Laiya Kylah F. Fellizar is a dedicated activist. She has worked as a facilitator to the first Satellite Symposium on Children, Youth and AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, the first Philippine Youth Camp on STI and HIV/AIDS education and a youth mentor of facilitators to the 2 nd Philippine Youth Camp on STIs and HIV/AIDS.

Jason Magno is currently a chairperson of the Children and AIDS Network (CHAIN Phil.). Jason has been involved in many HIV prevention and youth related programs in the Philippines. He has worked as a facilitator in a number of conferences and training workshops, such as the First National Street Children Training of Young Trainers on HIV/AIDS Youth Advocacy Package; or Paranaque City Elementary Teachers Peer Counseling and Education Trainers Training.

The Philippines recorded a population of 76.5 million in the year 2000. The population growth rate has been increasing at an average rate of 2.36% for the period 1995-2000, higher than 2.32% for the period 1990-1995. The latest survey conducted in year 2000 indicated that 39.4% of the country’s population lives in poverty.

UNFPA began its programme of assistance to the Philippines in 1969. Since 1972, there have been five Country Programmes with a cumulative package of assistance in the amount of US$106.9 million. For over 30 years, UNFPA’s contribution has successfully borne fruit as the Fund’s overall vision and framework fitted well with the mission and principles of the Philippine Population Program which emphasized family welfare, reduction of the abortion rate, public-private sector cooperation and the integration of population and development.

UNFPA support for programmes addressing the RH needs of youth/ adolescents in the Philippines has been increasing in the past decade. This is in recognition of the RH problems of young people related to the following: sexual behavior; early pregnancy; unsafe abortion; infections and their interrelation to poverty and unemployment, gender and ethnic discrimination; and the impact of social change on individuals, families, and communities. Programming for ARH covers varied interventions and innovations both at the national and local levels. Seven NGOs located in four targeted cities have been contracted to implement ARH projects. Through these projects it was anticipated that there would be an increase in the number of targeted youth who would access integrated gender-sensitive and quality RH services and information that would bring about behavioral changes regarding healthy RH and sexual practices.

Most of the planned activities in the pilot areas have been implemented. Training modules on the different ARH topics were developed and used to train more than 350 peer educators/ volunteers. Efforts to involve partners in their initiatives have proven helpful. The increasing recognition by decision and policymakers on the importance of addressing sexual and RH of young people was manifested in statements and ordinances issued by management and local executives/ officials.

Source: http://www.unfpa.org.ph/