MANILA — Lawmakers on Monday questioned the Department of Education's implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) since 2018, following conflicting statements and possible violations of the Constitution. 

During the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, solons grilled DepEd on why CSE concepts are being taught to Kindergarten and Grade 3 students.

House panel chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo cited a technical document that he said came from the DepEd's official website.

The said document includes teaching intimacy and reproduction to Kindergarten to Grade 3 students.

"Hindi lang nila tinuturo ang body parts kasi mayroon ditong intimacy. Ito po ah, clustering K to grade 3 core skills. Mayroon pong intimacy and reproduction. I mean, including sexual body. I mean talaga ano po eh," he said. 

The lawmaker said Department Order No. 31 Series of 2018 adheres with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO.

The order contains the DepEd's policy guidelines on CSE implementation.

Romulo said this contradicts DepEd's claim that the order is anchored on the Responsible Parenthood  and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 or the Reproductive Health Law.

"That is the problem with what DepEd is doing. Ang pinapalabas niyo sa media at gusto niyong i-please, yung Department Order No. 31, napaka innocent walang ginagawa. Pero iba-iba ang nilalabas ninyo," he said. 

DepEd refuted this claim by Romulo on the use of the UNESCO definition.

"No we are not applying the standards of UNESCO. I think the confusions would be the fact the definition of UNESCO was in Department Order No. 31. But no we are not applying it as a whole," DepEd Undersecretary Filemon Javier said.

Before this, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante asked DepEd about a document that supposedly showed body parts being described as sense organs.

Education Assistant Secretary Janir Datukan earlier said they are only teaching identification of body parts, nothing in particular.

"I don't remember putting that in our curriculum anywhere. We’re not identifying the body parts using the senses.  We don’t have that in the curriculum," he said. 

"Foundational, we are not talking about sexuality at that point. What we’re doing is we’re making them aware of certain aspects that they need to know.  For example, in kindergarten, they identify the body parts, which is part of their lessons," Datukan added.

WHO INTRODUCED CSE TO DEPED?

Romulo then asked DepEd officials who even introduced CSE to the department.

"Who introduced such thing? Sino nagisip sa DepEd na iintroduce ang term na ito at ginawang basehan para amyendahan yung curriculum," he questioned. 

"I do not know who introduced the concept, the term comprehensive sexuality education in DepEd," Javier responded but said he will look into it and inform the committee.

Romulo believes whoever introduced it is attempting to "normalize" the issue.

"Kung sino man nagpasok…. They are trying to normalize the use of these words. Ang sama nito, hindi nila mahintay na the House and the Senate deliberated on this matter," the congressman said.

The department order was signed by then Education secretary Leonor Briones.

QUESTIONS ON IMPLEMENTATION

Romulo and Abante pressed DepEd on the implementation of CSE despite the absence of an enabling law.

"Why are they implementing the CSE curriculum already when they know in fact it is being debated in Congress? Should they not have waited before they implemented this?

Abante believes the department order violated the constitution.

"We uphold the constitution, we promote morality, we preserve moral values and we protect our youth. Department Order No. 31 is highly unconstitutional," he said.

"May I highly suggest the DepEd finally rescind the Order No. 31 because we will go to the Supreme Court to declare this unconstitutional," the congressman added.

Abante pointed out, we should not just be teaching children but parents as well.

"Turuan yung mga magulang, hindi yung mga bata. Magkaroon tayo ng consultation para sa mga magulang at isali natin sila sa problema ito. Bakit ang mga bata ang tinuturuan natin, ang mga magulang ang turuan natin at lahat ng mga simbahan dapat maging involved dito," he said. 

"We can prevent teenage pregnancy if we teach them NOT to be promiscuous. Ibig sabihin yan we should prevent teen age promiscuity, not teenage pregnancy. Yan po ang nais kong sabihin," Abante added.

DEPED ORDER NO. 31 UNDER REVIEW

DepEd said the order in question is still in effect, pending directive from Education Secretary Sonny Angara to suspend its implementation.

"This current order, Department Order 31, has been reviewed by the team, by the Secretary, by the Executive Committee. Currently, it still stands," Javier said.

"But the directive to us, Your Honor, is to continue to review it and ensure that the implementation would be appropriate, Your Honor," he added.

When asked about what happens to previous orders, DepEd said the current order will prevail. It will either "amend or repeal the older one."

"At the moment, there is no direction, Your Honor, to suspend it because, Your Honor, as we have initially reviewed, the text of Department Order 31 is consistent with the law and the contents of the curriculum is age-appropriate and culturally relevant," Javier said.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel defended DepEd over CSE implementation.

"With all due respect sa mga colleagues natin, ako I don't think na overboard ang ginawa po ng Department of Education since bahagi ng kanyang functions sa Executive ay yung pagsasayos ng curriculum," he said. 

"Kung may nakikita tayo pwedeng ayusin pa ng depth sa kanilang curriculum, then tingin ko mas maayos na way forward yun," Manuel added.

Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman urged DepEd to hold more consultation with stakeholders before implementing circulars, especially curriculum.

Meantime, Senator Risa Hontiveros refuted Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa's remark that there is no need for a new law to address teenage pregnancy.

Hontiveros is the sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1979 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, which is meant to strengthen the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.

"Pinapaalala ko po sa Department of Health Secretary na pinapalakas ng Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill ang Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law," she said in a statement.

"Ngayon pa at national emergency pa rin ang teen pregnancy, it is only right that we strengthen the RPRH Law. It is only right that we pass a measure that mandates the government to direct our attention and resources to this particular issue of teen pregnancy," Hontiveros said.

The senator said data showed there are teenagers who are "sexually active and are currently facing the consequences of their actions."

Hontiveros said these adolescents can access HIV testing and treatment without parental consent under the law and the age of sexual consent to 16 years old.

"Kailangan nila ng angkop na impormasyon at serbisyo, dagdag sa nakatakda sa RPRH. Hindi dapat ipinagkakait sa kanila ang  magproprotekta sa kalusugan nila. The PAP Bill is needed to empower adolescents to protect themselves," she said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier slammed the bill but was "shocked and appalled by some elements" of the Senate Bill.

In a separate statement, the Teachers' Dignity Coalition called for a "balanced and consultative approach" to the program and its implementation.

"We recognize the importance of educating our children about these age- and development-appropriate topics, but this must be done carefully and with utmost preparation. This includes the proper materials and, most importantly, intensive training for teachers who will handle the lessons. There should also be active involvement from teachers, parents, and communities," it said in a statement.

TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas stressed the group's support for the program and called on critics to "thoroughly review its content before forming conclusions."