Monday, July 14, 2008 Sex education ‘is not anti-God’
WANTING to educate the youth about sex does not make one “anti-God,” said Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district) in reacting strongly against name-calling by critics of the proposed reproductive health bill.
Salimbangon is one of the 34 signatories of the proposed “Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development.”
With him is another Cebuano legislator, Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district).
Unkind comment
Human Life International (HLI) – Pilipinas leader Dr. Rene Josef described Salimbangon and Ruiz as “anti-Filipino, anti-God, anti-life and anti-family.”
“Being pro-life doesn’t mean anti-God. That was unkind and uncalled for,” engineer Greg Senining, spokesperson for Salim-bangon, said.
Salimbangon, in a phone interview with Sun.Star Cebu, also defended his stand on the bill.
“The bill is seeking to study on how to solve overpopulation and the problem of malnutrition,” said Salimbangon.
Relief goods
He was in Medellin yesterday to hand out relief goods to victims of typhoon Frank.
The typhoon damaged P20 million worth of agricultural products and properties in Cebu’s northern towns. The fourth district suffered the worst damage in Cebu.
Visit
Salimbangon challenged Bullecer to visit his district and see what an “anti-God” like him did for his constituents.
“The bill will arouse discussions on the matter, let’s not be drowned by our emotions,” said Salim-bangon.
Feelings hurt
“Let’s leave out the unnecessary hurting of other people’s feelings. It is unkind and unreasonable,” he continued.
Instead of engaging himself in name-calling, Bullecer should attend deliberations and hearings of the bill so he can understand the issue better, said Salimbangon.
Salimbangon said that in his visits to the towns in his districts, he sees children suffering from malnutrition and parents struggling how to put food on the table.
This, he said, is where sex education comes in handy.
“Lack of information on sex allows the youth to get their education on movies or the Internet. Law-ay na nuon (That’s crass),” Salimbangon added. (JGA)
