Magpale wants sex education subjects in school curriculum

PB Miguel Magpale

To help curb teenage pregnancies and other issues confronting adolescents, a local legislator is planning to introduce sex education subjects in the curriculum for sixth graders to college students in Cebu province.

The Cebu Provincial Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program (PAYHD) aims to reinforce the implementation of the country’s reproductive health law (RH Law)  or Republic Act 10354.

The proposed ordinance will solely focus on raising the awareness of the youth on adolescent health and not on providing access to “reproductive health care methods such as contraception,” said author Board Member Miguel Magpale.

But the Provincial Board deferred approval on second reading of the proposed measure.

In the proposed ordinance, Magpale cited a nationwide study conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI that attributed the increasing trend of teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and school drop-outs to lack of information on adolescent health and youth development.

Needs refinement
During its regular session yesterday, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) deferred the approval of the proposed measure on second reading.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, the proponent’s mother, said there may not be a need to rush approval of the proposed measure.

The ordinance still has to be refined in order to be more specific on addressing the lack of awareness on the youth on reproductive health, the elder Magpale said. She said there must also be a clear distinction between the proposal and the RH Bill which was enacted into law last December 2012.

“It was PB Member Peter John Calderon who raised a lot of questions on this proposed ordinance and since he is not here, maybe we can defer the approval for second reading because he may have subsequent questions,” Vice Governor Magpale said.

Age-appropriate
Under the measure, “reproductive and sexuality education in age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 6 up to college.”

VG Agnes Magpale

A council chaired by the governor and composed of other provincial heads on health, social welfare and other non-government organizations (NGOs) will craft the sex education curriculum with the Department of Education (DepEd).

The curriculum will be effective in both public and private schools while DepEd and the PAHYD council will conduct sessions for out-of-school youth.

Aside from sex education, the measure also aims to establish a peer help and counseling center.

The PB will tackle the ordinance again on its regular session next week, said Magpale.

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