SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN (Youth Council) leaders gathered to discuss youth initiatives and related concerns. — UNFPA PHILIPPINES/ SHIRIN BHANDARI.

EASTERN VISAYAS Region is expected to ramp up budget for adolescent sexual and reproductive health, backed by the joint program of United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO).

In a statement on Monday, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said the municipalities and cities in Samar and Southern Leyte are projected to increase their budgets for adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRHR).

“Budgets for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Southern Leyte have also increased significantly, from P3.8 million in 2022 to P6.6 million in 2024, with P48.6 million projected as the total for 2025,” it said.

The flagship initiative is under the Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP) implemented by UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, and the WHO with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

The JPARAP has been piloted in the provinces of Samar and Southern Leyte since 2022.

Meanwhile, participating cities and municipalities in Samar expanded their ASRHR budgets more than sixfold to P45.7 million in 2025 from P6 million in 2022, with allocations expected to continue increasing in the coming years. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

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