A leading researcher on youth development urged various sectors to work together to guide the young generation towards becoming productive and responsible citizens of the country.
Dr. Rosalinda Paredes, who appeared as a guest on the Open Forum hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Araneta on February 7, 2024, said that the youth sector is a vital resource for the nation’s progress and prosperity.
She cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority that showed that the population of Boholano youth, which comprises 36% of the total population, has been increasing at an annual rate of 2.9%. Bohol ranks 17th among 78 provinces with the highest youth population.
“By the next 20 years, we will see that our youth will double. They are our next generation,” she said.
Paredes emphasized the importance of developing the youth to become solid leaders of the country in the future, as they represent a huge segment of the population.
She said that it is crucial to lead the youth towards the right path and provide them with the necessary skills, values, and opportunities to become productive citizens of the country.
She also highlighted the challenges faced by the youth sector, such as health and teenage pregnancies.
She quoted a study by the Department of Education (DepEd) called Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), which revealed that 28% of the reported cases of HIV from 1984–2018 were youth ranging from 15 to 24 years old.
She also said that in Tagbilaran City, the problem of teenage pregnancies has been increasing and could soon reach an alarming level.
She said that teenage pregnancies deprive young people, especially women, of opportunities to grow intellectually and socially, as they may no longer be able to continue with their studies.
She said that it could result in a cycle where the children of teenage parents may also lack education and quality of life.
Paredes said that she has been involved with a program that provides the right sexual education for youth by redirecting their focus on other aspects of life.
She also sees promise in social media as a platform to provide the youth with the correct information and guidance to prevent or reduce teenage pregnancies.
Paredes urged all sectors, including academe, religious, and government, among others, to collaborate in order to pursue genuine youth development by molding young people to have a positive perspective and a sense of purpose.
She said that youth development is not only a concern of the youth themselves, but also of the whole society.
“Youth development is key to our nation’s future. We have to invest in our youth, because they are our hope and our future,” she said.