CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Region 3 is one in the celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan from August 12-16.
 
Anchored on the theme “I Choose #MalayaAkongMaging”, it highlights the importance of giving young people the freedom to be who they want to be by helping them choose better options for themselves, for their families and the community as a whole.
 
In a statement, POPCOM Regional Director Lourdes Nacionales pointed out the potential of young people as active partners in societal development.
 
“It is not just to protect them but also to include them in the development of their respective communities. The youth should be given safe platforms where they can increase their knowledge and engage in dialogue on topics like safe sex, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and mental health which are all crucial in cultivating their behaviors as they transition to adulthood,” she added.
 
Relative to this, POPCOM partnered with Department of Education (DepEd) in addressing population issues concerning adolescents particularly the rising cases of teenage first-time and repeated pregnancies; HIV/AIDS, metal health and many more.
 
“The collaboration will revisit strategies that would adapt to the new normal in the provision of Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) information and services among in-school youth in both formal and non-formal educational systems and harmonize efforts in the local level represented by DepEd Schools Division Offices and local population offices,” she furthered.
 
POPCOM will provide DepEd physical copies of AHD information materials for distribution as well as electronic copies of the same materials for possible reproduction and dissemination through means of information communication technology, which include, but are not limited to virtual webinars, e-mails, and social media accounts.
 
For its part, DepEd will ensure the integration of the key learning messages of the information materials in virtual discussions and/or asynchronous activities participated by the students.
 
Meanwhile, POPCOM entered a tripartite partnership with Mabalacat City College (MCC) and Mabalacat City Population and Gender and Development Office in addressing the different social concerns of the youth in the community.
 
“The initiative, which is the first ever collaboration of POPCOM with a higher education institution under its National Service Training Program, aims to help advance the community by means of shaping and enabling MCC trainers to reach out to more students and young people in the community, influencing them to be responsible, healthy and to live effectively,” Nacionales explained.
 
Activities lined up this week include capacity building for DepEd teachers, service providers in the provinces of Aurora and Zambales and cities of  Meycauayan and Angeles, and young professionals from Over the Edge Philippines which is a civil society organization.
 
The city of San Jose is also set to conduct a virtual U4U, an interactive communication campaign for the youth aiming to increase their knowledge on delaying sexual debut, preventing teenage pregnancy and avoiding sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. (CLJD-PIA 3)