Teenage pregnancy remains one of the toughest social challenges in Iloilo, and in San Enrique, local leaders are taking a decisive step with the launch of Teen Center 2.0, a facility dedicated to empowering adolescents and steering them away from early and repeated pregnancies.
The Sentro Kalinga Teen Center 2.0, inaugurated on August 18 at Dominador Abang Memorial National High School, will directly serve more than 400 students from Barangay Garita and its feeder barangays Mapili and Cubay.
Unlike previous school-based multipurpose teen centers, this upgraded version is a stand-alone building worth P3.5 million, designed as a sanctuary for young people’s growth and development.
Lawyer Ruel Von Superio, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Population Office, underscored the urgency of the project by citing alarming data from the Commission on Population and Development.
Reports show that girls as young as 12 are already on their second pregnancy, while 15-year-olds are giving birth to their third child. In fact, one in six teen births is already a repeat pregnancy.
“These are not just statistics — they are real lives,” Superio said. “Teen Center 2.0 is our concrete response. It will provide reproductive health education, mental health awareness, peer counseling, life skills training, and even legal aid. We want to build a community where no child is forced into motherhood, and every young Filipino is empowered to take charge of their future.”
Mayor Gian Carlo Niño Fernandez acknowledged that teenage pregnancy is among the most pressing problems facing San Enrique.
He said the facility will give the youth a safe space where they can find guidance and support. “This teen center is a sanctuary for our young people, a place where they can learn, dream, and make better choices for their future,” he said.
Vice Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez stressed that the center will not only confront teenage pregnancy but also address interconnected issues such as violence against women and children, substance abuse, and underage drinking.
For Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., the project is a reflection of the provincial government’s commitment to the holistic development of Iloilo’s youth.
“This facility plays a big part in your life outside of the classroom. This is the extension of your home. This is for your psychosocial welfare,” he said during the inauguration ceremony.
The launch of Teen Center 2.0 was graced by provincial and municipal officials, educators, and youth leaders, all of whom expressed optimism that this initiative will help turn worrying statistics into stories of hope and empowerment for San Enrique’s next generation.IMT
Photos by Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo/Iloilo Provincial Government
