid education about sexual reproductive health,
06:36 societal pressure, maybe from their friends.
06:39 If one of their friends is on a date, they might also date to be in their group.
06:46 Another is lack of supervision, parental guidance.
06:50 That's why some of them are in their homes, chaotic, and have many problems.
06:56 Her husband also arrived from work.
07:07 They are already on the streets to rest.
07:10 Because you are living outside, you are exposed to elements, heat, rain, and you are still young.
07:19 What was the effect on her?
07:21 Before, when we were on the streets, she was sick everyday.
07:24 For a few months, she was sick again.
07:27 Despite the hardships, there is still hope that she will have a good life.
07:35 As much as I can, she will continue to study, finish her studies, and find a job.
07:40 She will have a good family and raise her children well.
07:45 Based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA,
07:50 the number of teenage pregnant women is decreasing.
07:56 From 8.6% in 2017, it decreased to 5.4% in 2022.
08:04 But this is what the PSA is playing with.
08:06 The pregnant women are getting younger and younger.
08:09 That's the age range, 10 years old to 14 years old.
08:13 Teenage pregnancy is a national problem.
08:17 Number one, our comprehensive sex education.
08:19 This should be included in reproductive health, contraception, or relationships.
08:26 And the comprehensive sexual education should be age-appropriate and accurate.
08:31 Number two is access to reproductive health services.
08:34 That's what we need.
08:36 Access should be readily available, open communication and support.
08:40 This open communication and support should come from the trusted adult.
08:45 When a child becomes a mother, her life will change.
08:53 She can have many dreams.
08:58 So I hope they will be guided well not only by their parents but also by the government.
09:04 I am Jun Veneration and this is Reporters.gov.
09:09 [Music]
09:30 you