CPD urges parents to talk to kids about sexuality as early pregnancies rise

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on Tuesday urged parents to talk to their children about sexuality following an alarming increase in pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14.

The CPD said the latest data recorded 3,516 pregnancies in this age group, higher than the 3,343 cases logged in 2023.

Mylin Mirasol Quiray, chief of CPD’s Information Management and Communications Division, said the figures are concerning because girls in this age bracket are physically unprepared for pregnancy and may be vulnerable to abuse.

“Bakit siya alarming? Kasi yung 10–14… hindi pa handa yung kanilang katawan. Naalarma tayo kasi maaaring naabuso ang mga kabataang babaeng ito, dahil ipinapakita ng anecdotal evidence na maaaring may abuse, lalo’t ang age of sexual consent sa ating bansa ngayon ay 16,” Quiray said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(It is alarming because those aged 10 to 14 are not yet physically ready. We are concerned that these young girls may have been abused, especially since the age of sexual consent in the country is 16.)

The CPD noted that many young people turn to social media as a source of information, including on sexuality, which may influence their understanding of relationships and reproductive health.

“Maaaring dulot ito ng kanilang exposure sa social media, na isa sa pangunahing pinagmumulan ng impormasyon ng ating mga kabataang Pilipino,” Quiray said, citing a study.

(It could be due to their exposure to social media, which has become one of the main sources of information for Filipino youth.)

Quiray also pointed out that some parents may not be discussing sex and sexuality with their children, while programs and services may be unavailable in certain local government units.

“Maari ring ang kanilang mga magulang ay hindi nakikipag-usap tungkol sa sex at sexuality sa kanilang mga anak. Maaari ring ang mga programa at serbisyo ay hindi available sa kanilang local government unit,” she added.

(It could also be that their parents are not talking to their children about sex and sexuality. It is also possible that programs and services are not available in their local government unit.)

Because of this, the agency emphasized that parents play a crucial role in educating and protecting their children.

“Ang talagang panawagan namin, sana ang mga magulang ang unang nakikipag-usap tungkol sa sex at sexuality sa kanilang mga anak—pagtuturo kung paano protektahan ang sarili, ang pagkakaiba ng good touch at bad touch, at ang tamang pagtukoy sa mga bahagi ng katawan,” Quiray said.

(Our appeal is for parents to be the first to talk to their children about sex and sexuality—teaching them how to protect themselves, distinguish between good touch and bad touch, and properly name body parts.) —MCG, GMA Integrated News