CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Population (POPCOM) will strengthen its peer education program to combat one of the root causes of teenage pregnancy - peer pressure.
Myrna Alaba, POPCOM 7 planning officer, said the program was launched three years ago and response from participating youths has been positive.
In 2014, the first ""ladderized" peer education program was implemented by the commission, through trained peer educators under local government units.
"We believe that one shot deal to educate the young could not guarantee that we have provided them the knowledge and skills they need. These individuals may not internalize all of these learning easily in just two to three days," she said.
Alaba said the program does not only involve short-time seminars. Participants, aged 20 below, have to undergo a lengthy process of learning for them to acquire life skills to develop their competencies.
"Though young individuals are well-informed, they still engage in risky sexual behaviors and early sexual activities due to peer pressure. We realize that they lack life skills," she said.
POPCOM7 had trained younger peer educators, ages 15 to 19 years old, to teach young participants in their respective areas.
During the series of trainings for peer educators, the young volunteer-trainers were tapped from different non-government organizations. Trained peer educators were also given the opportunity to spearhead the program from planning to execution.
"With young facilitators, participants are more open and comfortable to engage. Activities involve basic and simple instructions like how to say no to peer pressure," she said.
For Alaba, this may have led the participants to respond with positive acceptance, noting that the peer education program was really designed to be youth-friendly and participatory.
She said the program's mechanisms are being developed further through regular assessment from peer educators.
Peer education is the core program under the Adolescent Health and Development Program (AHDP), one of the commission's three component programs alongside Family Planning and Population and Development.
Alaba said POPCOM7 has pushed for the program at the level of local government units as information must be cascaded to parents, teachers and other significant adults.
The commission reminded that that teenage pregnancy is a crucial social issue since it contributes to the increasing maternal mortality rate and affects the economic development of the country. (FREEMAN)