The provincial government on Friday expressed support for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) decision to block the Department of Health’s (DOH) initiative to distribute condoms in schools.
According to Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio, the provincial government favored the DepEd’s stand in deeming the initiative inappropriate and moving to focus on delivering information on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) instead.
Damalerio also said that he personally is against the condom distribution in schools while several members of the Provincial Board and Tagbilaran City Council also previously protested the DOH initiative.
The provincial administrator noted that it would be better for respective departments to focus on conveying to students the downsides of early pregnancy and information on HIV.
On Monday, the DOH announced that it will no longer push through with the implementation of the measure following the release of the DepEd’s stand.
The turnabout in the policy matter came after Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced that the department will not be involved in the DOH’s plan.
Briones said that the DepEd’s responsibility is to focus on reproductive health education and improve gender sensitivity. (Allen Doydora)