Sex talk on

PEOPLE are talking about sex here. In the conservative Benguet culture, Reproductive Health concerns are finally being talked about; Adivayan Youth Center Project Leader Jude Tayaben said responses to the newly launched text lines have been getting positive responses.

Tayaben said there are three phone lines open which have been contacted by an age group bracketed to the 15 to 19 year old’s asking about sex, its effects and how to be responsible.

Adivayan is a youth center inside the Benguet State University where RH concerns can be aired and responded by responders closer to the age group of the students, breaking barriers of age and culture, Tayaben said there are two branches of the center in Buguias and Bokod offering the same services.

The Adivayan offers teen sessions in HIV and pregnancy as well as other RH concerns conducted by trained volunteers ready to answer questions and conduct group sessions to schools and universities.

Tayaben said each text in question will be answered by volunteers and not system generated responses which some services offer, making the interaction impersonal and computer generated. At the Adivayan, real people are ready to answer queries. Adivayan the phone lines are; Jude: 09054950935. Mau: 09186191242 and Joma: 09279733965.

It has been five years since the enactment of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, a landmark legislation that has four key provisions: access to family planning, maternal healthcare, age-appropriate sexuality and reproductive health education, and regular funding. However, it has not been fully implemented because of the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Supreme Court last year following claims that some birth control pills are abortifacient.