Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking a legislative inquiry on the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among the youth.
Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, filed Resolution No. 13, citing the importance of reviewing the present policy on Comprehensive Sexuality Education to assess the totality of its scope and the effectiveness of its implementation.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) noted that teenage pregnancy is a consequence of having little to no access to school information, or sexual and reproductive health care.
The UNFPA also said adolescents in the Philippines who have begun childbearing before reaching the age of 18 were less likely to complete secondary education.
Aside from preventing teenage pregnancies and HIV infections, Gatchalian also stressed the importance of educating learners to become independent and productive members of society.
Gatchalian pointed out that since 2010, the average share of teenage pregnancy in total births in the country has substantially increased to about 28%. From 2000-2009, this figure was at 21.5 percent.
The increasing number of HIV cases is also attributed to the lack of education about safe sex as many engage in sexual contact without contraceptives. From 1984 to March 2019, 65,463 cumulative cases of HIV have been recorded, 31% of which are males aged 15 to 24 who are still in learning institutions.
While the Department of Education issued Department Order (D.O.) No. 31 s. 2018 to guide the implementation of CSE, the UNFPA declared that there is a long delay in its integration in the K to 12 Curriculum.
The UN agency added that this is a significant missed opportunity to provide young people with needed life skills to make informed decisions related to risk behaviors with consequences to their health.
“It is necessary to strengthen the current Comprehensive Sexuality Education to teach young people effective ways to prevent early pregnancy and avoid getting a disease that is an obstacle to continuing their education. We must promote the welfare and safety of young people so that they can reach their potential,” said the senator.
