Teenage pregnancy is a major concern in the Philippines. Not only does it affect the lives of Filipino youth, but also their parents and other family members who need to support unplanned pregnancies. To address this matter, the ProtecTEEN program was conceptualized.
Designed and tested by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), ProtecTEEN provides psychosocial support, skills development, and other services to teenage mothers — with the aim of empowering them and eventually helping to break the cycle of poverty that’s linked with early pregnancy.
Image Credit: City Government of Malaybalay / Facebook
What is ProtecTEEN?
ProtecTEEN is a social welfare intervention strategy that seeks to protect the rights and improve the well-being of adolescent mothers, their spouses/partners, and their families. It involves the implementation of gender-responsive, child-friendly, and rights-based approaches towards empowering families and creating a supportive home and an enabling environment.
The program is DSWD’s response to Executive Order No. 141, series of 2021, entitled, “Adopting as a National Priority the Implementation of Measures to Address the Root Causes of the Rising Number of Teenage Pregnancies, and Mobilizing Government Agencies for the Purpose.” It is also part of the department’s Social Protection Program for Adolescent Mothers and Their Children (SPPAMC).
Objectives of the Program
As mentioned earlier, the main goal of ProtecTEEN is to protect and promote the rights and well-being of adolescent mothers, their spouses/partners, and their families, as well as to further empower them in their civic efficiency as part of nation-building and development.
Specifically, the program aims to:
- Provide avenues for advocacy and public awareness on adolescents’ motherhood and its impact on themselves, their spouses/partners, their children, and their families — with the aim of preventing and lessening negative social stigma;
- Create a supportive home environment that would help improve the families’ ability to support adolescent mothers and their spouses/partners, as well as to improve their abilities to undertake shared parenting and social roles;
- Develop empowerment strategies and developmental activities for adolescent mothers, their spouses/partners, their children, and their families with regard to their understanding of sexual and reproductive health information and services;
- Provide avenues for adolescent mothers, their spouses/partners, their children, and their families to have access to a variety of social protection measures; and
- Prevent cases of wanted pregnancies (in cases of surrogacy arrangements) among adolescents.
Target Beneficiaries
The primary target beneficiaries of the program include:
- Adolescent mothers, ages 10 to 19 years old;
- Spouses/partners of adolescent mothers;
- Children of adolescent parents;
- Parents of adolescent beneficiaries; and
- Other household members who are providing support to the adolescent parents.
Meanwhile, the program also has indirect beneficiaries, as follows:
- Local government units (LGUs) and local stakeholders;
- Service providers (e.g. social workers, teachers, and other direct implementers); and
- General public, especially adolescents and parents.
As for the target areas, ProtecTEEN is intended to be implemented in all regions — covering all LGUs and non-government organizations (NGOs) that are willing to adopt and implement the program.
Components of the Program
As cited earlier, ProtecTEEN aims to empower adolescent mothers and their families, while creating a supportive home and an enabling environment through the implementation of gender-responsive, child-friendly, and rights-based approaches.
With this in mind, the program conducts activities and interventions such as family healing sessions, family case management, educational support, employment assistance, livelihood assistance, capability-building, and referrals to other LGUs and NGOs.
Program Requirements
Those who would like to join the ProtecTEEN program need to prepare the following requirements:
- Valid ID (e.g. school ID for minors, government-issued ID for adults);
- Birth certificates of children (if applicable);
- Proof of residency in pilot or covered areas; and
- Any document indicating the need for social services (e.g. medical, educational, etc.).
How to Join the Program
To join the program, applicants need to go through these steps:
- Check eligibility. Make sure that you fall within the age range, and you are a resident of the program’s pilot areas or covered areas.
- Gather documents. Prepare all the necessary requirements such as IDs, birth certificate, proof of residency, and so on.
- Visit DSWD office. Head to the local DSWD office in your town or city to inquire about applying for the program.
- Submit application. Submit your application, supporting documents, and other papers that may be required.
- Attend interviews/sessions. As part of the application process, be sure to attend interviews and sessions scheduled by the DSWD.
- Receive benefits. Once your application has been approved, you can now look forward to benefiting from the program’s services.
Pilot Areas
Pilot testing for ProtecTEEN was conducted in three areas: Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Antipolo City, Rizal; and Malabon City, Metro Manila — where the program was launched on August 10, August 18, and September 13, 2022, respectively.
The pilot implementation was successful. For instance, in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, a follow-up interview with adolescent mothers was held on March 28, 2023. The following day, LGUs and the ProtecTEEN team “localized” IEC materials (e.g. briefers and flyers) for public dissemination. Moreover, 35 adolescent mothers from the Malaybalay received financial assistance amounting to PHP 10,000 each — which could be used for education or livelihood, depending on the preference of the recipient.
Latest Updates
On April 22, 2024, the DSWD published a press release, announcing the issuance of guidelines for the national implementation of the ProtecTEEN program.
Due to the successful pilot implementation of the program, ProtecTEEN now covers all LGUs and NGOs that are willing to adopt the program in their respective areas, according to DSWD spokesperson, Irene Dumlao
Video: News Report About ProtecTEEN
In relation to the nationwide release of guidelines on ProtecTEEN, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao was interviewed on “Unang Balita,” the news segment of GMA Network’s daily morning show, Unang Hirit. Here is a YouTube video featuring the said interview:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some frequently asked questions about the ProtecTEEN program:
1. What is ProtecTEEN?
ProtecTEEN is a social welfare intervention strategy that aims to protect the rights and improve the well-being of teenage mothers, their spouses or partners, and their families.
2. Who are its target beneficiaries?
The primary target beneficiaries of the program include: adolescent mothers (10 to 19 years old); their spouses or partners; their children; their parents; and other household members who are providing support to the adolescent parents.
3. What are its components?
Among the activities and interventions of ProtecTEEN are: family healing sessions, family case management, educational support, employment assistance, livelihood assistance, capability-building, and referrals to other LGUs and NGOs.
4. What are the requirements?
To join the program, applicants need to prepare and submit: valid ID, birth certificates of children (if applicable); proof of residency in pilot or covered areas; and any document indicating the need for social services.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about ProtecTEEN by going to the nearest DSWD office in your area. You can also get in touch with the department’s Social Technology Bureau (STB), whose contact details are given below.
Contact Information: Social Technology Bureau
For inquiries and concerns about the program, you can get in touch with the Social Technology Bureau (STB) located at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. Its office hours are between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Address: Social Technology Bureau, 3rd Floor, Matapat Building, Department of Social Welfare and Development – Central Office, IBP Road, Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 8951 7124 / 8951 2802 / 8931 8144
Email: soctech@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://stb.dswd.gov.ph/
Google Map:
Poster About the Program
Here is a poster featuring the project launching of ProtecTEEN, with the following locations as pilot areas: Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Antipolo City, Rizal; and Malabon City, Metro Manila.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, teenage pregnancy is a serious issue that affects many Filipino adolescents and their families. Fortunately, programs such as ProtecTEEN are here to empower them, helping teenage mothers, their spouses/partners, their families, and of course, their children.
Another noteworthy initiative of the DSWD, particularly in the NCR, is the Haven: National Center for Women. To learn more about this facility, you can read this article.