An organization dedicated to empowering women and young people through sexual and reproductive health education and services has called for the full implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) nationwide.
Palawan-based organization Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan), in a statement, made the appeal in response to ongoing campaigns against CSE by groups such as the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) through its “Project Dalisay” initiative.
“Project Dalisay” launched an online petition opposing the implementation of DepEd’s CSE in schools and the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1979 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2023.
The claims of “Project Dalisay” regarding CSE, Roots of Health said, “misrepresent the content and goals” of the program.
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“Without accurate, age-appropriate, and evidence-based information, young people are left vulnerable to early parenthood, unsafe sexual practices, abuse, and lifelong psycho-social and socio-economic consequences,” said Roots of Health Executive Director Amina Evangelista-Swanepoel.
Critical public health issue
Citing data from the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), the group noted that teenage pregnancy “remains a critical public health issue in the Philippines.”
Data from CPD showed over 450 girls aged 19 and below give birth every day in the country.
“Alarmingly, there has also been a rise in pregnancies among girls 10 to 14 years old, from 2,319 in 2020 to 3,135 in 2022, indicating cases of statutory rape,” the group noted, citing CPD data.
Open appeal
“We appeal to DepEd to bolster the full implementation of CSE and for parents and guardians to support and share accurate information about it,” Evangelista-Swanepoel said.
“Protecting our youth means giving them the tools to make informed decisions, anchored in their family values,” she added.
Evangelista-Swanepoel also stressed that while young people cannot be shielded from the realities of life, “we can prepare them to face these realities with confidence and clarity.”
Equipping young people
Contrary to the claims of critics, Roots of Health stressed that CSE provides reliable and science-backed information for families.
The group emphasized that CSE is about “equipping young people with reliable, science-backed, and age-appropriate information to help them navigate adolescence safely and responsibly.”
“For parents, CSE can serve as a valuable tool in guiding their children to make decisions that align with their family’s values,” Roots of Health said.
Part of CSE’s goal, the group said, is to “foster open, honest conversations between parents and children,” which, as a result, would empower families to “support young people” during a crucial stage of their development.
“The misconceptions perpetuated about CSE reflect a broader societal discomfort with adolescent sexuality, but denying young people access to critical information only exacerbates the problem,” Evangelista-Swanepoel said.
Contrary to the assertions of “Project Dalisay,” Evangelista-Swanepoel stressed that CSE does not “sexualize children” or “promote early sexual independence.”
She noted that CSE teaches young people essential life skills, including decision-making, body autonomy, consent, and respect for diversity.
These skills, Evangelista-Swanepoel added, are “crucial” in preventing sexual violence, reducing gender-based violence, and promoting healthy relationships.
"Many parents worry that sex education will encourage early sexual activity, but studies consistently show that young people who receive CSE are more likely to delay sexual activity and practice safer behaviors," Evangelista-Swanepoel explained.
"When young people understand their bodies, learn about consent, and develop healthy relationship skills, they are better prepared to navigate the pressures and challenges of adolescence and identify and speak out in cases of abuse,” she added.
Positive impact of CSE
Roots of Health said it has witnessed firsthand the positive impact of CSE.
The group noted that since 2017, Puerto Princesa’s teen pregnancy rate has declined by 60 percent.
This success, Roots of Health said, is attributed largely to education efforts and partnerships with local schools and communities.
Address critical gaps in education
For Roots of Health, there are two critical recommendations on information access for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Philippines.
The first is providing comprehensive training for educators and health workers. The group said many teachers and healthcare providers “lack the necessary training to deliver nonjudgmental, accurate, and age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health.”
Given this, the group underscored the need to prioritize and fund capacity-building programs.
Leveraging existing platforms, Roots of Health said, is also another important factor.
DepEd, the group said, should collaborate with the CPD and the Department of Health (DOH) to utilize resources like the I CHOOSE #MalayaAkongMaging online campaign, which offers accessible and credible information on sexual health in “Taglish,” customized for young Filipino audiences.
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https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/18/understanding-dep-ed-s-comprehensive-sexuality-education-program
Safe and supportive environment
Meanwhile, Roots of Health underscored the importance of fostering a supportive environment where young people can seek guidance without fear of judgment.
“Teachers and health workers must be trained to provide compassionate care and accurate information to ensure young people get the support they need,” the group said.
Roots of Health also highlighted the vital role youth advocates, including the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), play in peer education.
Having partnered and trained over 1,500 young people in Palawan to organize CSE sessions, the organization has seen how youth-led initiatives can enhance knowledge and promote healthy behaviors.
“Expanding such efforts can amplify the impact of CSE nationwide,” the group said.
In 15 years, Roots of Health said it has reached over 100,000 young people through education sessions in schools and communities and trained more than 6,700 teachers in CSE.
Roots of Health said it remains committed to working with government agencies, educators, health workers, and community leaders to ensure that “every young Filipino has access to the information and services they need to lead healthy and empowered lives.”
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