Young mommas

27 live births in 2024

By mothers under 15

In 2024, of the 16,661 registered live births in Bohol counted by usual residence of the mother, there were 27 births with mothers under 15 years old, and 1,463 by mothers who were at tier teen-age years.

The data, from the Philippine Statistics Authority also bared that 4,623 births are from mothers who were aged 25 to 29, which is considered the peak child-birthing years, based on the Registered Live births in the Philippines released last January 22, 2026.

Childbirths below 15 years old mean that pregnancies and births as well as teen-age births, which are generally called adolescent pregnancy have again shown what most would not openly admit: there is a problem right in front of us.

Just as Republic Act No. 11648 raised the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years old and that sexual activity with a child under 16 is now generally considered statutory rape, the figures are just too inconvenient, which also breeds yet another question: how many of these cases are indicative of sexual abuse and exploitation?

Under the same law passed in 2022, it provides a "close-in-age" exemption for statutory rape, to protect adolescents from criminal liability if the sexual act is consensual, non-abusive, and non-exploitative, and the partners are within 3 years in age.

This means that if a minor is 13–15 years old, sexual activity with someone less than 3 years older may not be considered statutory rape, and teenagers who are close in age and are experimenting on their sexual proclivities are not automatically treated as criminals.

As a general rule, any sexual activity with a person under 16 years old is statutory rape, regardless of consent.

When tried and crime is established, the offender can be meted with life imprisonment which can go from 20–40 years, and if circumstances warrant, incur additional fines of P 100,000 to P 500,000.

If proven that circumstances that aggravate the situation is present like force, threats, abuse of authority, relation to the victim like incest or a person of authority, the penalty can even be harsher.

A growing number of these cases showing is concerning and society has to look into this, fast.

Why? Because adolescent pregnancies pose higher risk of maternal death, likelihood of obstructed labor, elevated risks of premature birth, increased school dropout rates and psychological trauma.

In fact, the World Health Organization considers adolescent pregnancy a major global public health issue.

Moving on, of those live births recorded in 2024, it showed that male births were higher at 51.9 percent as against females which were only 48.1 percent.

There were 8,646 males and 8,015 of these live births, the PSA data showed.

During that same year, the month of December recorded the highest number of registered live births counting on the usual residence of the mother at 1,578 while June registered the lowest number of live births at 1,176.

Across the months, higher number of registered births occurred between September (1,501), October (1,573), November (1,566) and December at 1,578), according to the PSA data.

Throughout the year, the average monthly live births is 1,388.

The government however scored points in the registered births by delivery sites.

While in the past, mortality at birth used to be high with deliveries allowed in homes, the Department of Health has pushed for Facility-Based Delivery Policy, which local government units also complemented with “No Home Birthing” initiatives, by upgrading birthing centers and rural health units and deployment of skilled birth attendants.

The PSA data also showed that 98.94 percent of these births or some 16,371 occurred in a health facility and some 99.43 percent or 16,452 registered births were attended by health professionals.

By registered births by delivery site, only 0.95 percent or some 158 of them happened in homes and 18 births or 0.11 percent births happening elsewhere. (PIABohol)

TOO YOUNG TO BE MOM. With Bohol PSA showing data of an alarming 27 live births from young mother 15 years and under, calls for multi-sectoral action resounds as the situation could also be hiding a picture of sexual abuse and exploitation, and an even more grotesque image of wasted lives. (PIABohol)