Teen pregnancy has been on the increase in the Philippines for years. A factor linking adolescent pregnancy and unprotected sexual intercourse has occurred several times in different communities across the country.  Research indicates that there could be a general decline in the prevention of activities during COVID-19 that could lead to the unregulated use of sexual and reproductive ideas requiring the proper implementation of sex education programmes (SCMP, 2020). The United Nations Population Fund  stated in 2016 that Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) does not lead to risky sexual behaviors. Rather, approximately two in three CSE programmes evaluated showed reductions in risky sexual behaviors. 60% of the CSE programmes yielded positive effects such as increased condom use or reduced teenage pregnancies. In developing countries, HIV is one of the leading causes of deaths and diseases, which are most often caused by unsafe sexual practices among youths in developing countries (WHO, 2009). With sex education programs, the prevalence of HIV among youths aged 15-24 is predicted to fall by 27% worldwide by 2034. More specifically its greater effects on South and South-East Asia, where HIV prevalence among youths is predicted to fall by 50% (UNAIDS 2012). In a statistical study, the Department of Commission on Population and Development states that there appears to have an increase or baby boom that is expected to occur in early 2021 without proper family planning among Filipinos (Inquirer, 2020). 

Our goal is to give Filipinos access to comprehensive sexual education as they will most likely commit fewer acts of sexual misconduct and improper sexual intercourse with proper literacy. Sexual education is designed to help younger or older people gain the information, skills and motivation to make healthy decisions about sex and sexuality throughout their lives. Different media channels, such as social media and voluntary education programs, can help inform the public about the importance of these sensitive issues, so that we can break the stigma of those blinded by the reality of the constant misuse of sexual intercourse and family making in the Philippines (Hannah Torregoza, 2020). In England, they have schools that teach Sex Education as young as 11 years old. This curriculum was adopted after the Official National Statistics reported that in 2014, "7,000 sexual assaults against children aged 13 or younger, and more than 4,000 rapes of children under 16". This was disturbing news. So, after that, they implemented Sex Education to be taught in schools. They are taught that sexual consent is needed in order to build healthy relationships, and are taught that if they think their personal space is being invaded, it is alright to say “No”.

This petition addresses some environmental, societal, and economical issues, such as population control and responsible family planning. We aim to have sexual education implemented in elementary schools, high schools and colleges. In almost all European countries, the teenage birth rate has shown a declining trend over the past 15 years. A study conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (2014), shows the huge differences in teenage birth rates, ranging from as low as 3 per 1 000 girls aged 15 – 19 years in Switzerland to as high as 39 in Kyrgyzstan and 38 in Georgia and Tajikistan, implicating that teenage birth rate tends to be very low in countries where national, comprehensive sexuality-education programmes are in place. We believe that we may achieve the same results by implementing comprehensive sex education.

Source of our presentation.