PopCom eyes teen centers in Region 9 schools

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Commission on Population (PopCom) is eyeing the establishment of teen centers in all public and private schools in Region 9 to address the needs of teenage students.

Cecil Abuy, PopCom regional information officer, said Friday the planned teen centers would serve as counseling area for teenagers and provide interventions to teen moms.

Abuy said the centers can also serve as convergence place of teenage students to share thoughts, conduct academic activities, and play board games instead of doing unproductive things. The centers would be manned by trained guidance counselors and peer educators.

“These adolescents, if they have problems, they won’t tell or express or open up to adults but they open to peers like themselves,” she said.

In this city, Abuy said a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a teen center is set to be entered into between the PopCom regional office and the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School.

It would be the fifth center since there are already teen centers at  the Western Mindanao State University, and in Barangays Lumayang, Lumbangan, and Tetuan. (PNA)