CPD: Reproductive health education age-appropriate, aims to protect vs. sex abuse 

The Commission on Population Development (CPD) on Wednesday said reproductive health education in schools is age-appropriate and intends to protect minors from sexual abuse. 

“So ang Department of Education order regarding reproductive health education ay nagsasabi talaga kung paano ba i-integrate na i-ensure na talagang age-appropriate po iyong idi-discuss sa ating mga kabataan,” said Mylin Mirasol Quiray, chief of CPD’s Information Management and Communications Division, on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(The Department of Education order regarding reproductive health education specifically outlines how to integrate [these lessons] to ensure that what is being discussed with our youth is truly age-appropriate.) 

“At lagi po nating sinasabi sa CPD ang pag-start po ng discussion is really protection, child protection talaga from abuse lalo na, teaching our young kids to protect themselves because doon po sa mga 10 to 14 there may be some kind of abuse because ang age of sexual consent sa Pilipinas according to the republic act of the law is 16,” she added. 

(And we at the CPD always say that starting the discussion is really about protection—actual child protection from abuse especially. We are teaching our young kids to protect themselves because, for those aged 10 to 14, there may be some kind of abuse, since the age of sexual consent in the Philippines, according to the republic act of the law, is 16.) 

The Department of Education in the Philippines has issued DepEd Order No. 025, s. 2025, which establishes a comprehensive framework for Reproductive Health Education (RHE). The mandate requires schools to integrate age-appropriate and scientifically accurate lessons into the curriculum for students in Grades 5 through 12. 

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that 138,697 live births in 2024 were to mothers aged 10 to 19. Of this number, 3,612 births were to girls below 15 years old, an increase from 3,343 cases recorded in 2023.

The Council for the Welfare of Children earlier flagged that while poverty is the main cause of early pregnancies, there were incidents of pregnancies caused by adult men having sex with adolescent girls.

The CPD is advocating for the passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, which will in turn institutionalize the Comprehensive Reproductive Health Education.

“Nais lang po nating ipaliwanag at ipanawagan na ang ating pagsusulong po ay scientifically accurate, proven po ito, hindi po natin kailangang matakot na ang ating mga anak at ang kabataan ay tinuturuan natin ng mga bagay-bagay na hindi pa sapat or appropriate para sa kanilang edad,” said Quiray. 

(We just want to explain and appeal [to the public] that what we are advocating for is scientifically accurate; this is proven. We don’t need to fear that we are teaching our children and the youth things that are insufficient or inappropriate for their age.) 

“So, we need not worry sa mga natatakot po na magtuturo tayo nang hindi angkop sa edad ng ating mga kabataan.” 

(So, we need not worry—to those who are afraid that we will be teaching things that are not suitable for the age of our youth.) — BM, GMA Integrated News