society is quite conservative and looks down upon sexual activity outside of marriage, yet the legal age of consent is 12 years old. This means that the minimum age for a Filipino or Filipina to have legal, consensual sex is 12 years. Sex with a child under the age of 12 is considered rape.
Let’s think about this for a second. A 12 year old is still a child. Do we really think that a child who is only 12 is mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for sex? Do we think a 12-year-old child can understand the outcomes and repercussions of starting a sexual relationship? I don’t think so.
Why is the age of consent so young in the Philippines? Other countries in Asia have ages of consent ranging from 13 to 21. Cambodia and Thailand’s age is 15. Malaysia and Brunei’s age is 16. India’s age is 18. I find it quite shocking that the Philippines’ age is 12.
A focus of the Reproductive Health Law is on Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH). The government and organizations focused on health are very concerned at our country’s incredibly high rate of unplanned teen pregnancy, maternal mortality and growing rates of HIV. The most effective ways to counter these ARH problems is by providing young people with scientific information about sexual and reproductive health, and giving them access to clinical services including condoms and birth control pills so that if they are sexually active, they will not get pregnant or contract HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
As the RH Law currently stands, young people should get comprehensive, science-based reproductive and sexual health information so they can understand their bodies, and know how pregnancies happen. The Law also mandates the provision of contraceptives to sexually active men and women who want them, but any young person under the age of 18 must have parental consent.
So, to review – Philippine law says that a 12-year-old child is old enough to legally consent to sex, but he or she cannot have access to contraceptives without parental consent until they’re 18. Given this situation, it becomes less surprising that we have so many cases of teen pregnancy.
I believe that the government should amend this law and increase the age of consent. I cannot imagine how anyone could think that a 12 year old child is responsible and mature enough to legally enter into a sexual relationship. I think anyone having sex with a 12 year old is committing rape and child abuse. The age of consent should be raised.
I also think that access to contraceptives is something that should be easier for young people. Our young people have shown us that they’re going to have sex whether they have access to contraceptives or not. This is why our teen pregnancy rate keeps increasing. If we allow young people who are in sexual relationships to access contraceptives, then even if they’re having sex, at least they can avoid a pregnancy and STIs, and stay in school.
Some people say that if you give young people access to contraceptives that they will all run wild and then society’s morals will fall apart. I wonder what they think is happening now? We have laws that say 12 year olds can enter into sexual relationships, and laws that prevent young people who are already having sex from protecting themselves. We already have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Asia, and having young girls drop out of school because they are pregnant contributes to our high poverty rate. Would our country be so much worse if we equipped those teens having sex with the means to do it safely?