1

Main Topic: Key basis and Challenges of CHILDREN & YOUTH in the Philippines
Specific Topic: Teen Pregnancy & Lack of Access to RH Services
Teenage pregnancy is an ongoing issue especially in the third world countries where poverty is
evident. It cannot be invalidated that parents hold a major role in honing the moral values of their children.

Awareness about early Pregnancy among Teenagers

Written by: Angelica Mae M. Jiz

Teen Pregnancy according to an acticle posted by ABS-CBN News online. Everyday about 500 teenage girls get
pregnant around the age of 15-19 years old give birth in the Philippines as more adolescents angage in pre-martial
sex. Teenage pregnancy rate in the country declined to 8.7% in 2017 from 10.2% in 2016, but the number still
remains high.
They are responsible in giving advice, reminders and guidance to their teens. Growing up in a morally-
inclined family could lessen the risk of children indulging in vices. The constant communication and openness with
the family could also help build a moral foundation on the minds of their children. Secondly, as a younger children
enter the adolescent stage of life, they are bound to explore the outside world, meet people of their age and enjoy
social life. It is important to choose the right circle.
Peer pressure is a prevalent cause of teenage pregnancy which may also be linked to sexual abuse. As
teens angage in early relationships, they are at risk of engaging in intimacy and often leads to early unprotected sex.
Some teens have been a victim of sexual abuse at an early age but that doesn’t eradicate the fact that sexual
exploitation in the Philippines still exists. Poverty forces these teens to engage in prostitution at such an early age to
make ends meet. In this recent generation, society media has been all over the face of the world. While social media
become a total to help people, the downside of which has also an effect. Social media has paved way to online
sexual trafficking, porn and other unlawful acts. Curiosity has led to these young people to be exposed on mature
content which if understand properly could also be beneficial. Adult sites area a just click away and porn viewing has
become a social norm and socially accepted even in the younger generations.
Some of the television programs and online videos contain explicit scenes which is not supposedly suited
for young viewers. Some series portrays pre-martial sex which is become a norm in the younger generation since it
all ends with acceptance. This mindset given the younger generation the idea that sex with your partner is okay when
you are in a relationship since it is bound by love. The poor understanding of the younger generation on pre-martial
sex is also connected to the integration of sexual education at school.
It is important that children at an early age of 4 or 5 has alreadt the knowledge of good touch and bad touch.
Sexual abuse excuses no one, a little knowledge such is already a risk. It doesn’t mean that introduction of sexual
education at school provide these childrens the idea to have a safer sex, well it might true, rather this will help spread
awareness to all the younger people on how they can protect themselves. Teenage pregnancy is nothing new,
actually it has become socially acceptable. Despite the fact that is has become socially acceptable. Despite the fact
that is has become a norm to some, it remains a root cause of poverty. While the government takes actions on
sexual abuse / trafficking & prostitution, it cannot simply educate all of that.
Awareness of pre-martial sex is very important. Being in a relationship is not wrong but engaging in
unprotected early sex is be part of a group where you’re growing as a person with good character, principle driven
and god-fearing mindset. One should live by his / her moral value. Pregnancy requires emotional, physical ang
psychological preparedness. It doesn’t mean that people accept it, it is morally correct.

2
Main topic: Hindrance triggering the key issues and challenges of children and youth in the Philippines

Specific Topic: Poverty

Thesis Statement: Poverty triggers the key issues and challenges of children and youth in the Philippines.

WHEN POVERTY HITS YOU...

Written by: Sophia Loren M.Soriano

In the Philippines, child poverty serves as the major hindrance for the children and youth to have a normal
life to the extent that their basic rights are being taken away seemingly such as provision of enough food, acquiring a
quality education, and enjoying their childhood. Facts released by the report, "Child Poverty in the Philippines"
(2014) that around 13.4 million Filipino children were experiencing poverty in 2009. That number suffering from
poverty has been steadily increasing in the past years and also represented 36 percent of all Filipino children below
18 years old.

Poverty triggers the key issues and challenges of children and youth in the Philippines. Here are the three arguments
that support the stand:

1. Children and youth are not able to get a quality education they deserve;

2. Children and youth are not able to eat thrice a day;

3. Children and youth are forced to work.

For the first argument, due to the poverty they are suffering, children and youth do not have the capacity to
go to school. Based on the 2017 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, about nine percent of the estimated 39.2 million
Filipinos aged 6 to 24 years old were out-of-school children and youth. Factors such as expensive prices of books
and other school supplies, far distance between the home and school, and having an extended and not gainfully
employed family are the reasons why they are not able to have an access to higher education or at least vocational
training appropriate to their abilities and interests.

For the second argument, children and youth are not able to eat at least thrice a day. According to "The
Extreme Effects of Poverty in the Philippines", because of unequal distribution of income, there is a low demand for
food supplies in less developed areas that are home to low-income residents. Thus, the quality of food is decreasing
that instead of having rice as main source of food, they largely replace it with cheaper and less nutritious instant
noodles resulting to malnutrition.

For the last argument, children and youth have to sacrifice their childhood by working at an early age to
survive. Child labor is a real thing as poverty continues taking a toll on Filipinos. It caused children to be taken out of
school to work in harsh conditions since parents cannot make enough money to support. Statistics shows that around
3.6 million children (15.9 percent of the entire population), from 5-17, are child laborers in this country.

On the other hand, parents should also be responsible enough. They should be the ones who provide the
needs and fulfill the rights of their children. Family planning should really be considered in the first place to avoid
such cases that affect the lives of children and youth.

Poverty is inevitable if everyone is not responsible. It is sad to think that children and youth suffer because
of lack of education in family planning. As the family gets bigger and extended, it would be so hard to provide.
Poverty kills childhood moments. Imagine the years, days and hours they used in working instead of playing outside
and enjoying being just a child? Because of poor income, it is not so easy for them to satisfy their hunger in a day.
Therefore, with these arguments presented, poverty indeed triggers the key issues and challenges of children and
youth.

3
4