BAGUIO CITY - An education official announced Friday that schools in Ifugao and Mountain Province will pilot the integration of sex education in their curriculum this school year.
Department of Education (DepEd) Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Director Josefina Tamondong said that 47 elementary and high schools from the two provinces will be part of the 250 schools to pilot sex education.
Tamondong added modules specifically prepared by experts from the department will be taught to elementary and high school students in the towns of Lagawe, Asipulo, Tinoc, Alfonso Lista, Lamut and Banaue in Ifugao; and Bontoc, Sagada, Paracelis, Barlig and Tadian in Mountain Province.
Tamondong said that the sex education, entitled "Institutionalizing Adolescent Reproductive Health through Lifeskills-based Education project," is sanctioned by the United Nations Population Fund, an international development agency, which promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.
The primary focus of the sex education modules are on human sexuality defining a student's role as male or female, and their response to environmental influences like peer pressure among the youth, which often lead some forms of child exploitation, regional director added.
Education Secretary Mona Valisno, for her part, said classroom discussions on sex education is not about the sex act but on the science of reproduction, physical care and hygiene, correct values and the norms of interpersonal relations to avoid pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy.
Tamondong said the two provinces were chosen because of having tourist destinations like Banaue and Sagada, which are prone to prostitution and minors' exploitation.
Valisno earlier said sex education will be integrated in Science; Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP); Health; Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika; and Mathematics.
Valisno added the contents of the modules that will be integrated in core subjects are scientific, informative and are not designed to titillate prurient interest.
"Under Science, topics on the reproductive system, parts of the body, reproductive cycle, and puberty are discussed. EPP on the other hand will integrate proper behavior among and between peers of different genders. Health component of Mapeh (Music, Arts, PE and Health) covers personal hygiene and reproductive heath," Valisno said.
Valisno added that sex education will be taught in social studies topics under Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika such as the position of religion on pre-marital sex and the norms when people of opposite sex interact. In Mathematics, students will use data on issues like pre-marital sex, teen age pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections in their mathematical analysis and exercises in statistics.
However church and government officials expressed their opposition to the move, citing the need to protect the children.
Some members of the church expressed concern that teaching sex education may promote premarital sex and lead to an increase in unwanted pregnancies.
The church said it should be the parents who will educate their children on matters of sexuality as they are more responsible for their children's growth and development.
But amid debates on the matter, MalacaƱang earlier said that DepEd could proceed with its plan if it could host a talk with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
It was earlier announced by DepEd Assistant Secretary Teresita Inciong that there would be a meeting scheduled Thursday, between the CBCP delegation and DepEd officials to discuss issue on sex education.
But the CBCP denied reports that they have agreed to sit down with the DepEd Central Office regarding the integration of sex education in the basic curriculum.
CBCP president Bishop Nereo Odchimar said that the matter concerning the meeting is still with the CBCP Legal Office for further studying on the Church's position.
Valisno, however, remains optimistic that the Church will find no fault in the inclusion of sex education in the curriculum.
She remains steadfast in her thrust to curb the 46 percent unwanted pregnancy rate in the marginalized sector with the modules they prepared for the children.
Valisno said that the effects of sex education on children will erase all doubts and malice on the part of critics in the inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum.
Meanwhile, DepEd Regional Director Susana Teresa Estigoy said no public elementary and high schools in Davao Region were selected to pilot the inclusion of sex education. (JM Agreda of Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)