RH bill protects young people from internet pornography, says RH supporter
Amid sex video scandal involving celebrities, a non-government organization supporting the highly controversial “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2009” that proposes age-appropriate responsible sexuality education, found an ally in no less than the Malacanang’s Executive Secretary himself.
Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) lauds Sec. Eduardo Ermita for admitting to media that he is pushing for sex education. In news reports, Sec. Ermita said that sex education help prevents unwanted pregnancies. Further, Sec. Ermita said that Pres. Arroyo is endorsing sex education for the benefit of our younger people.
“Reproductive health advocates welcome this statement of support on sexuality education,” San Pascual said. “Mandatory age-appropriate responsible education is one of the main features of the reproductive health bill,” added San Pascual. Unfortunately, some officials of the Catholic church are contesting this provision laments San Pascual.
Some officials of the Catholic church does not want adequately trained teachers discussing responsible sex education to young people as they want to leave this responsibility to the parents alone. In the RH bill, parents as much as the school system will have a joint responsibility in molding children to become responsible in their behaviors and help prepare them into adulthood.
“The youth of today are easily influenced by their peers and the media in matters of sex,” said San Pascual. “They are internet savvy and much more technologically advanced. A parent who is less equipped with moral sense and without much familiarity with computer technology, and at the same time busy raising income for the family, would most likely not able to protect their child from being exposed to pornographic materials proliferating in the net,” warns San Pascual.
Contrary to what the oppositionists claim, the proposed adolescent reproductive health education does not only provide information to prevent unwanted pregnancies but also includes formation of attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health.
“Empowering the youth with proper information and values is important to help them make responsible decisions on sex. We urge lawmakers to heed the call of not only the officials of this country, but more so, of the majority of Filipino people who demands the access to comprehensive reproductive health services,” San Pascual concluded. (Vigie Benosa-Llorin, Phil. Legislators’ Committee on Population and Dev’t. Foundation, Inc.)
DepEd finds first day of class in order
BUTUAN CITY (June 2) – “The opening of classes was orderly, organized and with only minimal complaints from parents unlike in previous years,” thus said Department of Education (DepEd) officials who took time in visiting different schools and noticed marked improvements in school facilities.
During the schools’ Monday Flag raising on the first day of classes, DepEd-Caraga reminded teachers to educate students on the importance of proper hygiene to prevent the spread of any disease.
Traffic Aides remains on alert along school zones, taking into priority the A.D. Curato Street where Butuan Central Elementary School and Agusan National High School were located, and are considered the largest populated school here.
Traffic situation was generally manageable despite the monitored heavier-than-usual traffic, said Police Senior Inspector Ave Mario Romero of the Butuan City Police Traffic Office.
However, several internet cafΓ©s were reprimanded and warned for accepting elementary and secondary students who were caught playing online games during school hours by roving police officials from Police Regional Office 13 spearheaded by Police Senior Supt. Ramon Espiritu.
As of yesterday, June 1, DepEd-Caraga has still to collate reports from city and provincial areas to come up with the exact figure of students enrolled for school year 2009-2010.
Starting yesterday, schools in the region are accepting late enrolees and transferees.
The Police Regional Office 13 likewise maintains the heightened red alert status in the whole region citing reports that the opening of classes was peaceful and orderly with no untoward incidents that has been recorded in police stations region wide.
Police Senior Supt. Nestor Fajura, Chief of Operation Division in PRO 13 said, police personnel were visible in schools and PNP tapped barangay officials and civilian volunteer’s organization to augment police personnel in securing public school students in far-flung areas. (Jocelyn E. Morano, Radyo ng Bayan Butuan)
