Teacher can refuse condom distribution
The Department of Health ( DOH) yesterday assured teachers that they could refuse to distribute condoms to students if they are not comfortable with it.
“As I repeatedly said, ‘wala pong pilitan’ (no one is forced). If teachers don’t want to do it, then they are given the right to refuse,” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said.
Ubial stressed that the DOH respects the rights and opinions of teachers and of groups who find the government’s plan to distribute condoms to public school students unacceptable.
The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) earlier warned the DOH and the Department of Education (DepEd) on the negative implication of condom distribution in public schools.
It is not against appropriate sexuality education, but it argued that condom distribution in classrooms could be really disturbing and might send the wrong message to young learners.
The group added that the best weapon in preventing teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is still educating students and people on sexuality in general.
“At this time, the government is exploring all ways to make sexual education and condom accessible to youth,” Ubial said, adding that the distribution could also be coursed through the parent-teachers association ( PTA) in a “no coercion” manner.
She added that sexually active youth should be provided with options, including access to commodities that could protect them from unwanted pregnancies and STDs.
The Commission on Population (PopCom), although implementing several family planning programs, reiterated that human rights would always be respected and encouraged as executive director Juan Antonio Perez III stressed that the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law is “rooted on the recognition of basic human rights.”
Perez noted they have “always upheld the Constitution and the RPRH Law that guarantees the right of families to raise the number of children they desire in a responsible manner.”
He gave assurance that “induced abortion or the use of abortifacients will never have a place in our family planning program.”