BONTOC, Mountain Province –In support to the National Program on Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) and in response to the request of Grade 12 students of Saint Vincent’s School-High School Department for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign on adolescents and youth, the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Population and Development Office in coordination with the Provincial LGU conducted a seminar/orientation on AHD on March 9-11, 2022.
To adhere to the health protocols, the seminar was divided into three batches.A total of 150 high school students signed in for the activity.
According to Population Program Officer I Elizabeth Faba-an, the activity aimed to reduce the incidence of pregnancy among adolescents and the incidence of other reproductive health problems as well as to provide accurate information on nutrition and boundaries for adolescents.
Nelson Padchonga, a senior high school student from SVS remarked that they requested for the conduct of the said activity since teenagers like himself are more vulnerable to issues like teenage pregnancy and mental health issues.
Padchonga expressed his gratitude to the Bontoc LGU for their positive response to their request.
“I would like to thank the Bontoc LGU for granting our request. For two years, we have not undergone face-to-face classes and seminars that would allow us to broaden our knowledge regarding adolescent health. Thus, this seminar is a great opportunity for us to learn and become more responsible adolescents,” he added.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey commended the students for their initiative and participation in the activity.
“Adolescents are indeed vulnerable as they are in the stage in which they go through changes. Thus, guidance coming from their families as well as the government are necessary,” he added.
Topics discussed during the seminar include Nutrition for Adolescents by Nurse I Venous Faith Cofulan, Prevention of teenage pregnancy, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by Nurse I Aracelle Aguilba, Setting Healthy Boundaries for Teens by Social Welfare Officer III Stephanie Kanongkong , all from the Bontoc LGU, and a brief presentation on population by Population Program Officer IV Eunice Andaya from the Provincial LGU.
The activity was funded by the Bontoc LGU while technical assistance was provided by the Provincial LGU.
