CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas is fourth among 17 regions in the country with the highest number of youth who are exposed to premarital sex and has an increasing number of teen-mothers, according to the Population Commission.
Based on the research conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute, there is an increase of 35.3 percent or 503,000 youth involved in premarital sex from 2002 to 2013 compared to 23.2 or 131,233 from 1994 to 2002 in the region.
Sheryl May Ygay, PopCom information officer II, said that child-bearing teens reached 49,000 (13.1 percent) during the period, an increase from the 20,000 in 1994 to 2002.
“There is a sharp rise on teenage fertility and this is alarming among youths,” Ygay said in a press conference.
Ygay added that one of the contributing factors in the increase is that 70 percent of the youth is digitally-wired and has internet access everywhere.
“Some of them according to research are even engaged in casual sex to persons they have just met in the internet,” she said.
With this, PopCom is hoping to discuss the population issues to raise awareness to the younger generation through the celebration of the Population and Development Week.
PopDev, carrying the theme “Making Every Filipino Matter in Sustainable Development”, calls for the expli-cit consideration of the well-being of each Filipino in any development initiatives and to ensure that everyone is provided with quality life in a sustainable manner.
The celebration would also draw policy and program responses from various stakeholders on population and development issues.
Activities of the event include men’s responsibilities in gender and development, PopDev integration in planning, and policy implications of the 100 millionth Filipino on local governance and among others.
PopCom is also working with the Department of Edu-cation, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health and other concerned agencies to provide upda-ted and broad framework on reproductive health issues, their antecedents, and manifestations that will be useful in the design of interventions to safeguard the health and welfare of Filipino youth.
They are also preparing programs and interactive activities in schools and universities.
“School is the best venue for it. These students could also teach and inform others. We also disseminate it through the social media for further awareness,” Ygay said. — (FREEMAN)