The DoH insists that the strategy it intends to use, which includes a sex education component, is evidenced-based as studies in other countries show that even in Catholics schools where such strategy was used, students who were into pre-marital sex did not increase, teenage pregnancies decreased, and cased of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS also decreased.
It will be best for the DoH to cite the actual studies. But even with cited studies, it will not be easy to sell this program or strategy.
For one, we can be certain that those who oppose this initiative of the government will cite other studies that show contrary results. When that happens, the value of the “evidence-based” argument of the DoH will be watered down.
Likewise, those who oppose this initiative of the government will question the appropriateness of using such studies as basis for the adoption of the strategy. One can rightfully assert that results of such studies can only be appropriately used if all other factors like culture, religion and other socio-economic realities of the subject-countries of those studies are the same as those of the Philippines.
There is no question about the seriousness of the problems and there is no question as well on the need for “out-of-the-box” solutions to the same. Indeed, there is no sense in maintaining the status quo on existing interventions or programs because they are obviously not effective.
However, it is also clear and obvious that no other interventions or programs can effectively solve these problems unless the same are “Filipino culture-friendly” and are not contrary to adhered Filipino values.
Perhaps, the more appropriate fundamental intervention is a program that will rally the government, churches, schools and families behind the cause of educating Filipino children on the effects of pre-marital sex and those of HIV/AIDS.
What we need for this is out-of-the-box thinking on how to form a team composed of these institution with each playing different roles but all member of the “team” are working for a common goal – to address the problems of increasing cases of teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS.
Even with its powers and resources, the government will not succeed in solving these problems if its programs or strategies are opposed by other key sectors/institutions in our society.
(Dr. Ramon Ricardo A. Roque, CESOI, Diplomate)