MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has no problem with including birth control use in adolescent-age students’ curriculum as long as it will only be integrated into an existing course or subject.
“If the addition is just to integrate it that will be an easier thing to do,” CHED chair Prospero De Vera said in an online Palace briefing.
“Mas mahirap iyan if you have a separate subject because the number of units and the curriculum in general education has already been decided and is already being implemented,” he also said.
Senators recently tackled anew the possible inclusion of birth control use in the curriculum of adolescents age or those who are 10 to 21 years old.
Senator Risa Hontiveros sponsored a bill called Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2020 which seeks to establish a national policy in preventing adolescent pregnancies and institutionalizing social protection for adolescent parents.
Hontiveros said birth control use could be taught in subjects like science or social studies.