MANILA, Philippines — Senator Win Gatchalian is calling for involvement of parents and local government units (LGUs) in addressing the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections across the country.

Gatchalian said there is a need for the full implementation of the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program Act (Republic Act No. 11908)—a law he authored and co-sponsored—to equip parents with the knowledge and skills to guide their children and prevent risky behaviors.

“We have to also focus on getting the parents more involved, not just by meeting them regularly but by really mobilizing them,” he said in a statement Sunday.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that while teenage pregnancies among those aged 15 to 19 have declined, cases among very young adolescents aged 10 to 14 have more than doubled—from 1,629 in 2013 to 3,342 in 2023. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that newly diagnosed HIV cases averaged 1,470 per month in the first half of 2023, with young people aged 15-24 accounting for 29% (34,415 cases) of total infections.

Gatchalian emphasized that LGUs and school-based Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) must work with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Education to distribute modules and materials under the PES program.

“I really believe that mobilizing the parents is another way of curbing teenage pregnancies. When we mobilize the parents, we make them aware of these issues, and empower them by educating them on how to talk to their kids,” he said.

The PES Program Act mandates the nationwide implementation of parenting programs in every city and municipality to promote children’s rights, enhance early childhood development, and strengthen parental guidance. 

The DSWD serves as the lead agency in ensuring the law’s proper execution.