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Suicide, drug abuse top Cordi youth woes

Grim situation fo Cordi youth

TABUK, Kalinga (Nov. 17) — There is an alarming prevalence of risk-taking behavior among Cordillera adolescents, the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) reported in a children’s situationer during the period from 2001 to 2003, which was adopted by the Regional Development Council’s 4th Quarter meeting here.

The situationer noted suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse and engagement in pre-marital sex among Cordillera youth.

As of 2003, 76% of the Cordillera youth have been into alcohol beverages, while 14% have tried drugs, and used marijuana, making the region 3rd and 4th nationwide, respectively. Of 100 Cordillera youth studied, 24 considered suicide, the highest in the country. Eleven from 50 youth studied, or 22% have engaged in pre-marital sex.

The same paper reveals a grim situation of the youth in the region. From 2001 to 2003, 251 juvenile offenders whose ages ranged from 13 to 17 years old were recorded to be involved in robbery and theft. To date, these have been recorded at 79, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

There were 682 cases of sexually abused Cordillera children, mostly girls, apart from 26 sexually exploited and six reported cases of child trafficking. Physically abused and battered children registered at 159, mostly boys. Presence of sexually transmitted diseases was also noted among Cordillera children and youth.

There were 187 reported cases of neglected children in the region and 68 abandoned.

The Cordillera youth is still wanting in the areas of health and nutrition. Only 25% avail of dental services. Thirty-two percent are underweight; 34% stunted and a low 6.0 % wasted or weigh lower than normal children of the same height. However, 93% enjoy clean water, while 73% have access to sanitary toilet.

Some 81% of elementary age children go to school, but only 65% of this, finish elementary. Of those who go to high school, only 74.8% graduate from high school. There is no data provided on tertiary education.

One out of seven or 13.8% of children aged 5 to 17 years old are working children. They work primarily as laborers and unskilled workers, sales workers, farmers, forest-takers, and fishermen. Most of these children work without pay and are seasonal workers, the RCWC reported.

Around 68.6% of the working Cordillera children are exposed to hazardous environment. The RCWC reported that 93.5% of the working children are exposed to physical hazards in the workplace; 75% to high temperatures and humidity; 31.7% to chemical hazards and 25.9% biological hazards.

Of the working children, 28% suffered work-related injuries; 21.2% from various work related ailments such as body aches and pains, skin diseases, respiratory and gastro-intestinal illnesses.

Of the 1.4 million Cordillera population, 47% or 641,550 are children. Some 17% are children zero to five years old, of which around 2% are unregistered or nearly half of the overall 4.6% are unregistered Cordillerans. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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