CALLS for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) took center stage at a scientific conference here, where experts discussed population dynamics, adolescent reproductive health, and early pregnancies.
The 2025 Philippine Population Association International Scientific Conference, held at Bicol University on March 6-7, gathered hundreds of researchers and policymakers to examine data-driven approaches to education and reproductive health.
Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III, vice president of the Forum for Family Planning and Development, cited alarming statistics, including a recent report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that an eight-year-old girl gave birth in Mindanao.
“Since 2018, when adolescent pregnancy was declared a national emergency, pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14 have been rising,” Perez said.
In 2023, the PSA recorded 3,343 births among girls under 15, highlighting the urgent need for CSE to prevent early pregnancies, address coercion and abuse, and provide social protection.
University of the Philippines Population Institute director Dr. Elma Laguna echoed the call, emphasizing that evidence supports the necessity of implementing CSE nationwide.
Beyond reproductive health, the conference also tackled issues such as bullying’s mental and emotional toll, governance practices, cultural and religious influences on sexuality, and the impact of migration on population trends.
