LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) -- The Commission on Population (PopCom) region 5 has advised teenagers to refrain from pre-marital practice to void unwanted early pregnancy. 

In a radio interview hosted by the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 5, Josephine Chua, planning officer IV, said the teenage pregnancy rate in the Bicol region has been observed increasing. 

In the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey (YAFSS), 37.2% of teenage women and 32.2% of young men were involved in teenage pregnancy in the region. 

"Though there is no latest YAFSS study yet, teenage pregnancy is observed increasing that is why we advise our teenagers to think before they unzip to avoid unwanted pregnancy," Chua said. 

She also said there are many factors attributed to the increasing early unwanted pregnancy rate among teens but parental guidance is still the best way to address it. 

"These young individuals should always think many times if they are capable of raising their own family before they engage in sexual activities. They should know that raising a child means a serious, big, and heavy responsibility," Chua added. 

She also said that finishing studies should be the priority of adolescents before settling into married life. 

On the question of what is the perfect age to marry, she said, engaging in married life cannot be measured by age; it is on the maturity and the preparedness of both the man and the woman to raise a family.

"The major requirement is your capacity to give the basic needs of your children. You must be emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially capable of building a family before you decide to marry," Chua said. 

She further said there are many programs that the government had been implementing to address teenage pregnancy concerns in the country with the help of various sectors to include civil society organizations. (OTB/PIA 5)