Just have 3 kids, President tells soldiers
President Duterte has encouraged the country’s soldiers to practice responsible family planning, saying having three children is enough.
The President directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sergeant majors to teach responsible parenthood to the troops amid concerns some have difficulty raising a large family.
“You should also teach them family planning talaga. I-program ‘yan,” the President said during a dinner meeting with the AFP Council of Sergeant Majors in Malacañang last Tuesday night.
“Ang average soldier, the most dapat tatlo. Boundary talaga ‘yang dalawa ano na ‘yan. Lalo na kung may babae at lalake na, tama na [An average soldier should have three, the most. Having two is boundary, especially if you already have a daughter and a son. That’s enough],” he added.
Duterte even said in jest he would cut off the soldier’s manhood if he keeps on having children beyond his means. He expressed concern that some soldiers with many children find it hard to provide basic needs such as education and healthcare.
Duterte also said he empathizes with the widow and the children in case a soldier dies in the line of duty. “I pity the human being,” he said, adding the government must continue the program of providing livelihood and education assistance to the surviving military family.
Last month, the President issued an executive order on the full implementation of the reproductive health law in the country. The order seeks to accelerate the provision of funds and support for modern family planning in all poor households.
The President, meantime, called on the military officers to boost the morale of soldiers by helping address family needs such as food, education to healthcare.
He said they must “communicate always” and “look into the soul” of the soldiers and extend assistance especially if they have problems at home.
“Ang morale ng sundalo starts not really in the camp. If he is married or if he is single, ang morale ng bata nasa bahay [The moral of a soldier starts not really in the camp. If he is married or if he is single, his morale starts at home],” he said.
Meanwhile, the the Department of Health (DOH) vowed yesterday to take different options in intensifying health education in schools after the Department of Education (DepEd) declined to distribute condoms in schools.
DepEd aims to develop and disseminate an age-appropriate reproductive health education in schools which will raise awareness on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among the youth.
The two agencies agreed to take on different options that shall complement each other’s respective mandates.
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell Ubial said the provision of services in schools to improve condom access is not a primary consideration anymore following the agreement with DepEd.
The DepEd will focus on the strengthened development of its curriculum, especially on reproductive health while the DOH will work with other partners to ensure information is linked to service provision, including but not limited to condom access. (With a report from Betheena Kae Unite)