2017 News
Condoms in schools:
unwelcome in Bohol
As the Department of Health (DOH) plans to distribute free condoms in public schools next year, two top officials of the province of Bohol have initially rejected the idea and are likely to issue an official protest to the DOH move after the provincial school board would have convened next week.
Reports said the DOH will give away condoms in schools starting next year for their "business unusual" strategy due to the rising number of HIV-AIDS cases among the youth in the Philippines.
But such plan is expected to be opposed by the province's top decision-makers, including Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and Department of Education (DepEd-Bohol) Division Superintendent Dr. Wilfreda Bongalos.
"We both personally share the same view that it will not be a wise move to distribute condoms in public schools," Chatto said in a text message to the Bohol Tribune yesterday, referring to Bongalos' mutual sentiment.
The governor said the distribution of birth control devices can send a wrong signal to the young minds of students and could be interpreted by them that society or government is "in fact tolerating or encouraging promiscuity."
"Strengthening of values education to curb premarital sex should instead be reinforced," Chatto pointed out.
Chatto's stand on the issue is literally the same that of Dr. Bongalos.
Speaking in her capacity as a private citizen, Bongalos said the plan of the DOH is "not wise."
"The act might send a wrong signal to our learners," Bohol's DepEd chief said in a text message.
Dr. Bongalos, when sought by the Bohol Tribune for comments, added: "And when I talked with Gov Chatto we have the same view. Then we will discuss this matter in our school board meeting (sir) as soon as makakuha ko og memo from DepEd (central office)."
As DepEd-Bohol still awaits orders from DepEd Central Office, Bongalos said she had not actually received any guidelines regarding DOH's plan to distribute condoms in public schools in order to combat the rise of HIV infection.
Gov. Chatto also said that he has not received any orders from DepEd or DOH, but reports from national media have indicated that the DOH is bent on implementing its plan next year.
In a press statement dated December 7, DepEd Central Office said it will conduct “thorough and careful discussions” with the Department of Health regarding the latter’s plan to distribute condoms in schools next year, in a bid to control the spread of HIV/AIDS among the youth.
In a statement, the education department said, “Through the series of discourse, the Department will want to identify and study whether this move to arrest the epidemic is appropriate to cover schools and learning institutions."
If not, the department said it will explore other measures "without compromising, first, the parents’ right and responsibility to educate their children against the dangers of engaging in pre-marital sex, and second, the State’s mandate to protect minors from any form of abuse."
It said it will also have to "look into how and why, despite progressive mindset in other countries, this approach is not implemented by all.”
The department stressed it will enrich sex education within the frameworks of human rights, safety and well-being of learners through age-appropriate and developmental reproductive health education as early as Grade 1.
On the other hand, an education consultant has told The Bohol Tribune that she welcomed the plan of the DOH.
Vera Villocido Gesite, a consultant on education and Wikipedia contributor, said distributing condoms in public schools will also help curb the rise of teenage pregnancies.
Gesite said the project was done in California schools, where she taught from 2001 to 2007.
"I was shocked at first until I saw the rate of teenage pregnancies," Gesite said. "I am not sure of the rate of teenage pregnancies in the Philippines. I still have to check on the data available but considering the many problems associated with teenage pregnancies eventually, I would say why not?"
She added: "And not only teenage pregnancies...but prevention of sexually transmitted diseases as well, especially HIV AIDS."
Meanwhile, a parent of two kids who are currently enrolled in a government high school institution in Tagbilaran City, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Bohol Tribune last night that he would mobilize other parents in the school to stage a mass street protest should DOH pursue its plan of giving away condoms to minors and teenagers.
Another parent, in a chance interview, told this paper that she would transfer her kids to a private school when the DOH rolls out its plan next year.
"Bahala na ug makagasto mi sa private school basta dili lang ma-influence og maot among anak," the parent said. (LIGALIG MIKE ORTEGA)
Best Website Host:
www.bluehost.comLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=120850.0
