DepEd Secretary Assures No Inappropriate Content in Sexuality Education Program

MANILA – In response to widespread concerns, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara has firmly stated that no inappropriate content will be included in the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program in public schools. This assurance comes in the wake of a viral video from the Project Dalisay Facebook page, affiliated with the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC), which criticized the legislative efforts to implement the CSE program. Angara took to social media to address the public’s concerns, emphasizing that any unsuitable concepts would not be tolerated in educational settings. He encouraged those with reservations about the proposed legislation to voice their concerns directly to lawmakers. The video specifically targeted Senate Bill No. 1979, the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, claiming it was influenced by international bodies like UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNICEF, and could lead to the premature sexualization of children. Critics, including former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and NCFC national director Caloy Diño, argued that the bill’s provisions, such as mandatory implementation in all schools, discussions on early childhood masturbation, and instructions on negotiating sexual encounters, were inappropriate and could harm children’s innocence. The video has since garnered significant attention, with over 68,000 views and 1,500 shares on Facebook.