The youth are capable of and have the right to choose for themselves and make informed decisions on the matters of the adolescent sexuality and reproductive health (ASRH).
Adults’ role is to provide them with the necessary and correct information to guide them as they make these decisions.
The Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), Department of Education (DepEd), and National Youth Commission (NYC), along with partner organizations, emphasized this during the national launch of the I CHOOSE #MalayaAkongMaging Campaign on Nov. 27, 2021.
The I CHOOSE #MalayaAkongMaging campaign primarily targets adolescents and encourages them to exercise the freedom to be who they want to be by helping them determine healthy options for themselves, which also extend to their networks, their families, and communities.
Along with development partners, the government agencies aim to provide safe platforms for the adolescent population where they can engage among their peers as well as with medical providers and experts to access appropriate health information and services.
Fully recognizing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all individuals, campaign stakeholders — particularly POPCOM — are pursuing and creating an enabling environment for the well-being and development of both adolescent boys and girls in the country by way of available and accessible information and services, as well as recently enacted legislation.
“Issues surrounding the youth, specifically those addressing root causes of teen pregnancy, became an urgent national priority when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order 141 on June 25, 2021,” explained Undersecretary for Population and Development (POPDEV) Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH, POPCOM’s executive director.
“Such concerns affect the essence of our country’s development in demographic terms, as the state of our young people today will influence the attainment of our demographic transition by 2025,” he added.
Through this joint campaign, the DOH continues to ensure overall health and well-being of all Filipino adolescents.
“Together, let us empower our Filipino adolescents to have the freedom to be who they want to be by helping them choose healthy options for themselves that extend to other people, their families, and their communities. Dapat malaya silang maging para sa kanilang sarili, para sa kanilang Masayang Pamilya, at para sa isang Healthy Pilipinas,” said DOH Secretary Dr Francisco Duque III.
Programs for the youth
POPCOM, DOH, and DepEd has various programs that provide the adolescents the avenue and access to information and services for their sexuality and reproductive health.
These programs also aim to lessen the teenage pregnancy cases in the country, which has become a national priority issue with the issuance of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 141 on June 25, 2021.
Recognizing the power and influence of friends and peers to the youth, POPCOM regularly conducts the Peer Education Training Program in different local government units (LGUs) that capacitates the adolescents ages 15-19 with the necessary knowledge and life skills for them to become effective youth advocates.
POPCOM also holds Parent-Teen Talk which fosters better communication and stronger relationship among parents and their teen children; U4U Program that brings ASRH information and services to the localities; and establishment of Teen Centers that serves as a safe space for the youth to discuss their concerns and learn more about ASRH; among other programs.
The DOH beefs up and assists LGUs in the establishment of their adolescent-friendly facilities that serve as a safe space for teenagers to discuss their reproductive health issues and concerns. Health workers in these facilities are trained to become more gender- and youth-sensitive so the youth can feel more comfortable and open to share their concerns.
The DepEd is also set to implement the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)-ASRH Convergence Program that aims to integrate CSE and ASRH in the curriculum.
DepEd is also strengthening the Supreme Student Government (SSG) and capacitate the SSG officers to become good influence and youth advocates to their fellow students.
Alignment with other campaigns
DOH and POPCOM have collaborated with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in integrating the I CHOOSE campaign to the PCW-led 18-day “Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)” from Nov. 25 to Dec. 12, 2021.
As the adolescent health brand and safe platform where adolescents can freely share and bring up conversations about love, relationships, and sexuality without judgment, the I CHOOSE #MalayaAkongMaging aligns with and supports the messaging of the Campaign to End VAW, zeroing in on the Safe Spaces Act (#SanaAllSpacesSafe) advocacy and its objective to encourage everyone to commit to ensuring safe spaces for all in any way possible.
Also, as part of the agencies’ commitment to empower adolescent children with the knowledge that they can confidently claim and fulfill their rights in the new normal if they are well-supported by the duty-bearers through a whole-of-society approach, this campaign launch aimed to spark conversations in promoting public awareness in the observance of the National Children’s Month this November as well.
POPCOM’s executive director called on all “I CHOOSE” campaign stakeholders to make wise choices in investing in youth development that will yield dividends in the next generation, as, according to him, an empowered youth will help achieve the country’s goals outlined in Ambisyon 2040. (PR)
