Philippines halts pilot sex education project

Manila: The Philippines Education Department has halted a sex education pilot program for state-run schools.

Education Secretary Mona Valisno said Monday that the government will postpone the program slated for testing in 80 elementary and 79 secondary schools until after consultations with the country’s Catholic bishops.

“We decided to hold the sex education module in abeyance until a final decision is made on the consultation process,” Valisno said.

Valisno said that department is open to modifying the contents of the program if it contradicts Christian values.

She said the decision had nothing to do with a class suit filed on Monday by a lawyer hired by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Lawyer Jo Aurea Imbong, representing 30 parents, had asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for a temporary restraining order to halt the project.

She branded the program a violation of parents’ right to nurture their children’s moral character.

The 28-page suit accused Education Secretary Mona Valisno and Undersecretary Ramon Bacani of promoting family planning, reproductive health and demographic development in subjects such as mathematics, science and English.

It is “an assault on the moral sensibilities and values of young people” and encourages sexual promiscuity, Imbong said.

The complainants also asked the court to declare Education Department Memorandum No. 26, which implements the sex education program, as unconstitutional on the grounds of being “anti-family” and “anti-life.”

Meanwhile, CBCP Commission on Family and Life chair, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, called on incoming President Benigno Aquino III to scrap the program as soon as he assumes office.

Aquino “is responsible for the spiritual, mental and physical advancement of the people,” Archbishop Aniceto said.

He reiterated that parents are solely responsible for teaching their children about human sexuality.

Courtesy: UCAN

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