ANTIPOLO City, Rizal – Getting pregnant, much more giving birth at an early age, does not necessarily mean a doomed future, says Mayor Jun Ynares III shortly after handing over financial aid to at least 80 city-based teenage moms.
In a Facebook post, Ynares cited the need for the local government to ensure the safety and promote the welfare of teenage parents and their families via ProjectTEEN, a joint project of the Population Commission (PopCom) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as part of the national government’s Social Protection Program for Adolescent Mothers and Their Children.
Launched in August 2022, the ProjectTEEN initiative targets teen moms aged 10 to 19 years old for proper government interventions. It is also deemed as a social welfare model of intervention that intends to create a supportive environment for adolescent mothers and their families. It includes the empowerment of teenage mothers through the provision of direct social services and assistance, referral to other agencies, and organizing peer advocates.
In Antipolo City, Ynares personally distributed the P10,000 cash grants to each of the 80 beneficiaries.
The local chief executive likewise committed to sustaining city government programs primarily designed to foster partnerships with other government agencies and non-government organizations in nurturing teenage moms and their babies.
He however clarified that the government intervention is not limited to cash aid, adding that there are many other non-tangible assistances which include psychosocial support, family planning, and social services.
He also took note of the local social welfare office’s mandate to help and guide adolescent parents in assuming their roles and responsibilities as young parents.
TEEN MOMS TO SUPERMOMS. Antipolo Mayor Jun Ynares III (wearing a baseball cap) is shown in this photo delivering a motivational message to teenage moms in the city