Mulat Pinoy provided social media coverage for the National Consultative Workshops on RH and Sexuality Education. This series of consultations, led by the Department of Health, aims to gather input on effective RH and sexuality education. The participants come from a wide spectrum: various government agencies, civil society organizations, youth groups, public and private schools, advocates and other concerned citizens.  Their experience in learning about and teaching RH and sexuality, from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the National Capital Region, will be compiled into a framework that will guide the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the new RH Law, Republic Act 10354.

The first consultation workshop was held from February 26 to 28 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, and involved participants from the National Capital Region.

For more information, visit the official Facebook page of the National Consultative Workshops on RH and Sexuality Education. You can also follow the official Twitter account: @NCWRHSE #RHsexualityEd

Text by Liwliwa Malabed. Photos by Liwliwa Malabed and Regina Layug Rosero.

 

EIGHTY-TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

In implementing the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 (Republic Act 10354), specifically the provision on Sexuality Education, a series of consultation workshops among stakeholders was organized. The first National Consultation Workshop on RH and Sexuality Education was held in Venezia Hotel from February 26-28, 2013 in Subic with more than 80 participants from formal, non-formal and informal sectors.

 

YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SEXUAL RIGHTS, TOO.

As emphasized by the World Population Foundation, it is important to acknowledge that young people, guided by basic instinct, biological changes and natural curiosity, will always find ways and means to acquaint themselves with sexuality. Wouldn’t it be better if the information they get are accurate and devoid of any discrimination?

 

WHAT LANGUAGE DO WE USE? THE LANGUAGE OF THE FILIPINO YOUTH.

20% of Philippine population is made up of raging hormones, commonly known as adolescents (10-19 years old). Commissioner-at-Large Percival Cendaña of the National Youth Commission stressed the importance of knowing the language and culture of our target audience. Filipino teens nowadays spend a considerable amount of time online, actively searching for romantic and, yes, even sexual relationships.

 

DIFFERENT VOICES. ONE GOAL.

The consultation workshop in NCR raised various questions, issues and insights that takes us a step closer to a unified, developmentally and age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) framework that is culturally adaptable from Basco to Tawi-Tawi.

 

SODA, PANSIT, OR SEXUALITY ED?

The participants talk about RH and Sexuality Education over merienda. And breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These are people who have been working for RH rights before it became a law, nurturing and passionately fighting for a cause they believe in.

 

PROLIFE. DEFINITELY.

A representative from Catholics for RH (C4RH) listens in as three groups representing different types of education (formal, non-formal and informal) tackled different topics related to RH and sexuality education, such as early pregnancy, violence, human trafficking, access to information, access to services, and AIDS. They shared trends they have observed among the youth and discussed the gaps and issues that needed to be addressed.

 

LIFELONG LEARNING.
Empower the youth with knowledge and skills. As defined by Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States or SIECUS, “Sexuality Education is a lifelong process of acquiring information and forming attitudes, beliefs, and values about such important topics as identity, relationships and intimacy.”

 

HARVESTING GOOD PRACTICES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

The MARKETPLACE provided an opportunity for the workshop participants to “harvest” good practices from tried and tested programs in NCR. The presenters were DepEd BALS, BALUTI, FAD, FPOP, PCPD & University of San Carlos and ZOTO.

 

THE DAY IS OVER BUT MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
After an overview of Republic Act 10354, the participants discussed and presented their recommendations for the implementation of the RH law. The workshop went into the nitty-gritty of the law’s IRR, as seen from different point of views. The consultation was so thorough, solutions were already offered for challenges and possible problems that implementers may face.

 

WE DID IT!
National Consultation Workshops on RH and Sexuality Education NCR leg was a success. There will be regional consultations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and a national conference to present the findings.

Want to know more? You can watch the recap video on YouTube. The video was shot and edited by Riza Dizon of the Probe Media Foundation.