Group asks DepEd, DOH to implement RPRH law

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) has asked the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) to roll out provisions in the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health law to curb rising teenage pregnancy in the country.

According to PLCPD execuive director Romeo Dongeto, the law provides that DepEd should integrate age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in the curriculum but the agency has not done it until now.

“One of the provisions in the law that was removed by the Supreme Court is the minors’ access to family planning services. Parental consent is needed before you can give them information or any family planning device,” he said.

However, the law still provides that DepEd should come up with CSE to equip concerned students with values, knowledge and skills to enable them to make educated choices about their and others’ health, dignity and well-being.

But Dongeto noted until now, DepEd has not implemented such provision to the detriment of the young individuals, who are deprived of capability to protect themselves and, at the same time, respect other’s rights. 

“There are studies that teenage pregnancy is one of the leading causes of school dropouts, so the more DepEd should speed up the implementation of CSE. Years have passed but DepEd has not done it,” he added.

Dongeto claimed there is much “misinformation” about reproductive health and sexuality that young people get and these must be corrected.

He said information acquired from peers or the internet by young people could also be harmful. 

Based on 2014 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, 24 babies are delivered by teenage mothers every hour. 

On the other hand, the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey shows that one in 10 women aged 15 to years have begun childbearing. It also revealed that early childbearing is more common among young adult women with less education and are living in rural areas. 

Dongeto said that the DOH has not also fully complied with the law requirement for the agency to carry out “comprehensive training and education campaign” primarily among health workers so they can train others in the grassroots level, including parents.