Teenage Pregnancy Data Fact Sheet

Education Assistant Secretary Dexter A. Gablan highlighted that teenagers who have been pregnant are more likely to become
pregnant again as teenagers, making them less likely to join the labor force.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, live births among those aged 10 to 14 increased by 11% between 2016 and
2021, with 2,299 births recorded in 2021, higher than the previous year.

A 2022 survey by the local statistics agency revealed that teenage pregnancies fell to 5.4% in 2022 from 8.6% in 2017.

The survey also indicated that among teens aged 15 to 19 years who have been pregnant as of 2022, the highest percentage
was recorded among those aged 19 years at 13.3%, followed by women aged 18 years at 5.9% and women aged 17 years at
5.6%.

Concerns were raised about the accuracy of the data due to the impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on reporting and
detection. Former Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire emphasized the need to verify the data and examine the
potential impact of the pandemic on the reporting of teenage pregnancies in recent years.

In 2021, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued an executive order to prioritize the fight against teenage pregnancy,
directing government agencies to identify and implement interventions to address adolescent pregnancies. These interventions
include sex education, employment opportunities for young people, and health promotion through media.

The Department of Education has been enforcing sex education in public schools, requiring the upskilling of teachers and
tailoring the program to be appropriate for various regions. The agency is also considering hiring more guidance counselors and
health workers to improve young mothers' access to health services in schools.

The Department of Health, along with partner agencies such as the UN and WHO, aims to expand a pilot program in Eastern
Visayas to other parts of the country to address teenage pregnancies.

The government is committed to supporting young parents in completing their basic education through alternative modes of
learning, with Education Assistant Secretary Dexter A. Gablan emphasizing that completing basic education will enable young
parents to regain confidence.

Confidential Funds Fact Sheet

Vice President Sara Duterte's use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) in the Philippines has raised concerns about
transparency, legality, and accountability within the government.

In 2022, opposition lawmakers questioned the manner in which Vice President Duterte accessed these funds, some of which
were allocated without necessary congressional authorization by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The allocation and expenditure of these funds, typically associated with security forces and intelligence operations, have
become a subject of public concern, particularly regarding their careful monitoring and prevention of misuse.

Records showed that Duterte accessed these funds through a transfer initiated by Marcos’ office, leading to concerns about
irregular use and the need for greater scrutiny and oversight in fund allocation.

Several officials and spokespersons, including former Vice President Leni Robredo's office and former Senate President Drilon,
raised concerns about possible legal violations and budget rule violations related to the use of confidential funds.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed the release of a total of P221.4 million to President Duterte's office in 2022, with
P125 million designated as confidential funds, approved under the 2022 Contingent Fund.

The burden of proof regarding the use of the P125-million confidential fund in 2022 is now on Vice President Sara Duterte, as
questions persist about its authorization and inclusion in the 2022 General Appropriations.
Eradicating Poverty in the Philippines Fact Sheet

The Philippine government aimed to reduce poverty from 33 percent in 1991 to 16 percent, yet nearly a
quarter of the 105 million Filipinos still live in poverty, with rural poor relying on subsistence farming and
fishing.

Natural disasters, large family sizes, lack of jobs, poor education, and limited resources contribute to the
widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, perpetuating a cycle of indebtedness and poverty
within the population.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges for the poor, including limited access to quality
healthcare, vaccinations, and high treatment costs, further pushing them into poverty and debt, while
inadequate housing remains a significant challenge.

Consequences of poverty in the Philippines include unaffordable housing, inadequate diets leading to
malnutrition, child labor, and increased crime rates as people struggle to provide for their families.

The government has employed various measures to reduce poverty, including cash grants, improved
educational opportunities, family planning initiatives, and enhanced livelihood programs for the poor.

Israel war on Gaza: Israel kills senior Hezbollah commander in air strike

A suspected Israeli drone strike on southern Lebanon killed a senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite
Radwan force as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels the region attempting to prevent the
outbreak of a wider war.

249 Palestinians killed and 510 wounded in the previous 24 hours in Gaza, the health ministry says.

The whereabouts of 600 patients and health workers from Gaza’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital is “unknown”,
WHO says.

At least 23,084 people have been killed – including 9,600 children – and nearly 59,000 wounded in Israeli
attacks on Gaza since October 7. About 1,139 people were killed in Hamas’s initial attack on Israel.

Israel needs to resettle Gaza so ‘Nazis don’t annihilate us’

Bezalel, the ultranationalist finance minister, says Israel must resettle the Gaza Strip otherwise it will
need to contend with “two million Nazis who want to annihilate us”.

Smotrich, a champion of illegal West Bank settlements, has repeatedly made inflammatory remarks
about Israel’s post-war intentions in Gaza. He recently sparked an international outcry over his
comments calling for Palestinians in Gaza to leave.

Before the war, Smotrich sparked a backlash after saying the Palestinian people are “an invention” of the
past century.

Extreme heat is pushing India to the brink of ‘survivability.’ One obvious solution is also a big part of
the problem
By 2050, India is projected to be among the first places where temperatures will surpass survivability
limits, according to climate experts.

The demand for air conditioners (AC) in India is expected to rise nine-fold by 2050, outpacing all other
appliances, as reported by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

India currently emits nearly 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, contributing about 7% of
global emissions.

Despite having a quarter of India’s population, the United States causes 13% of CO2 emissions,
highlighting the disparity in emissions per capita between developed and developing countries.

The dilemma facing India is that as the country becomes hotter and wealthier, the usage of ACs is
expected to increase, exacerbating the heat and contributing to a cycle of rising temperatures.

India's reliance on ACs is crucial for the physical and mental well-being of a significant portion of its
population, particularly in the hot, tropical southern regions.

The country has experienced over 700 heat wave events in the past five decades, resulting in more than
17,000 deaths, and temperatures have soared to 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in some areas,
leading to fatalities and heat-related illnesses.

By 2030, India may account for 34 million of the projected 80 million global job losses from heat stress,
posing significant risks to a workforce where over 50% are employed in agriculture.

The rapid growth in AC ownership, driven by rising incomes and urbanization, has led to a 21% increase
in electricity consumption from cooling in India between 2019 and 2022.

By 2050, India's total electricity demand from residential air conditioners alone is projected to exceed
the total electricity consumption of the entire continent of Africa.

Climate Policy and International Engagement

At the recent COP28 climate talks in Dubai, India did not sign a pledge to reduce emissions from cooling
systems, emphasizing the need for developing countries to have a fair share in the global carbon budget.

India, as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, faces the challenge of balancing development
with environmental protection.

The country's stance raises questions about the fairness of expecting developing nations to bear the cost
of reducing emissions, especially when they are among the least responsible for the rise in greenhouse
gases.

This fact sheet highlights the intersection of climate change, rising temperatures, and the increasing
demand for air conditioners in India, emphasizing the social, economic, and environmental implications
of this complex issue.