MANILA – The Department of Education’s Secretary Sonny Angara has reassured the public that the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program will not include any inappropriate content in public schools. This statement comes in response to a widely circulated video from the Project Dalisay page of the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC), which expressed concerns over the proposed CSE program.
Angara took to social media to address the public’s concerns, stating, “We will not accept inappropriate concepts being taught in our schools,” in reference to the viral video. He emphasized that any objections to the proposed legislation should be directed towards lawmakers.
The video specifically criticized Senate Bill No. 1979, known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, claiming it is influenced by international organizations like UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNICEF. Critics, including former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and NCFC’s national director Caloy Diño, argue that the program could prematurely expose children to sexual concepts, potentially undermining their innocence.
Among the contentious provisions highlighted in the video are the mandatory implementation across all schools, discussions on early childhood masturbation for ages 0 to 4, and topics like anal and oral sex for ages 16 to 18, as well as negotiating sexual encounters. Sereno pointed out the irony of teaching children to negotiate sexual situations when they are not yet adept at simpler negotiations like those in markets.
The video has garnered significant attention, amassing over 68,000 views and 1,500 shares on Facebook.