TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan - - The regional director of the Commission on Population and Development here highlighted the important role of the parents in guiding their children so that they will not engage in teenage pregnancy.

Regional Director Herita Macarubbo, during the 'kwenTALKhan epsiode of the Rotaract Club of Tuguegarao Citadel, said while the cases in the region for the past year is decreasing, the number is still high and efforts should be doubled to address the issue on teenage pregnancy.

The kwenTALKhan series Season 2 is a one-hour online program of the Rotaract Club Tuguegarao Citadel which aims to engage the club’s members and the public on issues that matter nowadays amid pandemic.

“Parents ang unang mag-guide sa kanilang mga anak. Sila ang magbibigay ng gabay at impormasyon sa kanilang anak upang hindi malihis sa maagang pagbubuntis,” Macarubbo said.

She said that parents especially fathers should not tease their sons to engage with pre-marital sex, instead, guide them to treat their girlfriends or partners with respect and unconditional love.

“Nasa pagpapalaki talaga ng magulang din yan kung ano ang mga itinuturong values sa kanilang mga anak,” she further said.

The director also underscored that communication and parental involvement can reduce the risk of teen pregnancy.

“Sana magfocus sila sa pag-aaral, makinig sa gabay at payo ng kanilang mga magulang at teacher. Huwag silang makikinig sa buyo ng barkada nila,” she added.

The regional director said teens are at a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure ( preeclampsia) and its complications than average age mothers.

She added that risks for the baby include premature birth and low birth weight.

According to Macarubbo, many pregnant teens also drop out of school, and some never complete their education.

“Involve them sa mga productive activities such as tree planting, tree growing, webinars, among others,” she added.
On the other hand, Cherwin Gaoiran, officer of Youth For Peace Cagayan chapter expressed his gratitude to Macarubbo for the healthy discussion.

“Naniniwala ako na bilang SK chairperson o kaming SK ay may magagawa kami to lessen the number of cases. Thank you mam, malaking tulong din po ito. Aasahan niyo po, sa barangay namin na lahat ng SK ay makikikipag-cooperate po sa inyo,” Gaoiran said.

For her part, Farah Jamaica Villegas, president of Rotaract Cabanutan North, shared that to strengthen the advocacy to end teenage pregnancy, we have to utilize the social media especially in Tiktok where most of the teenagers are into nowadays.

“Through these platforms we will post these advocacy materials, sana po matulungan natin sila, ang kanilang sarili na madala sa tamang landas,” Villegas stressed.

Johan Palattao, president of Rotaract Club of Tuguegarao Citadel, on the other hand, lauded PopCom for its efforts to reach out the youth and their parents to educate them amid pandemic.

“Your programs really aimed at encouraging teenagers—especially the youngest ages—to postpone sexual activity and support youth who become sexually active during their teens to prevent pregnancy if and when they do become sexually active,” Palattao said.

Meanwhile, Macarubbo reiterated her reminders to all teenagers to focus more in their studies rather than engaging in pre-marital sex that will lead to teenage pregnancy.

“Huwag magmadaling maging magulang. Darating yan sa tamang panahon. There is always a time for everything. Tandaan, laging piliin ang pangarap, 'wag ipagpalit sa sandaling sarap,” she said.

The program, which was hosted by Lenierose Baral, together with 2Lt. Trisha Pascual-Ricardel, was broadcast live at the club’s official Facebook page so that public can still watch it during their free time to learn more the risks of engaging teenage pregnancy.

For last night's episode, the Rotaract Club of Alicia in Isabela headed by Pres. Kristina Bautista and Rotaract Santiago City headed by Pres. Emerson Eugenio were tapped as partners. In attendance also were some officers of Citadel, Rotaract Tuguegarao, Rotaract San Jose Del Monte headed by president Marco and officers of Youth For Peace Cagayan chapter headed by Pres. Jhon Manzano. (MDCT/PIA Cagayan)