Population Agency Says Large Number of Philippines' Youth Exposed to Risky Behaviors

A large proportion of Philippines' youth are exposed to the risks of early pregnancy, drugs and AIDS, the government population agency said Thursday. Roughly 60 percent of the country's 77 million people are under 24, and four out of 10 are younger than 15, the Commission on Population said. "Exploring and experimenting are part of being young, but young people must consider the importance of being informed first," said Tomas Osias, the commission's executive director. Osias said the young population "is a challenge to government for it to keep pace with the huge demand for basic social services, with health and education as the most vital."

Young people are prone to "experimentation" and participate in "risky behavior" such as smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs and engaging in premartial sex if they are not properly educated on protecting themselves, according to Osias. The average Filipino starts having sex at age 18. Of about 2.5 million young people engaged in sexual relations, 80 percent failed to use protection against AIDS, STDs or pregnancy. The studies also said 94 percent of the sexually active young people were not prepared to become parents. Teenage pregnancies accounted for three out of four maternal deaths and 17 percent of induced abortions yearly. Earlier this year, the commission reported that the country's population grew by 2.36 percent annually in 1995-2000, among the fastest rates in Southeast Asia. If that rate continues, the population is expected to double in approximately 29 years, the commission said.

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