Danao against condom distribution among youth to combat HIV-AIDS

CEBU, Philippines - Danao City has filed a resolution strongly objecting to the Department of Health’s plan to distribute free condoms to secondary school students, supporting the argument of the Province of Ifugao, which also opposed it.

DOH intended the distribution to prevent the increasing number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in the country.

But several organizations, including local government units, have voiced their opposition to the plan, as it is against long-established moral values of the Filipinos.

Ifugao Provincial Board had argued that while “countries like Thailand, the United States of America, some African and European countries had been giving out free condoms with the hope of reducing their HIV/AIDS cases..., still these countries have high cases of said sexually transmitted diseases.”

The Ifugao PB instead suggested that DOH scale up its information and education campaign in instilling awareness among the youth on the ill effects of irresponsible sexual activities and the diseases that may be acquired from these acts.

Danao City will furnish the Provincial Board of Ifugao, the secretary of DOH, the education secretary, among others, copies of its resolution for information and appropriate action. — Maria Carmela Pasaol (FREEMAN)