Dr. Nimfa B. Torrizo, regional director of the Department of Health (DOH)-9 and RPDCC Chairperson presided over the meeting which was attended by 13 national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs). Also present was Director Raymond Domingo of the National Youth Commission (NYC) who is the vice-chairperson.
Foremost in the agenda was a discussion on the Commission on Population’s Guidelines to Reduce Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning which is due for endorsement to the Regional Development Council.
Findings on the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study 2013 (YAFSS4) revealed that 32 percent of young Filipinos aged 15-24 had engaged in sex before marriage, up from the 23 percent reported a decade ago.
“We are not encouraging pre-marital sex because based on the YAFSS 4, they are already engaging in the matter,” according to Ms. Rose Fernando, Information Officer II of POPCOM IX.
Media and technology-related activities dominate young people’s choices of leisure; watching TV – 49 percent; texting – 30 percent; listening to music – 27 percent and surfing the internet – 13 percent.
The study further showed that today’s youth are less involved in drugs, alcohol and smoking. NCR has the highest level of youth smokers at 27 percent while ARMM registered the lowest at 12 percent.