Young people from different sectors are disappointed and concerned with the recent statement of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. The speaker said that the House‘left out’ Reproductive Health Bill to focus on other measures that promote human development and environmental protection policies.

The Youth Consortium for Reproductive Health believes that the teenage pregnancy in the country reached ‘red alert’ level because according to 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey, 54 of 1000 child delivery are from ages 15 to 19 years old, while the Department of Health (DOH) reported that more than half of the highest recorded cases of HIV and AIDS belong to youth age range.

According to Jonathan Monis, the Secretary General of the group, “With the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and young people with HIV/AIDS, we cannot fully harness the potential of young people if they are facing these problems of which can be prevented. We see it as a red alert level issue not only to the youth of today but also to the
future of our country.”

In addition, Philippines ranked first among the Asean’s six major economies with highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy. We are also among the few countries with consistent sharp in cases of HIV and AIDS.

The group would like to air its disappointment about the move of the House. He added, “Setting aside a bill that will help address these issues of young people is a wrong move and doesn’t respond to our needs.”

The group is also calling to the leadership of the House and our President to have a dialogue with young people and hear their concerns and issues. He also stressed, “on the issues concerning us, we are not being consulted and the government has fallen on deaf ears.”

The Youth Consortium for Reproductive Health is a network of different youth organizations from different sectors advocating Reproductive Health and Youth Development.

For further information, contact YC Secretariat:
Jonathan Monis (mobile: 0915 7053989); Lady Lisondra (mobile: 0917 4380270)