PopCom, youth leaders to campaign against teen pregnancy

By Angie Balen

BUTUAN CITY, July 24 – Students affairs director and student council advisers of the various colleges and universities region-wide will converge in one of the schools here on August 1 to map out their priorities in support of the major initiatives of the government addressing youth issues and concerns.

The regional office of the Commission on Population as among the organizers together with CHED-Caraga and Caraga Youth Leaders Network (CYLN) is looking to mainstream Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) program into the programs of the student councils.

This effort of PopCom-Caraga is in follow-up of the commitment of the student leaders during the Student Leaders Congress organized by PopCom-Caraga that they will help the advocacy against teen pregnancy.

PopCom-Caraga will also assist the student leaders in launching projects and activities to fight against youth issues, particularly teen pregnancy. A Regional Training on Events Organizing and Leadership Program shall be conducted on August 10-11.

To recall, a total of 94 student leaders inked a Pledge of Support and Commitment to AHYDP during the Student Leaders Congress on July 9 in time of the World Population Day celebration.

Under its youth program, PopCom is helping adolescents and youth avoid risky sexual behavior (e.g.. Pre-Marital Sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, and drugs) to reduce incidence of teenage pregnancies, early marriages, sexuality transmitted infections and other psycho-social concerns.

PopCom provides age-appropriate and values-laden sexuality education for the youth through the formal educational system and the various youth programs of partners and provide parent education on adolescent health and sexuality in partnership with the LGUs and stakeholders.

In the said Congress, Alexander A. Makinano, PopCom officer-in-charge, urged members of the local media and religious groups to support the commission in working proactively in addressing the issue on teen pregnancy in the region.

PopCom Acting Executive Director Rosalinda D. Marcelino in her press statement, said that in the Philippines, 9.5% of women aged 15-19years old have begun childbearing, wherein 7.4% are already mothers and 2.1% are pregnant with their first child. (PopCom-13/PIA-Caraga)