THE two top officials of the provincial Capitol have expressed their opposition to plans by the Department of Health (DOH) to distribute condoms in schools as a measure to lessen the number of youth infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes Aids.
The sentiments by the officials against the distribution of condoms in schools were aired following a public hearing on Friday, January 27, conducted by the provincial board at the session hall to shed light on the supposed distribution of condoms to students in schools.
The Health Department wants to start the distribution of condoms this year as soon as the strategies with the Department of Education (Deped) are mapped out.
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano said he is favorable to sex education but not to the distribution of condoms.
Emano said the education department should come up with a curriculum and strategies for an effective sex education.
"Remind the students the core values and perhaps the advantage of using condoms, but providing them is another story," Emano said.
Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Joey Pelaez, for his part, said the distribution of condoms to students will only lead young people to engage in extra martial sex.
"I am personally against it. I am also not convinced that the distribution of condoms will prevent HIV-Aids," Pelaez said.
Pelaez said teachers and parents who attended the public hearing shared the same position that the condoms, freely given to students, will create negative effects.
Pelaez said one of the possible ill-effects if students possess condom is the rise in the number of teenage pregnancies.
"It will increase promiscuity among the youth. It may even increase teenage pregnancy," he said.
Pelaez is instead pushing for the strengthening of the Reproductive Health care in the curriculum.
He added the provincial board is mulling to pass a resolution to express objection of the distribution of condoms in schools.
"We are planning to pass a resolution. But in the meantime, we asked the DOH regional director to bring our concerns to the DOH secretary," he said.
Pelaez urged the teachers to deliver the expected education the youth deserves to equip them for their future and students should focus in obtaining knowledge and skills to be more competitive in the real world.
