THE party of defeated presidential bet John Carlos "JC" De los Reyes, Ang Kapatiran, filed a class suit Monday against the Department of Education (DepEd) on its move to include sex education in school curriculum.
But even before a decision was made over the case, the DepEd decided to temporarily suspend the integration of sex education in basic school curriculum until a full consultation process is completed.
In an interview with Sun.Star, De los Reyes said lawyer Jo Aurea Imbong was right in filing a class suit against the education officials.
"I support her move because sex education modules are slanted in favor of contraceptive use and this consumerism means more money for these pharmaceutical companies," he said.
Education Secretary Mona Valisno has earlier said that the program will help students understand their sexuality in a bid to arrest the growing number of teenage pregnancies.
DepEd order, which allows the teaching of sex education for elementary and secondary students, was asked to be nullified before a Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
"For being baseless, the directive is unreasonable and arbitrary unless DepEd is candid enough to admit that its real agenda is to transform the sex behaviour of our kids towards being sex-obsessed," the petition read.
"On the other hand, to leave sex education to the parents is in line with the principle of subsidiary and the law on exhaustion of administrative remedies, which both mandate that an act be left done by one who is in a better position to do it," it added.
Meanwhile, De los Reyes said the party lined up a series of activities to campaign against the further implementation of sex education.
"There are a lot to come. There will soon be a weekly television show to inform the people about the issue. I was asked to host it," he said, adding that it will be aired on cable channel Global News Network (GNN) and Catholic Church-run TV Maria.
Suspension
In suspending the integration of sex education in basic school curriculum, Valisno clarified that it was not in reaction on the filing of a class suit by the Ang Kapatiran Party.
"We decided to hold in abeyance the teaching of the sex education module until a final decision was made on the consultation process," Valisno said in an interview.
But teaching topics like adolescent reproductive health systems will continue because these are part of regular subjects such as in Science would still push through.
The official said DepEd is undergoing consultation with those opposed to the plan, citing it had already sent invitations to various stakeholders but none responded.
"Pinadalhan na namin sila ng sulat at pinadala ko na si Assistant Secretary Teresita Inciong. We are hopeful to come up with a decision before the end of June para ma-implement na natin itong programa."
At the same time, the DepEd chief said her department is open to modifying the contents of the sex education modules if it goes against the Christian values.
"Of course open kami to modify the module kung makita sa consultation na contradictory ito sa Christian values kaya nga we are asking them for help to arrive at the right modules," she pointed out.
Valisno reiterated the DepEd's earlier position that sex education is needed to stem the rising incidence of teenage pregnancies in the country.
"There's urgency due to the alarming hike in teenage pregnancy. About 46 percent of pregnancy involved teenagers ranging in age from 15 to 17," she noted, adding that it would help curb sexually transmitted diseases.
Surprise development
The education chief said the filing of a class suit is a surprise development considering that they have yet to start the pilot-testing of the topic's modules.
"Nagulat talaga kami at tanong nga namin ano kaya ang pinapa-TRO nila wala pa namang iniimplementa sa modules."
But she was quick to add that the DepEd will follow any decision of the regional trial court on the case. "Siyempre susunod tayo sa korte kung anuman ang desisyon nila."
In a petition for temporary restraining order, lawyer Imbong asked the court to stop the mandatory teaching of sex education, saying it is a violation of parents' rights.
Named as respondents in were Valisno and Undersecretary Ramon Bacani.
Earlier, a pro-life group, the Philippine Foundation, said teachers may not be ready to teach the topic to their students adding that it is the greatest factor that could snag the integration to the basic curriculum. (Virgil Lopez/AH/Sunnex)