Officials of the Commission on Population report that 210,240 babies are born to teenage mothers in this country annually, or an average of 576 babies every day. Español said the majority of teenage pregnancies occur among the poor, and the babies tend to suffer from health problems and underdevelopment. Such young mothers have no nannies to take care of the baby while they are in school. With their formal education disrupted and earning capacity consequently impaired, often for life, teenage pregnancies can perpetuate the cycle of poverty. In launching a campaign to prevent teenage pregnancies, PopCom is not focusing on the value of virginity before marriage.

Source: Philippine Star November 12, 2019 16:04 UTC