Teen Pregnancies in the Philippines Mostly Fathered by Adult Men, Warns CWC

Adult men are responsible for most pregnancies among underage girls in the Philippines, according to the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), raising urgent concerns about child protection and the safety of minors.

The statement reframes how adolescent pregnancy is understood. While poverty remains a major driver, officials stress that many cases involve abuse and exploitation, not just early relationships between peers.

CWC executive director Angelo Tapales said public awareness efforts must go deeper, especially in addressing the role of older men in pregnancies involving minors.

“Majority ng nakakabuntis sa ating adolescent mothers, ay matatandang lalaki, mas matatanda kesa sa kanila. Ito ay adults na. So we have to take into consideration the child protection complexion,” Tapales told Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

This shifts the issue from being purely economic to one that also involves protecting children from harm. It also calls for stronger vigilance from families, communities, and authorities.

“Ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan diyan, of course, we are addressing the poverty aspect, but we are also creating awareness to protect children,” Tapales added.

“For ages 15 to 19, births continue to decline. The number recorded by PSA among mothers in this age group decreased again. But for those under 15, it increased,” Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Undersecretary Lisa Bersales told GMA News.

“Batay sa datos na nakukuha natin, ang adolescent pregnancy o panganganak ng adolescent mothers, bumaba po ‘yan. Pababa po siya. In 2023, nasa 142,000 mula sa 150,000 noong 2022. So medyo pababa siya. Pero tumaas po ng konti naman ‘yung panganganak ng mga below 15… naging 3,343 mula sa 3,135,” Tapales said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that in 2024, there were 138,697 live births to mothers aged 10 to 19. Of this number, 3,612 births were to girls below 15, reflecting a continued rise in pregnancies among this younger group.

The CPD has described this shift as a move from “teenage pregnancies” to “child pregnancies,” emphasizing the growing vulnerability of girls under 15.

Republic Act 11648 raised the age of sexual consent in the Philippines from 12 to 16. Under this law, any sexual activity with a person below 16 is considered rape, except in cases where the age gap is small and the relationship is proven to be consensual, non-abusive, and non-exploitative.

“Under sa amendment doon sa rape law natin, kapag nakipagtalik ka sa below 16, since ayan ang age of consent, that’s practically rape po or qualified rape ng bata,” Tapales said.

The CWC continues to strengthen monitoring systems, including its cohabitation database, to help identify cases that may require intervention and protection.

Experts point to several factors driving adolescent pregnancy, including poverty, limited educational opportunities, and earlier exposure to sexual content through social media. At the same time, there is a growing concern that many parents still assume younger children are not at risk of sexual activity or exploitation.

This gap in awareness can delay conversations that children need early. Guidance on body safety, consent, and healthy relationships becomes more important as children gain access to digital platforms at younger ages.

Open communication at home plays a key role. Children who feel safe talking to their parents are more likely to report uncomfortable situations or seek help when needed.

Here are some gentle reminders when talking to your young child about sex.