By Mary May A.
Abellon
DIPOLOG
CITY – “School principals and guidance counselors play a vital
role in guiding and teaching teenage students aged 11 years old and above on
the dire consequences of pre-marital sex,” said Population Commission (POPCOM)-
9 Regional Director Reynaldo O. Wong during
the World Population Day celebration recently.
Wong underscored the importance of inculcating in the
minds of the teenagers the value of preserving their chastity, not only to gain
respect from their would-be espouses but to avoid the negative effects of
unplanned pregnancy.
Some of the negative effects of teenage pregnancy are
the unfair treatment from peers, forced marriage, financial woes and others.
Based
on the record of National Youth Commission (NYC), the Philippines got the third
highest incidence rate of teenage pregnancy in Southeast Asia.
Wong
urged all school principals and guidance counselors to help in solving the
increasing incidence rate of teenage pregnancy by making students understand by
heart the dire effects of engaging in pre-marital sex.
“It is a big heartbreak for a family
if one female member got pregnant in her adolescence. Teenage pregnancy is not
only the responsibility of the parents but the local government also so that
our teenagers would feel more love, care and support,” Mayor Evelyn T. Uy said.
The lady mayor expressed her deep
gratitude to the Zamboanga del Norte Federation of Parents
Association (ZNFEPA), POPCOM and other stakeholders for giving the youth lectures
on how to avoid pre-marital sex.
Uy also reminded that good moral and spiritual values
will help guide young to a dignified life. (PIA9)