Leyte PB explains plan to have sex education classes in public schools

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  – Leyte Provincial Board Member Carlo Loreto said that teaching sex education among teenagers in all public schools in Leyte might be carried out this school year but it needs to consider three parameters.

First, it must be “age appropriate;” second, it must have a “soul” which will not only include the physical aspect but also the emotional aspect of a person; and third, its teaching must be very competent and sensitive to effectively impart the objective of the lesson.

Loreto, chair of the PB education committee, made this comment to The Freeman as he explained the plan of the provincial government to implement Adolescent Responsible Sexuality Education program in all public schools in the province this school year.

The province has taken the initiative in introducing sex education in selected schools at Baybay City and the towns of Palo, Merida, Javier and Isabel. 

The program is a brainchild of Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, who was alarmed at the increasing number of teen mothers in Leyte. A survey has also revealed that Eastern Visayas posted the highest incidence of pre-marital sex or PMS in the country.

Petilla believed that teaching sex education infused with values of upholding the sanctity of the body and relationship between man and woman can help mitigate this.

Loreto agreed with the governor by saying: “Teaching teenagers sex education is good as it will allow them to know the changes on physical well-being of every human and the sexual urges that we feel as we grow older.”

He warned however that the age of a student exposed to the topic should be considered and the teachers handling it should be very competent. “If they (students) are in grade school the manner of teaching must be for grade schoolers,” Loreto said.

Loreto also believed that sex education does not promote promiscuity or sexual polygamy among school-age children but it provides them instead an understanding of the human body and how they can protect their body.