LINGAYEN–The province registered an alarming rate of increasing teen pregnancy, owning 60 percent of the statistics in the whole of Region 1, which also includes La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

This was disclosed by Provincial Population Cooperative and Livelihood Development Officer Ellsworth Gonzales who said that in their latest survey, there were 40,000 females from 15 to 19 years old in the province that became young mothers.

What is more alarming is the fact that there were even children aged from 10 to 14 years who gave birth, Gonzales told the “Talakayan sa Kapitolyo” at Urduja House.

This is the reason why his office has intensified its information and education program targeting high school students, specifically 10 to 24 years old, so they can have scientific information in order to avoid pregnancy at a young age, considered a social menace that pose serious problems to their families and communities.

Public symposiums and forums inside and outside schools are being organized with the help of municipal and city population offices, barangay officials and non-government organizations.

The PPCDLO is also reaching out to parents to guide the young minds.

Gonzales said Pangasinan already registered a population growth rate of 1.08 percent as of the 2015 national census compared to a high of 1.44 percent five years ago.

He said at 1.08 percent, the population growth rate in Pangasinan is lower than the national growth rate. because of the successful implementation of the province’s population and livelihood programs. (Leonardo Micua)       

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