THE COMMISSION ON POPULATION REGIONAL OFFICE NO. 2 CONDUCTED SERIES OF FORA ON ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (ARH) TO GENERATE COMMITMENTS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OTHER YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. GIVEN THAT 14 PERCENT OF THOSE AGED 15-24 YEARS OLD IN REGION 2 EVER ENGAGED IN PREMARITAL SEX AT AGE 18 ON THE AVERAGE, THE COMMISSION RECENTLY CONDUCTED FORUM ON ARH IN THE PROVINCES OF ISABELA, QUIRINO, CAGAYAN, AND NUEVA VIZCAYA AND IN THE CITIES OF TUGUEGARAO, CAUAYAN AND SANTIAGO LAST FEBRUARY. ACCORDING TO MR. AVELINO MARALLAG, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF POPCOM, THE SERIES OF FORA WERE OPPORTUNITIES TO APPRISE LOCAL OFFICIALS, YOUTH LEADERS ESPECIALLY THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN OFFICERS ON THE PROBLEMS OF THEIR FELLOW ADOLESCENTS RELATIVE TO THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. REALIZING THE NEED TO RESPOND TO PREVAILING PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SK OFFICERS AND EVEN SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH LEADERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS COMMITTED SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN IMPLEMENT AS MEANS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH. MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THESE YOUTH STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTED ARE INFORMATION DISSEMINATION EFFORTS. THEY REALIZED THAT EDUCATING THE YOUTH ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS A PRIMORDIAL ACTION TO MAKE ADOLESCENTS MORE RESPONSIBLE IN THEIR ACTIONS ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. GIVING CORRECT AND CONSISTENT INFORMATION TO ADOLESCENTS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO THEIR BODY DURING PUBERTY, AND ENABLING PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR ADOLESCENTS BY EDUCATING THEM ABOUT ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY ARE TWIN EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE YOUTH FROM ENGAGING IN EARLY PREMARITAL SEX. ACCORDING TO RELATED RESEARCHES, MAKING ADOLESCENTS STAY IN SCHOOL AND FINISH THEIR STUDIES ARE EFFECTIVE MEANS TO DELAY THEIR ENTRANCE TO EARLY MARRIAGE.

THE SERIES OF FORA ALSO PAVED THE WAY FOR STRONGER COLLABORATION BETWEEN POPCOM AND THE CITY AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS TO WORK VIGOROUSLY IN ADDRESSING VARIOUS PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT AFFECT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. WITH THE FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER SUPPORT OF THE LGUs PARTICULARLY THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN, AND THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OF POPCOM, MR. MARALLAG SEES A MORE FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT TO CARRY OUT THE PLANS COMMITTED DURING THE FORA.#