Davide: Classrooms, not condoms

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III yesterday reacted negatively to the Department of Health’s plan to distribute condoms in schools next year to address rising cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, in the country.

He said that instead of condoms, the government could use the funds to build and distribute classrooms.

“Of course I am not in favor of that (the giving of condoms)… You’re giving the wrong signal to the children nga it’s okay to have sex as long as you have socks or raincoat or medyas ba,” he said.

“Why not use the money to build classroom? That’s more needed than condoms,” he added.

Not all local government executives, however, disagreed to the plan.

Aside from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas also expressed his support to the plan to give out free condoms in public schools.

Gullas said he observed that in current generation, the youth are now engaging in pre-marital sex.

“Ang promiscuity dili lang limited sa college students but it has gone down sa secondary (level) tungod ba kaha kay ang edad sa secondary dako na,” he said.

The distribution of condoms to secondary students is part of DOH’s campaign to stop the spread HIV/AIDS among the youth.  HIV and AIDS are sexually-transmitted diseases which can be prevented if proper hygiene is followed.

 But Gullas said that there is a possibility that the proposed plan would fail if leaders express strong opposition to the plan.

“There are many projects sa national (level) which were not supported by local leaders which just die in a particular locality, let’s say province or city, tungod kay walay support sa leaders,” he said.

He said that he would also monitor the effects of the plan since it is still too early to tell.

Davide, though, said that distributing condoms is indirectly telling children that it is fine to have sex as long as it is protected even in their very young age. This, he said, is an entirely wrong idea.

He suggested that instead of giving away condoms, schools teach sex education or family life subjects to instill in the students the right values.

“I have heard nga mi-clarify ang DOH nga adto ra daw sa clinics sa schools. Nah, samot!” the governor said.

“The children would go there and say ‘Ma’am, mangayo ko og condom mag-kuan mi sa akong classmate’,” he said. (FREEMAN)