PopCom builds Teen Center in Eastern Samar town

TAFT, Eastern Samar, March 23 (PNA) -- The Commission on Population (PopCom) inaugurated its first satellite Teen Center in the region here that would enhance youth development programs and access to adolescent health services.

PopCom opened the teen center on Tuesday at the town hall and within the campus of Malinao Integrated School. The regional office provided musical instruments and sports equipment to the center.

Melanie Alberto, PopCom regional communication officer assured that their office will continue to support the local government by capacitating the youth through trainings.

“We hope that the local government unit (LGU) will continue to accept our assistance through a learning package on parenting adolescent,” Alberto said.

Data from the LGU shows that adolescent birth rate in this town has been decreasing. This is attributed to advocacy, awareness and prioritization of the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health program by the local government. Teenage pregnancy case in 2014 was 68 and it went down to 59 in 2015.

Teenage pregnancy occurrence in the town was attributed by local authorities to health-related problems, peer pressure and adolescent engaging to illegal drug use. Most of the women who are getting pregnant at the young age belong to very poor families.

“We need to work for its sustainability to address the risky behavior of youth engaged in non-sexual activities because the lives of youth are valuable,” said Eastern Samar provincial population officer Grace Ty.

Mayor Marian Libanan urged the youth to value their teenage life and “make use the most out of it.”

“For me these children, the youth are the cell of infinite possibility that is we need to properly guide them,” Libanan said.

One of the “red marks” in the local leadership roadmap governance under Zuellig Family Foundation of Taft is the increasing number of teenage pregnancy in their town, which needs to be provided solution to mitigate further problem in the future, according to the mayor.

Reyan Arinto, PopCom regional information officer said teen centers will also rise in capital cities and towns in the region.

“All they need is to have a space in their town hall that can be converted into a Teen Center and we will provide them the equipments like musical and sports equipment including technical assistance,” Arinto said. (PNA)

JBP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR