In a recent meeting of the Provincial Population Coordinating Committee, Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito of Nueva Vizcaya emphasized the importance of tackling one problem at a time to effectively find solutions. He highlighted the pressing issues of teenage pregnancy and population management in the province, calling for immediate action to address these concerns.
According to information from Regional Director , Ms. Theresa C. Soriano of the Commission on Population and Development, Nueva Vizcaya has been ranked number one in the entire region in terms of adolescent pregnancy for the year 2023, the province recorded 880 teenage pregnancy cases and a teenage pregnancy rate (TPR) of 1.88.
Among the 15 municipalities of Nueva Vizcaya, Diadi in 2023 reported 46 teenage pregnancy cases with a Teenage Pregnancy Rate (TPR) of 2.55, while Dupax del Sur had the lowest number of cases with 19 and a TPR of 0.91.
Governor Gambito introduced a groundbreaking strategy to combat teenage pregnancy by leveraging social media and other youth-friendly platforms. Rather than conventional lectures or workshops, he suggested organizing a competition among secondary schools in the province. The winning entry would serve as material to be uploaded on social media for a comprehensive campaign against teenage pregnancy, using short video presentations or films to vividly portray the realities and adverse consequences of early pregnancy.
Governor Gambito stressed the critical importance of aligning with the interests of the youth to effectively capture their attention and foster their cooperation. He emphasized that traditional and outdated approaches may fail to engage the younger generation, highlighting the necessity for innovative and dynamic strategies to address pressing issues such as teenage pregnancy. “The key is to adopt what interests the youth to capture their attention and cooperation. We cannot expect to engage them if our programs are outdated and boring,” Governor Gambito stated.
In a show of commitment to this cause, the governor announced that he is willing to provide funds to support this innovative approach.
Ms. Elvira G. Tongson, the Provincial Population Officer, expressed gratitude to the governor for his all-out support to their programs, stating, “We are grateful for Governor Gambito’s unwavering support to our initiatives. His commitment to addressing teenage pregnancy and population management is truly commendable.” /RMI
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Vizcaya Reporter. For PLGU-Nueva Vizcaya updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]
