SAN FERNANDO CITY – Regional Director Tolentino G. Aquino inks a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Regional Director Erma R. Yapit of the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) Region 1 on ensuring access to Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health information and services for the different schools division in the region.
“The promotion of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) among in-school learners, including out-of-school adolescents, parents and teachers will play an important role in enabling the young people in preventing unintended pregnancies,” Director Yapit said.
Meanwhile RD Aquino, alarmed with the increasing statistics of early teenage pregnancies in the region, gave his support to programs and policies in educating the learners and possible intervention to curb the increase.
The MOA signing held on January 21, 2021 at the Regional Executive Conference Hall was also attended by Dr. Ronald B. Castillo, Officer-In-Charge of the office of the Assistant Regional Director, Project Development Officer IV Darius Nieto of the Education Support and Services Division, and Dr. Marjorie Pudin, Dentist IV.
Assistant Regional Director and Planning Officer IV Wilma Ulpindo, Information Officer III Kristine Oineza-Padilla, and Information Officer II Ma. Cristina Martinez from Popcom were also present during the said signing.
There is an expected increase of 21.04 or 102,000 in unintended pregnancies among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old by this year according to Popcom.
DepEd Order no. 31 series of 2018 was earlier released which aims to enhance the holistic wellness of Filipino adolescents and address their needs for health and protection through CSE.
By: Joan Diaz-Sabado, Public Affairs Unit