A Leader’s Promise to Address Teenage Pregnancy in Oquendo, Calbayog City
Stories
Stories of transformation, collaboration, and courageous leadership took center stage during the Barangay Expanded Youth Leadership and Governance Program (BEYLGP) Colloquium in Calbayog City, Samar, where barangay officials, health workers, city government representatives, and development partners gathered to celebrate the progress of communities committed to addressing adolescent pregnancy through local governance.
Among these leaders was Punong Barangay Michael Loberiano of Barangay Oquendo, whose personal journey would later become one of the colloquium’s most compelling narratives.
Related articles:
- Strengthening Families through Playful Parenting: Masayang Pamilya Graduation held in Calbayog City
- Youth and Local Leaders Join Forces to Prevent Teen Pregnancies in Samar
Hosted with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), and the City Government of Calbayog, the colloquium served as a culminating platform for partner barangays to showcase their journey in implementing evidence-based interventions that empower adolescents and strengthen community support systems. The event opened with a welcome message from City Health Officer Dr. Sylvia De Guzman, followed by a message of support from Dr. Dorie Lyn Balanoba, ZFF-UNFPA Partnerships Program Director. Both emphasized that creating healthier communities requires sustained collaboration among local governments, health systems, schools, families, and young people themselves.
A highlight of the colloquium was the Public Narrative Session, where community leaders shared personal stories reflecting how the BEYLGP has transformed not only their programs but also their perspectives on adolescent health. Among the presentations was that of Punong Barangay Loberiano, whose heartfelt narrative captured the essence of ZFF’s Bridging Leadership approach.
Speaking before fellow barangay officials, city officials, health professionals, and development partners, he reflected on his experiences growing up in a simple community where hardship was common. Yet, nothing affected him more deeply, he admitted, than witnessing adolescents become parents before they had the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Photo above: Punong Barangay Loberiano of Oquendo, Calbayog City shares a moment with Dr. Dorie Lyn Balanoba, ZFF-UNFPA Partnerships Program Director, whose support through BEYLGP helped strengthen the barangay’s response to adolescent pregnancy.
He recalled seeing young girls leave school to assume the responsibilities of motherhood and young boys abandon their education to provide for families they were not yet prepared to raise. These realities, he shared, opened his eyes to the far-reaching consequences of adolescent pregnancy—not only for individual families but for the future of the entire community.
“Sa bawat batang nawalan ng pangarap, sa bawat pamilyang nadagdagan ang pasanin, at sa bawat kabataang naputulan ng direksyon, unti-unti kong naramdaman ang bigat ng problemang ito—hindi lamang bilang lider, kundi bilang tao.”
Loberiano acknowledged that there was a time when teenage pregnancy seemed like an accepted reality in many communities. However, witnessing increasing school dropouts, worsening poverty, and interrupted opportunities among young people compelled him to rethink that perspective. Through his participation in BEYLGP, he realized that preventing adolescent pregnancy is not the responsibility of the barangay alone but of the entire community.
Guided by this realization, Barangay Oquendo strengthened its local response by implementing a Barangay Action Plan, enhancing youth-friendly services, and forging stronger partnerships with schools, parents, health workers, faith-based organizations, and other community stakeholders. Schools became venues for reproductive health education, life skills sessions, and referral mechanisms that allowed adolescents to access appropriate services without fear or stigma. Parents participated in empowerment sessions that encouraged open communication with their children, while young people themselves became active champions through peer education initiatives, leadership camps, and advocacy activities.
For Loberiano, these collective efforts demonstrated that sustainable change is only possible when every sector shares ownership of the solution. He concluded his narrative by reaffirming his commitment to continue championing programs that protect young people and provide them with opportunities to thrive.
“Naniniwala ako na kung sama-sama tayong kikilos, kaya nating bawasan—at kalaunan, tuluyang mapigil—ang teenage pregnancy sa ating barangay. Bilang Punong Barangay, mananatili akong tapat sa aking paninindigan na protektahan ang ating kabataan at lumikha ng mga programang may direksyon at malasakit.”
The colloquium also featured an EYLGP video presentation, a panel discussion with Sangguniang Kabataan leaders from participating barangays, and a keynote message from Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy.
Photo above: Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy addresses barangay leaders and development partners during the colloquium, highlighting the city’s continued support for programs that protect young people and secure their futures.
More than a venue for presenting accomplishments, the BEYLGP Colloquium became a celebration of communities that have chosen to confront difficult realities with compassion, innovation, and shared accountability. Indeed, the future of every barangay lies in the dreams of its young people. Through the continued partnership of local governments, health workers, educators, parents, and the youth themselves, the BEYLGP continues to demonstrate that protecting those dreams is not only possible, but a responsibility shared by all.