Condom dispenser in Davao

DAVAO CITY – The city government is crafting a plan to promote responsible sexual behavior, with the installation of condom dispensers inside government buildings as one of its proposals. City population chief at the City Health Office (CHO) Jeff Fuentes said in an interview that the city government is considering a loan with several suppliers of the contraceptives for the installation of the devices. The idea is to provide public access to condoms in government buildings and at the same time addressing the cultural taboo associated with contraception. So far, contraception is still only slightly accepted by the public because of cultural considerations, such as existing religious bias and societal norms, Fuentes said. “Notice that when people buy condoms, people still stare,” Fuentes said during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at the SM Annex Monday. The local government has recently been given a go-ahead by the Supreme Court to fully implement the Responsible Parenthood Act, which empowers LGUs nationwide to provide access to various kinds of contraceptives.