KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — As the province continues to confront concerns over teenage pregnancy, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato is placing greater emphasis on one of the most important forces in an adolescent’s family.
Through the Office of the Provincial Population Officer (OPPO), the province is intensifying its Parent Education on Adolescent Health and Development (PEAHD) Seminar, bringing information and guidance directly to parents and communities to help them better understand, communicate with, and protect their adolescent children.
Provincial Population Officer Melanie Chiva has emphasized that the issue requires sustained action from government, communities, and families—not from a single office alone.
“This is not only a challenge for our office. It is also a challenge for different government agencies.” — Melanie Chiva, Provincial Population Officer
The move comes as South Cotabato continues to face concerning cases of early and repeated pregnancies among adolescents.
For OPPO, however, government intervention must be matched by stronger support at home.
PEAHD is designed to help parents understand the physical, emotional, social, and developmental changes that come with adolescence. It also encourages families to create an environment where children can ask questions, discuss concerns, and seek guidance on issues that may be difficult for them to raise on their own.
Chiva emphasized that the foundation for a child’s values and behavior begins within the family.
“The inculcation of values and discipline among our children begins at home.” — Melanie Chiva, Provincial Population Officer
The province is putting this family-centered approach into practice through community-based PEAHD activities, including the recent seminar conducted in Brgy. Sajaneba, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato.
Rather than limiting advocacy to government offices, OPPO continues to strengthen its grassroots approach by bringing discussions and information closer to the communities where families live. The office is also using social media and other advocacy platforms to expand its reach for parents and young people.
The effort is especially timely this August as South Cotabato joins the observance of National Family Planning Month with the theme:
“Ang S.M.A.R.T. na Pamilya, Panalo! Usap Tayo sa Family Planning.”
The campaign defines a SMART family as one that is:
S – Sama-samang Nagpaplano
M – May Tamang Kaalaman
A – Aktibong Nakikibahagi sa Pagpapasya para sa Kalusugan
R – Responsableng Pagpapamilya
T – Tiyak na may Maginhawang Kinabukasan
Its message—“Magplano. Mag-usap. Magpasya.”—underscores the importance of families making informed decisions together, particularly on matters affecting health, relationships, and family life.
For South Cotabato, the family planning campaign complements the province’s adolescent health efforts. By helping parents become more informed and encouraging families to communicate openly, the government strengthens an important layer of protection for young people.
Chiva has identified several factors associated with teenage pregnancy, including gaps in sexuality and reproductive health education, social media exposure, early relationships, traditional practices involving early unions, and cases of sexual abuse.
These realities show why parents cannot be left out of conversations about adolescent health.
A child may encounter information, pressure, and influences from peers and social media, but a supportive family can provide the guidance needed to help that child understand choices, recognize risks, and seek help when necessary.
This is the role that PEAHD seeks to strengthen.
By equipping parents with relevant knowledge and encouraging open communication, the provincial government is helping families become more responsive to the changing needs of adolescents.
The initiative also reflects the province’s broader commitment to bringing tama kag maayo nga serbisyo closer to communities—services that do not simply respond to problems after they arise but help families become better prepared to prevent them.
Ultimately, preventing teenage pregnancy is not only about educating adolescents. It is also about empowering the adults who guide them every day.
For South Cotabato, building a healthier future begins with families that plan together, talk openly, make informed decisions, and prepare together for tomorrow.
