Malacañang on Friday called on public and private schools nationwide to enhance the teaching of sex education as teenage pregnancies in the country continued to rise in recent years.
“Ang ating mga eskuwela, alam ko po na sa mga public schools, eh nagbibigay naman po sila ng sex education, paigtingin pa po natin iyan,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in virtual briefing.
He also urged parents and the Church to actively guide and educate children about early pregnancy.
“Pagdating po doon sa datos na tumataas, nananawagan po tayo sa mga magulang, kinakailangan po talagang gabayan ang ating mga kabataan,” he said.
“Pati po iyong mga simbahan e kinakailangan po talaga ay mas maging aktibo sa pagbibigay pangaral sa ating mga kabataan,” he added.
Commission on Population and Development Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III on Thursday noted that as of 2018, pregnancies among children aged 10 to 14 reached 2,200. The number was double the 1,000 recorded in 2007.
He also said there were 62,000 pregnancies among minors aged 10 to 18.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri earlier proposed to raise the age of minority for statutory rape from 12 to 16.
Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte would respect the Congress’ decision on the matter.
“Kung sa tingin ko ng Kongreso na ang tamang polisiya ay itaas sa 16 ang age of minority for statutory rape purposes, rirespetuhin naman po iyan ng gobyerno,” he said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro