Palace won’t stop condom distribution

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang reiterated yesterday that it would not stop the condom distribution program of the Department of Health (DOH), saying it is legal and consistent with public policy.

The Palace has reaffirmed its support for the program despite strong opposition from prominent Roman Catholic bishops.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral has insisted that the program, which started on Valentine’s Day, is meant solely to check the spread of HIV-AIDS and not to promote sexual promiscuity.

“Based on the requirements of law, it appears that what the Department of Health is doing is aboveboard. That is if we are talking about its mandate to protect public health,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said.

“If Secretary Cabral is doing something that is against the law then the President would be the first to say something about this,” Olivar said in Filipino.

“The fact that nothing like that is happening means that it (condom distribution) is legal and consistent with public policy,” he added.

He said groups or individuals opposed to the DOH program would not be prevented from airing their views.

Olivar cited survey results that show voters’ strong preference for candidates who are supportive of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

“If we leave aside religious, moral and ideological issues that come with something like that, it is clear that safe sex or protected sex is always going to be less risky than unsafe sex,” Olivar said.

The RH bill promotes the use of contraceptives as one of the options for family planning. –Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star)