Prexy bets: Education, partnership with Church needed to address teenage pregnancy

CBCP | PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidates said on Friday that proper education, support for the livelihood of families, and partnership with the Church are necessary to address the problem of teenage pregnancy.

During the presidential forum hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), some presidential candidates agreed on integrating education about teenage pregnancy to the country’s curriculum.

For labor leader Leody de Guzman, there should be proper counseling for the youth so that early pregnancy can be prevented among them.

“Kailangan natin dyan, talagang counseling, maging bahagi siguro ng mga subject sa eskwelahan natin, ‘yung pagkakaroon ng mas ipaliliwanag ‘yung problemang kakaharapin kapag naging maaga ang pagbubuntis, at tsaka ‘yung pagiging responsable ng mga kabataan sa kanilang sarili,” he said.

(There should be counseling about this. Maybe the curriculum should also include an education of the problems that await teenage pregnancies, and teaching the youth to be responsible for themselves.)

He said that the government should also address the problem of livelihood, noting that many teenagers who get pregnant are out-of-school-youth because their families cannot sustain their education.

De Guzman also pointed at the access of the youth to pornographic content on the internet which he said piques their sexual interest at a young age.

Vice President Leni Robredo agreed with de Guzman on educating students, as she stressed that teenage pregnancy is a huge problem that the country is facing.

“Agree ako kay Ka Leody na kailangan ma-integrate na ito sa curriculum ng mga paaralan, pero kinakailangan mas conscious na effort na nasasagot natin ‘yung problemang ito, na dapat may greater awareness ‘yung education system natin na krisis na ito. Kasi kapag hindi natin siya inako na krisis, parang hindi siya nabibigyan ng karampatang focus sa education,” she stated.

(I agree with Ka Leody that we should integrate this in the curriculum of schools, but there should be more conscious effort to address this problem. There should be greater awareness in the education system about this crisis. If we don’t treat it as a crisis, we will not give it enough focus in our education.)

“Pangalawa… hindi talaga kaya ng gobyerno na siya lang. Napakahalaga nung partnership with the community and in this case ‘yung partnership with the Church dahil malaking bagay ‘yung faith sa pagsugpo ng ganitong mga problema,” she added.

(Secondly… the government cannot do this on its own. Partnership with the community and the Church is very important because faith is a huge help in preventing these kinds of problems.)

Robredo added that programs should be institutionalized where teenagers can enjoy more productive activities. She also said that teenagers who get pregnant should have access to government programs promoting their welfare.

For his part, Senator Manny Pacquiao pointed at the importance of family in raising children and in molding their values.

“Pangalawa, ‘yung pag-educate natin sa mga bata sa school. Kailangang maituro din sa kanila, kasi minsan hindi naman perpekto ang mga magulang, may mga pagkukulang ang mga magulang, lalo na kung ang mga magulang busy masyado sa trabaho para makakain sila. Doon sa school ituturo na sa kanila ano ang kahalagahan, at masama ‘yang mga bagay na iyan,” he added.

(Second, it is important to educate children in schools. It should be taught to them in schools because parents are not perfect. Parents may have shortcomings especially if they are too busy at work. The harm of these things should be taught in schools.)

Sexual immorality, the senator noted, is “detestable in God’s sight.”

“Dapat ituro sa kanila ‘yung may Panginoon, na masama ‘yung mga bagay na ‘yan hanggang hindi ka pa nag-aasawa, saka mo na pasukin ‘yung mga ganyan kapag nag-asawa ka na… Dapat ituro sa school ‘yung sex education sa mga bata, para alam nila bago nila pasukin ‘yung mga bagay na yan,” said Pacquiao.

(We should teach children that there is God, that these things are not good if you are not married… Sex education should be taught in schols so that they will know about these things.)

Former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, meanwhile, said abortion should not be an option for teenage pregnancies.

“Importante ‘yung sinasabi ni Senator Manny, preventive. Bago mangyari kung pepwede dapat pigilan na,” he also said.

(The preventive measures mentioned by Senator Manny are important. It should be prevented from happening.)

The presidential aspirant also urged families to help teenagers who get pregnant to continue on with their lives and resume their studies.

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