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BY Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV wants to know how Philippine schools teach sex education. He filed Senate Resolution No. 169 to also investigate the high rate of teen pregnancy in the Philippines.
Under Republic Act 10354, the Department of Education (DepEd) was mandated to develop a reproductive health curriculum for both public and private schools in the country.
The department in 2013 designed a health curriculum guide that includes lessons on responsible parenthood.
“Ngayongtumataasangbilangngmgakabataangnabubuntis, naisnatingmalamankunganongabaangestadongnasabing curriculum at kung paanoitoitinuturosaatingmgapaaralan,” said Aquino, chairperson of the Committee on Education.
A 2011-2014 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority said one in every 10 women of child-bearing age is a teenager. Every hour, 24 births are born to teenage mothers, it also said.
Citing a research by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Aquino said that majority of adolescents lack the knowledge needed to make informed decisions. Country Representative Klaus Beck added that a lesson in sexuality education can empower teens in making responsible choices.
“The youth are faced with critical decisions involving sexual and reproductive health that could have a major impact on their lives. Without adequate information, teenagers are left vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies,” Aquino ended./PN
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